Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-06-26
The New State Library.

The New State Library.
1t is not easy to see what the Montpe-
lcr papers expect to gain by insisting
that the Legislature intended that Il sepa-
rate building should be erected for the
State library. We understand the direct
contrary to be the fact. The bill offers on
its face most distinct proof that the Legs
lature intended to provide for an annex to
the State House, and noe for Il separate
building, in the amendment cutting down
the appropriation from $4,000 to $40, 600
The adoption of this amendment was to
say in the most emphatic way, we will
provide means for a library wing but
not for Il separate library building. But
aside from that, there is ample testimony
that the Legislature did not favor the idea
of removing the library from the State
House, where it belongs, and making it an
appendage to Il Court House. A few of
the lawyers in the two Houses, who attend
court at Montpelier, undoubtedly thought
it would be Il fine thing to have a new
court house on State street, and to put the
State Library in it for the convenience of
the members of the bar but the mass of
the members undoubtedly regarded the
library as provided primarily for the use
of the legislators and of the public in at
tendance upon the sessions. whose cOnVcn-
fence distinctly requires that the library
be attached to the State IIouSe-and in
this they represented the people OF the
State at large
The commissioners took this whole
matter fully into consideration. They
IL 4
members and State officials III the hes
positions to Judge of the feeling and purpo @
Of the Legislature, to the effect that no
appropriation could have been obtained
for Il separate building. The writer of
this article was at Montpelier while the
bill was under discussion and when it
passed. and he has no doubt whatever
tldt 1t bill providing in terms for sep
araJt library building down ON State
street or ut some distance from the State
House, would have been killed in the
House. if it had passed the Senate Does
any one suppose that if the Montpelier
people and the lawyers who were 50
anxious to secure separate building,
could have got bill through for II sep
arate building, they would not have done
so,
The commissioners would have heard
very distinctly from the people of the
State, if they had decided this question in
any other way. They have obeyed the
letter and the intent of the act. They
will do the best and utmost that can be
done, for the sum at their disposal ; and
we have not particle of doubt that the
| library annex, when completed, will just
ty their action and commend itself to the
good judgment and taste of the people
| The State House is not going to be in
| jured ii particle, in looks, by the annex
And on the score of security and conven
fence, it will be a great improvement
| We are sorry our Montpelier friends arr
! not suited with the arrangement but the
| Legislature chose to suit the people The
commissioners are but carrying out the
! intent of the Legislature. The point has
been decided and ground broken for tn,
| library wing and the Montpelier peopl,
! who are not satisfied, may as well ac
| quiesce in the decision first as last