The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-01-12
A STATE HOUSE

| "a Ola AE aOOSG.
The propIiety of erecting Capitol
buildings for the Territory may well be
questioned, Notwithstanding the fact
that the Governor has recommended
that the work be undertaken. 1t seems
TO The HERALD that while there may
be, and undoubtedly are, some reasons
why we should build Capitol, there
are many others, and much more fore
ible ones, why we should not do SO just
nov. One principal demand for q
Capitol is that the Legislature may have
a suitable and convenient place for
meeting. Congress has decreed that the
Assembly shall me- only once IN two
years, and that its sessions shall be
limited to sixty days. It occurs to us
that it would be decidedly unwise
piece OF public fiDanciering to erect and
furnish elegant halls and committee
rooms solely for the accommodation of
thirty-six men for six weeks every other
year. The public money can be put to
much better use. 1t may be urged that
the Territorial officials should be pro-
vided with offices. How many of
these officials are there? In its
peculiar wisdom, and at toe bidding
OF OIL Q g thag friends of Utah, Congress
has legislated pretty nearly all the Ter
ritorial officers out of existence. There
is treasurer left, and there is an
auditor, and there is a school superin-
tendent, and-weu, isn't that about all?
Is 1t worth while to put two or three
hundred thousand dollars into Capitol
that these three officers may have ele-
CANT Offices rent free? We think not.
Perhaps there are other uses to which
a Capitol might be put; ifso, what are
they, and are they of such magnitude
as to warrant the erection of the build
ing? 1t will be said that handsome
Capitol would be an ornament and
credit to the city and to tie Territory,
and so itwould; but are we in condi-
Son to advertise in that way and at the
Cost contemplated? Let US rather
make the display in fine schoolhouses,
in good roads and in things which will
be as useful as ornamental.
Furthermore, if the Territory stood |
in need of a Capitol, which it does not,
it is not prepared to undertake the
erection of suitable building. Such |
structure as could be put I'D
now would soon be inadequate
to the demands, and would have
to be abandoned. 1t Will be time
enough to build Capitol when there
are uses for one. While the Federal |
government insists upon doing every
thing of public nature that is done in
The Territory, while it denies to the
people the right to any governmental
functions and sends to US officials to
perform every duty, even to the regis
trstion of voters and TIE trial of
DRINKS, it can also provide
for the accommodation of its army of
officials and the TIE ritory will do with
put Capitol which it could not utilize.
The Governor seeks to cast discredit
upon the Territory in this matter, by
that other, and less wealthy,
Territories have Capitols. He does
not explain that Congress has left the
other Territories something to do in
he way of the management of their
OWN affairs; that the Federal govern
nent has not usurped quite all the
powers and privileges usually enjoyed
BY citizens; has not taken quite all the
public offices, and has not, therefore
deprived the other Territories of ali
necessity for Capitol.
Utah will erect Capitol when the
shall be permitted to be-
come something more than a subject
people.