The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-05-23
THE NEW STATE HOUSE.

city OF Indiana. a matter OF IacJ ABOUT WHICH
complaint should have exhausted itself
a quarter of century ago. Indianapolis
being the capital of the state-the seat OF
governmental 10 thought to be eminently
appropriate to have the state house located
within its corporate limits, and some years
since, that idea prevailing, state house was
erected. Times corroding, gnswing and
destructive tooth has been very busy upon
the state house since the day of its compile
ton, and the stately edifce is rapidly
crumbling to decay. No longer thing of
beauty or Joy for day, dilapidated and
unsafe, the peoples representatives in their
wisdom concluded at the late SEES
down and build new state house
in its place. The proposition, however,
was opposed With some the plea was econ
omy others thought the old rat hole and
bat cave good enough for Indiana; while
others, we conclude, opposed the enterprise
because, forsooth, the new state house would
have to be located at indianapolis. This OPP
position was thought to be factious, as the
reasons assigned for it were wanting in CO.
gency, and as a consequence the arguments
were correspondingly weak. Since the ap-
Pointment of the state house commissioners
by Governor Williams another form of oppo-
sition has been developed which is purely
sectional, with the additional ingredient of
hostility to indianapolis. The Evansville
Courier, which has earned the enviable repu-
tation of being large-hearted enough to in
clude the entire commonwealth in its states
manship, in an article captioned THE New
State House, says:
There seems to be something in the atmos-
phere of indianapolis that claims the allegi-
ance OF every man who goes there In an Off
c1al capacity. To the many other instances in
proof OF the fact, that every one will be able 10
recall, Ii is the saddest to be compelled to add
the name OF Blue Jeans Williams. The rest of
Indiana has been called upon every year,
nom time immemorial, to contribute some
thing toward the building up OF that city.
II the Courier is driving at anything in
particular in the paragraph we have quoted,
1t must be to urge upon Governor Williams
and all other state officials who come to the
capital city to transact the business of the
state, TO commence at once to make war
upon indianapolis, and lay the foundation
for the distribution of "favors as equally as
possible among the different sections" To
do this it would be necessary to have a dozen
or two insane asylums, and an equal number
of deaf and dumb institutions The blind
would be divided into small bands and locat-
ed in various portions of the state so that the
peoples money might be fairly dis
tributed. The state university would have to
be split up into district schools, and fifteen
or twenty additional penitentiaries provided.
to guard against sectional opposition
to state enterprises. Fortunately for the
sections of the state this policy is not likely
to prevail, though it may greatly embarrass
those who desire to legislate with strict re-
gard to economy and the best interests of the
people. Evansville and Fort Wayne, the
Courier thinks, have been sighted, and it is
possible such is the fact, though it is not
made specially luminous. The Courier adj
mits that the state actually needs new
state house, but is of the opinion that the
measure which passed the legislature would
have been defeated, but for the fact that
the people had great confidence in the
judgment, economy anu integrity of Cover
nor Williams. They felt says the Courier
that inasmuch as it would be necessary to
build new state house some time, il would
perhaps be best to begin it during the adj
'ministration of the governor whose name
has been to them a symbol of economy"
After all this we can arrive at the true in
wardness of the Couriers trouble 1t does
not approve of the governors selection of
state house commissioners and says il rs
disappointment to the portion of the state
which elected him." 1t will be remembered
that Governor Williams is himself one of
the board of state house commissioners. with
vote and voice on all matters pertaining to
the erection of the building. The Courier
Endorses his judgment, integrity and econo-
my, and then declares that Governor viii.
1iams is himself southern Indianian."
What more, then, can the Courier ask?
Southern Indiana has commissioner-pres
ident of the board, clothed with power to
see that all things are done &C.
cording to law. Does the Cour
Ter claim two commissioners for it's
section Of the state? Taking it for granted
il the question of sections was considered
by the governor in making his appointments
of commissioners, that he regarded himself
the representative the board of south
ern Indiana, we conclude that simple jus
tice has been done all sections, center, north,
east, south and vest, and that the opportun-
ity is afforded TO pull together harmoniously.
We do not indorse the proposition with
which the Courier closes its article, that
Southern Indiana should take immediate
steps to check the further progress of the
state house project" On the contrary,
since Southern Indiana is well represented
ON the hoard In the pereor IF Covarnor