Page:The Supreme Court in United States History vol 1.djvu/196

170 the Federal City, stated that : "No plan having been agreed upon, or even proposed for a Judiciary (building), the sum of 100,000 dollars is suggested, merely for consideration ; and the immediate erection of that edifice is not considered so essential as houses for the accommodation of Congress, of the President and the Executive offices/* It was not until January 20, 1801, that any steps were actually taken to provide the Court with a place for its approaching session. "As no house has been provided for the Judiciary of the United States, we hope the Supreme Court may be accommodated with a room in the Capitol to hold its sessions until further provisions shall be made, an arrangement, however, which we would not presume to make without the approbation of Congress,'* was the mild suggestion of the District Commissioners to Congress ; ^ and on the next day, January 21, the Senate resolved that: "The Secretary be directed to inform the Commissioners of the City of Washington that the Senate consent to the accommodation of the Supreme Court in one of the Committee rooms, as proposed in their letter/' On January 23, a resolution was reported and passed : "'That leave be given to the Commissioners of the City of Washington to use one of the rooms on the first floor of the Capitol for holding the present session of the Supreme Court of the United States. " * It has been generally stated hitherto that the room assigned to the Court in 1801, and in which it sat throughout

^ Doeumeniary WiHory of the Cotulruetion and Decelopmmt of the United Siatei CapUd Building and Oroundi (1904), 68th Cong., td 8e$s., H. R. Report No, 6^6.

that a suitable apartment or apartments in that part of the Capitol already finished ought to be fitted up for the temporary accommodation oi the Courts of the United States, appointed or hereafter appointed to be held in such city, and of such Court, as may hereafter be ^>pointed to be held therein for the Territory of Columbia, and in completing the Capitol permanent accommodation for the said Courts ought to be provided therein." Senate Proo., Jan. 21, 1801, Senate Joum^ 116; Houee Proe^ of Jan. 28, 1801, Houee Joum^ 771, 6th Cong,^ let Seee*
 * A further resolution was laid on the table and directed to be printed : " Reserved,