Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-07-17
HGN1x AND RECORD AND FARMER. FRIDAY JULY II,

made Of individual members IA state defn-
itely that they supposed separate building
was intended the remaining a say with
more or less dstinctness that they supposed
il was left with the commissioners TO locate,
or that they either favored an annex or sup.
posed an annex would be built 'if the ap.
preparation was large enough" Careful
examination Of the replies by any one ao-
quainted with the subject will show that
those men who we're actively and intelligent
ly interested in favor of increased library so-
oommodations are agreed TO man in saying
that they supposed a separate building, and
nothing other than this, was intended. Many
such members are very emphatic in their Ian
guage, saying that "a bill for an annex could
not have been carried" that they would have
done all they could ito kill such bill, that
they think the proposed annex "a piece Of
vandalism and an outrage upon the state il
carried out, and 30 on through long list
that might be quoted from with equal effect
SO far as the use Of this word 'annex" is
concerned il should be said that all the evil
dence shows clearly that such a structure az
this proposed sub. annex, which the commits.
sioners have decided upon was never for a
moment thought of by the legislature. When
the word "anne1" WAS used IL was used az
having reference to full annex or wing up
on the west end Of the state house, with u
view 10 a symmetrical enlargement of the
building in future years by the erection Of a
similar wing on the east end. II IN true that
Senator Morrill, had at one time previous to
this suggested the erection Of Il sub annex or
enlargement entirely in the rear of the west
wing of the state house and parallel with
Representatives. hall, but this suggestion met
with nothing but disfavor from those init.
mately interested in the library, and the bill
as originally drawn and finally passed was
specifically intended TO avoid the possibility
Of such a structure
In this connection il is interesting, and we
think, significant, to note passage in Gov.
Pingree's message to the General Assem-.
bly, at the opening of the session of 1884,
where, under the hoad of the Library and
Cabinet" he says IL cannot bettor empha.
size this subject the need OF more library
ROOM than by inviting your attention to the
earnest recommendations for an Independent
library building in tho messages and state of.
fioers' reports above referred to-"
The facts here stated we have been at much
pains to gather and collate. We believe We
have stated them fairly and impartially. The
intent Of the legislature in passing the libra
ry building bill is made plain. So filed were
the leaders in this movement with the idet
that an independent building was alone in
tended that they took the whole matter fol
granted and did not insert the one or two
words needed to make the erection of such
building legally compulsory and the commits
sioners have taken advantage of this fact Il
decide upon a structure which we believe will
be an endless source of regret and even NOR
tifcation to every citizen in whose mind tn,
fitness of things and architectural beauty ant
symmetry in our public buildings are es
teemed worth caring for.
The Free Press extracts above quoted, Thu
discussions in both houses, and the specific
wording of the bill all show that the legisla
ture intended to strictly and imperativel,
limit the sum to be expended on the build
ing to the amount of the appropriation
$3G, 900. But in spite of this fact il is he'll
at the outset that the state must pay 81, 50
entirely aside from the appropriation, t,
make ready the foundation of the building
How large a deficit additional to this we ar
to have it is yet too early to say.
We have no expectation that the presenta
tions here made will work any change in tn
determination of the commissioners, but VI
do have very full assurance that by the tim
another session of the legislature come
around our statement of facts will max
"mighiy interesting reading"