Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-07-17

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even for no other offence than vagranoy. In
Georgia an equally bad state of things has
boon exposed and one account says that the
facts brought out by an official investigation
were no bad that the governor ordered them
suppressed. It is hopeful sign that the
leading Southern newspapers are taking hold
Of the subject, exposing the inhumanity of
the system, and declaring that the only rem
edy is to prohibit absolutely by law the leas-
ing Of oonvicts.
The New state Library BuIIdIag..-the
whole Question in Review.
In publishing the fact, last week, that our
replies from members of the legislature
showed that it was the intention of that body,
four to ono, TO erect a separate building for
the state library, we added the statement
that we would give, this week, a history of
the library building bill, and the steps by
which it finally passed the Legislature and be-
came law. BY way of introduction II may
be said that for several years, and through
several sessions of the legislature, the need
of increased accommodations for the state
library has been felt. The library has in
creased rapidly in size, and it was a long time
ago that the limit of proper and convenient
storage of the books was reached and passed.
This demand for increased accommodation
finally took shape at the session of 1884 in
the drafting and presentation of bill for q
new library building. Hearings upon the
bill were held in due course Of business, and
of one of these hearings held on the evening
Of Wadnao1au nak Nha d..
Press says in its regular report of Legislative
proceedings
THE joint committee on the library, Senator Idle
chairman, and the House committee on public build
ings, Mr. Farnham of West Fairee chairman, gave
public hearing In the Senate chamber last evening
upon the question of erecting new building for the
state library. The trustees, Of whom Gov. Pingree
eK-ohicio is chairman, at the meeting last evening
voted to recommend the construction of q building
separate from the state house for the purposes Of the
state library, the supreme court, the library and col
ections of the Vermont Historical society and egti-
mate public uses and the expense not to exceed $780,
600. Gov. Pngree presented this recommendation to
tue committee. Mr.. Huse 1.-THE state lbrarianl said
that there were q 900 books in the library and
many pamphlets, worth at least $4,000. There was
shelf room for only oneha Of the books 1t is hoped
that the Legislature will provide money for building
to be erected on the ground between the Pavilion and
the state house, large enough to accommodate the
sessions OF the supreme court as well the state and
historical libraries"
The measure finally took definite shape and
on Wednesday, Oct 49, Senator Ide formally
introduced it in the Senate, fact which the
Free Press report records in this language:
There seems to be general feeling that the time
has arrived when some provision should be made for
tue books In the state library; and Senator Ide intro
dnced bill yesterday, providing for the apprOpria-
ton and expenditure of $50 900 in the erection Of
fire proof building 1t is rather doubtful il any addi-
ton could be made to the state house without i'm
pairing it's convenience and architectural beauty and
the building will probably be erected the lands
usen as lawn for the Pavilion The state owns the
land and it would be easy Of access and in every
spect desirable site. The bill drawn intends to
provide against another appropriation complete the
building by limiting and defining the powers Of the
building commissioners"
After full discussion the bill finally passed
the Senate on Tuesday, Nov. IL, by vote
of 25 to 4. The Free Press of the following
day records the fact that Senator Ide
Stated that the building which the bill contemplated
would combine the minimum of expense, safety OF
the books feasibility of warming during cold weather
convenience OF reference and accessibility of the books
The yeas and nays were called and the bill passed the
Senator lde providing that the work the building
should be done by contract, and guarding against an
| expenditure in excess OF the appropriation"
In this connection it ia of interest TO note
tho fact that Senator Ide, in his reply to our
circular letter of enquiry about the intent of
the bill, says: THE distinct understanding
in the Senate was that we were voting for a
separate building, and not for an annex.
This was the result after full discussion Of
the various plans"
AS the bill left the Senate il provided fol-
an appropriation of $50, 200, the Senators
believing this to be as small sum as ought
to be put into such building, but the false
economists of the House thought differently
and various efforts were made to reduce the
appropriation. When the bill finally came
up in the House as special order on the 18th
of November, Mr.. Hassetine of Bristol the
chairman of the House committee on the libra
ry, explained why 1t had been drawn as it had
to secure an independent building with suit
able library accommodations at moderate
cost aud to make sure that the amount ex
pended should not exceed the appropriation.
Mr.. Dillingham; of Waterbury, who tool
a leading part in behalf of the measure, fol
lowed at considerable length, explaining
fully and in detail what the friends Of the
bill supposed would be dono and urging ia
vorable action. He spoke of the different
plans that had been suggested, and the rival
ry that had existed between the friends oil
each, and favored an independent building
He spoke definitely of the site in the grove
east of the state house as being the probable
location, and explained the proposed method
of dividing the library, by which the statutes
of all the states, the reports of all state anG
government officers, all political and histor
ioal works and books of reference and fiction
should be retained in the present library
room for the special use of the Legislature
while the law library only should be taken tc
the new building for the use of the suprem.
court judges and lawyers.
There is nothing in any of the reports Il
indicate that anything was said during THU
debate looking toward such structure as the
commissioners have decided to build, and the
universal impression left on the members OF
the House certainly was that separate build
ing alone was intended. Several members Of
undisputed prominence have assured US Der
sonally that not word was said in favor Of
any. other plan than the one indicated by the
wording of the bill and the explanations thai
had been previously made, and in addition tc
this more than twenty leading members give
us substantially the same assurance in theil
replies to our circular of enquiry.
The next days debate related almost en-
tirely to the amount to be appropriated
an amendment fixing the sum at $50, 900 wal
finally adopted and the bill was ordered TO 1
third reading The following afternoon tn,
bill was put upon its passage. Mr.. Bllingsl
name was added to the list of commissioner
and some other items of detail we're definite
ly fixed. Then, according to the official re
port in the daily journal,
"Mr. Clark of Halifax INTERCEPTED the committe,
on the library as to the states title to the land OF
which II was proposed to erect the building and b,
what authority the state had control of IT, Mr. Dill
lingham said Messrs. Day and Cottri decided the ant
to the state with limitation that It should be uset
for state buildings"
The bill passed imme diately after. CoulG
anything make clearer the intent which wa,
in the legislators minds at this time? tn,
fact that Day and Oottrill were then the pro
prietors of the Pavilion hotel, and that al
the land conveyed by them to the state wa
situated east of the state house makes it evi
dent beyond question that the House as
body intended to provide for the erection Of
an independent building on the vacant land
between the state house and the hotel. Au
thority was given the commissioners to locate
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