The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-09-29
THE STATE HOUSE:

As the various political conventions are be
ing held about this time to nominate candi
dates for the November election 1t would not
be out of place if they took occasion to talk
over and give some expression in regard to the
question the people are asked to vote on next
November, whether or not there shall be 1851
1913 expended by the state to complete oul
palatial state house at Springfield. When the
building was first projected, a number of ex
perienced architects and experts adjudged and
decided scientifically and solemnly that the
building, grounds and all that appertained
thercunto would cost but $35OO,OOO, and with
that sum fixed by the constitution as the limit
of expenditure, the structure was begun. But
though the estimates were made in the flushes
times, and the cost of labor and material kept
architects and experts proved to have either
been at fault in their estimates, or the money
voted was not honestly expended; for when
the $3,500,0O0 were gone, the building was
still by over half a million short of being com
pleted. So, as no more money, according tc
the constitution, can be expended upon the
pile without the consent of the people, they
are asked to vote this additional sum at the
election in November.
The argument urged in favor of voting the
sum is, that whether part of the money here
tofore expended upon the structure was wasted
or not, it is now IN an unfinished condition
and while it is thus not only unsightly and
fails to answer completely its purpose, its
speedy completion is necessary from the fur.
ther consideration that many parts are left in
such condition that much of the work already
DONE unless finished up, will decay and be
lost so that the sum needed for completing the
building will grow larger year by year as long
as the work is delayed.
The argument would have more force with
the people if the legislature, after virtually
censuring the old architects and commission
ers for wasting if not positively stealing large
sums, had made it a sine qua non OF the new
appropriation that II should be expended under
the direction of new architects and commits.
sioners whom the people could trust. But the
| Legislature, though passing the bill calling on
the people to vote the appropriation, proposes
that the money shall be expended, wasted or
stolen by the same old set Of bunglers or
thieves.
In this light It Is not strange if the people
look upon the proposal to vote half million
more with at least extreme indifference il not
derision and contempt, and really we cannot
bring ourselves up to the point of urging them
to vote in its favor much as we should like to
see the job done with, for there is no getting
rid of it ultimately whatever we may votenow.
But the next Legislature will undoubtedly
be democratic, and upon the whole we would
rather trust them for new set of commission
crs. We apprehend the state will not lose
much by deierring the appropriation for a
year or two in any event The last legislature
was fearfully extravagant and imposed heavy
taxes, and rs we arc promised better times in
the immediate future, doubtless two years
hence ii will be easier to pay the additional
taxes than now.