The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-02-06

In fact, nc was opposed to the whole
lplan.-Electing Coinmissioners was I'M
proper. One man would do better, ann
tar his part heEmould like theAthe Cow
ernor should be that man. There would
.be.. better buildings and .they, would he.
more speedily erected.
| MIR. Norris said there must be DIS
crctionary power somewhere ana II must
he left with the Commissioners to exer-
else their judgment in many matters:
No more could properly be required OF
.them,, and by. his amendment they would
be confined to the amount already APP
propriated."
Mr.. Olmsted read his amendment by
which proposals we're to be received and
the buildings erected by contract. lie
alluded to the haste manifested, saying
he saw no printed copy till yesterday
and had not given the bill that attention
he wished to. Had not supposed for the
past three weeks that any general fea-
ture could be defeated. but many salu-
tary provisions might be engrafted were
time given. In the States they have one
Commissioner and here We have four,
and he predicted and wished gentlemen
to notice the prediction that the end of
five years we shall be without public
buildings. The money will be expended
and we shall have but shell--a useless
unfinished pile.
Mr. Norris objected to the building
by contract and thought the change pro-
posed would conflict with the general
bill and require more alteration than
they could succeed in effecting under
the circumstances. His amendment
would require but slight changes, and
he thought could time be given, their
views could be made to harmonize, aud
every member of the Council would as
sent to the propriety OF restraining the
Commissioners.
Mr.. Olmstead said that with reference
to building by contract it was the OBJ
jcct of his amendment to guard against
u discretionary power in the Commits
sioners. Otherwise, a surplus of lime,
stone and other materials would be
found remaining, and trouble ensue. 1t
was found that in the erection of private
buildings, where there was no personal
knowledge OF the work, to build by con-
tract was the cheapest. The Governor
could take charge of the matter. He is
practical man as well as politician,
and believe his Judgment will be as
good if not better than that Of any other
man in Territory.
Mr.. Norris offered an amendE ent.
Mr.. Olmsted.--I do not think that
amendment will operate well in practice.
Ny plan is for the erection and compile
ton of the buildings for a stipulated
sum; and though this contemplates the
same thing, the Commissioners may
mark out their plans, and when in fol-
lowing them, the money fails too soon,
they will have the same excuses that
public officers usually have. | make
the starting point right. and then they
cannot enlarge. ~
Mr.. Rollins moved TO strike out
Saltwater" and insert "Little Six Ii
wonld be quite a central point.
Mr.. McLeod.--I would inform the
, gentleman, that Little Six is in the In
dian country, and according to a new
, doctrine which has been preached, peo-
pie in that country are not entitled to
any thing. When they have the right
to anything, they will ask for something
different
Mr.. OImsted asked to be excused
from voting on the amendment as a
, Constitutional question was involved and
he was unable to decide upon it. He
voted "Dont know" ~
: Mr.. Forbes. believe that every OPP
portunity has been given to the oppo-
nents of this bill to kill it, that is posi-
ble | now move the previous CUES
] ton
r Mr.. Norris hoped the motion would
1 be withdrawn as he gave notice Of an
! amendment which he thought all would
| be satisfied with. Ifthe buildings should
) not be completed, there is no provision
. prolongiug the power of the commission
r ers or for electing new ones.
Mr. Forbes said he was not unac-
, quainted with the provisions of the bill,
and was satisfied with it, as it is He
r had talked with his constituents and was
5 satisfied with regard to their wishes
He knew of no local combinations, but
7 after some days consideration had con-
cluded to vote for the bill. 1t mattered
little with him where the Penitentiary
: was, which was the reason he had moi
, voted for its location at St. Paul; and
, besides, as both buildings could not be
, there, he considered half loaf as bet.
, ter than none. He alluded to the effor,
r and the failure, made at the last session
: to the danger there was that ST. Paul
might lose all, as the Appropriation bill
said 'mdy be expended but not ''shal
: be"-to the fact that Saltwater was q.
5 central as any point, there being n,
, ceded territory on the other side of ths
1 river and closed by saying, that sine,
every opportunity had been afforded fol
killing the bill, as appeared by the many
ridiculous motions which. filed the Jour
, nal, he should insist on his motion.
Upon the final passage, Mr.. Norri.
{ asked to be excused from voting, upol
: the ground, that the bill had been her
.ol Al !.