The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-19
for the New CAPITOL.


Appropriations for the New Capitol.
General expressions in favor Of economy
in the expenditure OF public money are OF
little practical value. They produce no i'm
preston because nobody heeds them. But
when we go into details and point TO the
particular abuses that ought TO cease, then
the advocates Of extravaganza and corrup
ton begin to cry out. Gov. RoBINsoN's
message Is model in this respect. While
uttering weighty words in behalf OF frugal
government, he tells the people just when,
where, and how to commence the work OF
rotrenchment in this State.
1t Is fair presumption, from the tenor OF
the message, that the Governor will oppose
large appropriations at the present session
for the new Capitol. lie is right, and the
taxpayers ought to support him in this de-
termination. The State is deeply In debt.
Only n small share OF It's burdens appear in
the Comptrolleps report The weight under
which it staggers is mainly found in the in
debtment OF the counties, cities, and vii
lagos. It is this class OF liabilities that run
local taxation up TO such oppressive rates.
Under these circumstances, II would be
nothing less than criminal for this Legls-
lature TO make large appropriations for
the new Capitol-or perhaps any appro-
priatlons at all. There is no necessity for
1t. The Senate and Assembly have worked
their way into the building, and are holding
their sessions In its enormous apartments
and among its gaudy and inconvenient fur
nlture. II this Is congenial 10 their tastes,
lot them stay there
And now, IL there are any more Of the
State officers at Albany who want the Leg
sature this winter to appropriate several
millions OF dollars, or even several hundred
thousand to finish off and fit up in the
present costly style some moro rooms for
their immediate occupation the people
ought to know who they are. Gov. ROB
INsoN is content to remain in the same
apartments in the old Capitol where CLIN-
TON, SEWARD, and SEYMOUR sat SO many
years. He is not calling for these lavish ex-
pendltures. The Court OF Appeals IL stu
in the old building Are the Judges eager
| TO get into the new edifce when they know
their removal this year will largely increase
the taxes Of the people in every county OF
| the State 2 How Is this. Mr.. Chief Justice
SANFORD L. CHURCH? Will you gather up
the opinion Of your brethren on the bench
concerning this point and report to Gov.
RoBNsoN2 II Is said that two or three OF
them wish to be his successor next year, and
the taxpayers would like to know where
| they stand ON the question Of increasing
our public burdens.
Is IL the Secretary OF State, the Comp
troller, the Acknowledgement, and their as
sociates who are clamoring for money TO
get into the new Capitol? These gentlemen
should not forget that they were elected on
a retrenchment platform fifteen months ago,
and some OF them may remember that they
scarcely got elected at all. They have verY
pleasant and convenient Offices now in the
handsome State Hall, which fronts on the
Capitol grounds. 1t was erected years ago
at great expense for their accommodation;
and their numbers have not since increased
For a long period this building has afforded
ample space for men quite as large rs the
present occupants. Do the latter wish to
have few millions Of other peoples money
spent TO furnish them with more luxurious
quarters across the park Will the Hon.
ALLEN c. BEACH ascertain how his asso-
ciates feel on this subject, and print the re-
port In the Argus Some Of them may
desire to run again in the fall, and the tax
payers will wish to know their views.
Is it the Legislature that il calling aloud
for these millions for the new building? Let
every constituency watch the course Of its
Senator and Assemblyman. II he votes for
lavish appropriations, let them calculate the
increase in their taxes from this source, and
then take heed that he does not get back TO
Albany next winter.
The people will stand by the Governor in
resisting appropriations for the new Capitol
at the present session Of the Legislature.