The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-25
THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

The following editorial from the Press of
this morning covers the whole ground of the
public buildings controversy, and we lay it
before our readers as an admirable statement
of the exact situation. The only journals which
have opposed the Penn Square site and the
plans of the commissioners are those which
have pecuniary interests in the neighborhood
of Washington and Independence Squares,
and this fact deprives all their arguments of
any value they might have had under other cir
cumstances, The Press previous to the Oc-
tober election advocated the Washington
Square site, but its conductor is too shrewd
to oppose his private interests to the public
wishes in such matter, and the Press ac-
cordingly gracefully accepted the situation
when the result of the election was known.
1t would have been more creditable to one or
two of our contemporaries if they had Imi-
tated its example. The editorial of the Press
is as follows
The deadlock being over. the attention OF the
Legislature during the remaining days of its session
will be devoted, no doubt to matters of deep con-
cern to the people of the State Philadephians are
especially interested In the settlement OF the veXed
question as to the municipal buildings, and 1t is to
be hoped such action win be had at Harrisburg as
Will enable the commissioners 10 proceed at once in
the performance OF their duties.
Our readers are perhaps, tired OF hearing speeches
and reading articles upon this subject, when they
need tcoTk and 1t is therefore with much reluctance
we venture to recapitulate few OF the reasons why
the present board should be permitted to proceed
First. The act creating 1t was acquesced in by all
parties (both interested and Otherwise) and OBJ
lection to its creation was suggested until after the
election In October.
Second. The opposition to the Building Commits
sion Is In a great measure limited to those persons
who are interested In real estate IN the neghborh0od
OF Independence Square.
Third. 1t was we'll understood and agreed that the
decision by the ballot should forever determine the
question or the location OF the buildings; ana that
question was decided by $4,000 majority, which
must necessarily have included votes from both po-
ntcal parties, because the highest majority OF votes
poled for any one candidate was S042.
Fourth. IL the present commission Is abolished
the old board, by the same act Is revived, and WILL
OF course, proceed to build upon Independence
Square, against the expressed will OF the people by
ballot.
Fifth. Unless the work is proceeded with at once
there will be little prospect OF having it completed
by 1876 and Independence Square and It's wretched
court rooms ard public O1ices Will remain to Illus
rate the enterprise OF the manufacturing centre
OF the United States
Sixth. The press OF Philadelphia almost unani-
mousy favors the will of the people, expressed in
october last being obeyed.
Seventh ANY act OF the Legislature tending to
retaTd this great and necessary work will be an en-
couragement to future factious antagonism TO public
improvements, while an honest adherence to and
compliance with the ell-ascertained views of the
people OF Philadelphia upon this subject will do
much to check such embarrassing opposition in the
| future.