The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-02-02
1NDIANA's STATE HOUSE.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

THE PLACES PRESENTED AND THEIR CLAIMS
TO PREFERENCE-AN EXHAUSTIVE SURVEY
OF THE sUBJECr-rHE BILL PRESENTED FOR
BUILDING A STATE HOUSE.
On Wednesday afternoon, the 9th, the
COMMITTEES to whom was referred the matter
OF places for new state house reported as
follows:
To the Senate and House OF Representatives of
the General Assembly.
GENTLEMEN: Tie undersigned committee
consisting of three members of the Senate
and three members of the House, together
with the governor and lieutenant governor,
appointed by concurrent resolution of the
last preceding session of the general assem-
bly,, and authorized and required to procure
plans suitable for new state capitol, and to
recommend the three plans which, in their
judgment, should be best adapted to the
wants of the state. have endeavored to dis
charge this duty t. the best of their ability,
and beg leave to report
The resolution under which they were ap-
pointed recites that necessity exists TOR the
erection of a new state capitol; that the
committee procure and recommend plans
having "a due regard to economy in the
erection of public buildings" and that the
proposed new state house shonld not cost
"to exceed two million dollars" Your COM
mittee have therefore assumed, as in
duty they were bound TO do, that
I
this resolution was made in good
faith; that the intention of the general as
sembly was expressed therein; that the erec-
ton OF a state house would be authorized il
they procured suitable plans. and that they
must be able to assure the general assembly,
with reasonable certainty, that the plans
could be executed within the limit. On this
theory they have proceeded, and now sub
init to you the result OF their labors.
Your committee can not persuade them
selves that so intelligent body of represen-
tative men as those who compose the pres
ent general assembly can have any doubt as
to the necessity for new state house. That
the present building is totally inadequate to
the public service is evidenced by the fact
that nearly all the public officers have been
compelled to find quarters elsewhere; and
that even the legislative department Is COM
PEELED to rent rooms for its committees at
hotels, or wherever they can be had; by the
fact that the present structure is so dilapi-
dated and lily ventilated and warmed, as to
be unhealty and unsafe; and by the fact
that the valuable records of the state are
in building so infammable in its character
that in single hour they may be irrepara-
bly, destroyed by fire.
The only questions which can occur to you
are, whether the necessity for a state house
is so urgent as to require immediate action,
and whether there are not other needs of
more pressing importance. To such sug-
S6stlODSd as LndL Lu6rc Is QdnS6T OI cOTfup-
ton in the prosecution of this work, and
that the taxes required to raise the necessary
revenue will be oppressive to the people,
your committee can attach but little weight.
1t will not require any more tax to build
now, nor is there greater danger
of corruption than there will
be in the future. Your committee
would be ashamed to believe that Indiana
is too poor to build decent state house, or
that your governor could not find honest
men enough in the state TO whom he could
entrust this work. But il any member
should feel that one or even two additional
insane ssylums are needed, and that these
should take the precedence of the state
house, we can readily admit it. If the gem
eral assembly will consider the fact that the
erection of large edi6ces, like state houses or
insane asylums, Is work OF time, they
be authorized, and may progress
simultaneously, and yet not involve eX-
cessive taxation or expenditure. A tax of
five cents on the hundred dollars OF valua-
ton of the property of the state, continued
for six years, would produce revenue large
enough and fast enough for the erection OF a
S400, 900 asylum and 100000 state house;
and an additional cent would provide for
two asylums, each with a capacity of six
hundred patients. Five years, besides the
present, will be required in the erection
of a state house, and two years of
thus distributed would not be oppres-
siye. True economy does not consist in
refusing TO expend money when needed,
but in its judicious application to useful
purposes. If the state government is not
worth maintaining let il be abolished, and
let us look to the general government alone
for protection. But If it is worth maintain
ing, as we surely all agree that it is, then
let us provide sufficient, decent and safe
public buildings in which to transact the
public business. Every instinct of state
| love and state pride urge that cur great,
growing and prosperous commonwealth,
across whose territory daily rolls the rich
commerce of the East and West, shall be
Immediately provided with decent state
house.
The first meeting of your committee was
held on the 18th day of May, 1873, and after
free interchange of views in regard TO
their duties, it was resolved that the mem
bers should prepare themselves for an in
| telligent discharge OF their responsibilities
| by visiting and inspecting such public
buildings as they might find opportunity
and by making tbemsev4s, as far as posi-
BILE acquainted with architecture. Your com.
mittee, therefore, either together or by in
dividual members, have inspected the
state houses houses sEPr d1nhSH! Nan Ian.
Vile and Frankfort, and have
examined a great variety of plans, prints
and descriptions of public buildings. They
have done this that they might be able tc
recommend to you as the best plan such al
one as would combine beauty, durability
convenience and economy, and thai
their recommendations might have due
weight in your final decision.
i At the next meeting of the COMMITTEES
all the state officers were invited to
conference with them. The secretary o
state was appointed to act as secretary
of the committee, and was thence
| Co. loft cd xuit in oil
eeedings. Advertisements were prepared
and published, asking for the submission o
plans, and stating the limitations on the
cost thereof A pamphlet was also prepared
and distributed to architects, giving plan
of the state house grounds, schedule of the
approximate space required, and the rules
and limitations by which they must be gov
erned. A copy of this pamphlet is here
with transmitted. The 18th of September
lS74, was the time finally designated for The