The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-13
HINTS ron nnsrnD ANp HARRIs.
The VniunbIe Contributions they Might Have
Made to the IIItory OF the Old Capitol.


ALBANY. Feb. 12.--" 1t is well to be OF with
the old love before you are on with the now"
says the old song. and so. it is plain thoughtthe
Hon Hamilton Harris and his confrercs in the
movement for grand memorial leave-taking
Of the old Capitol building, which was celc-
bratcd this evening.
Fortunately. or unfortunately, there was no
one assigned to speak for that other branch oftho
Legislature. the lobby. which has borne so con-
spicuous part in the legislation Of the State.
From tho day OF lis organization by Thurlow
Weed down through the rcigns Of the Albany
Regency the Canal and Railroad Rings. tho
Tweed Ring. the Insurance Ring, and the vari-
Gus other Rings aud cliqucs this body has ruled
almost supreme in the control Of legislation
upon questions in which it was interested.
Ofthe history and workings Of the lobby from
the days Of Thurlow Weed down to those Of A.
d. Barber and l.. H. Phelps. there is not probn-
blv in tho rntiro State a man better qualified to
give a iull history than the Hon. Hamilton llur-
ris In all these years he has been n res idcnt Of
Albany. much Of the time holding positions Of
public trust in some way connected with the
Legislature and the old building and always
taxing an active part and interest In public NJ
fairs. What n muster stroke n would have
been for him 20 have told upon THIS OCCASION
what he knows about the lobby md rs
irllucncel But il would unqnestionnbly take
too mach time aud space should Mr. llar-
ris attempt to crowd all he knows about
the Albany lobby into ono address, and no
doubt ne would have filled tho bin II he had
confined himself for this Orrnsicn to the one
great work of the LOBBY with which he has been
himself the most ronspIruously identified. and
the triumph ~ which has called for these
grand commemorative s"ryices. aud that IT, tho
scheme for The erection II u new Capitol IN Al
hauv so costly thut the propl" would not IN fu-
tlrr y"lrs consent To- IT, Abandonment and the
/ removal ~ the scat 90 government to n more
convenient aud nrnropriate p,ac". lie oouiid
have told how many vcurs ago there began 20 hc
whisprrings That New York city was the proper
place for the State Capital. and how the prop
| alarmed thrroat. How hi providing for the
/ uIIilng oi "a new capitol WIS hastily drawn
| aud rushed m rough the senate, and how 1t sud
| denly stopuod short in ia passage through the
| Assembly when upon its third reading where
| It was KILLED and lai,i upon the table, Then he
! could have recalled the gathering in hot haste
| 81 "a few " tho solid men oi Albany and tho
politicians in the office Of a we'll known banker
| and how the situation WIS rnnvasscd until IL
was determined that something must be dono
and tho necessary amount to do 1t with was
Then no might have narrated how we'll
known journalist. vino has sine" gone from Al
| hnny. and II now printing newspaper IN New
| York and advoc'iting Grant for II third torn.
/ was scut for to give an estimate rs 20 how mu N
| he thought it would cost 10 take the dead bill
| OF tn iHhlc. overcome tho objections, and
! pass 10. and how tho figures 81 this gentleman
| were so high thut they frightened the solid mon
| until they decided 10 tuke a day Or two more
! for consideration. Then he might have TX
| plained how uroyidoniinllv the Lobby King g.
/ d. Hnrbcr wd- called in and consulted with by
! snid That the bin could 10 revived and passed
/ for ms uirny thousands rs he had fingers on his
! lcft hand; how gladly his ofrrr WIS closed
! with. aud how. in less than foriy-cignt hours
| afieryarl. the hill was restored. passed. and
| sent 90 tho Governor.
| Then Mr. Harris might have given an inter-
| csting review Of the progress 81 the building
| under tho various boards ana commissions
| down 70 the grand opening Of about ono fourth
| thus FAR OF about $40 000 600 with the ~ surancc
| TINT II Will cost about MS much more To- COM