The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-05
GE0RGIA'S NEW CAPITOL.
THE FORMAL CEREMONIES OVER
ITS OCCUPANCY.

OdpV. dOW6u or the committee
The Speech of Gov. Gordon Followed
by the Benediction.
ATLANTA, GA, July 4.-The formal cere-
monies over the new capitol attracted a
great crowd to the building, and at noon,
the hour for the joint session of the legisla-
ture, the House of Representatives was
filled, floor and gallery. Promptly at the
hour, President duBignon entered the
chamber, followed by the members of the
Senate, marching two and two. President
duBignon occupied the speakers chair,
and called the general as
sembly to order. In few min
utes the governor was announced, and Gov
Gordon, with the state house officials and
Gen. Alexander, E. p. Howell and w. w.
Thomas of the capitol commission, escorted
by the joint committee, entered and were
seated. For some unexplained reason the
supreme court was conspicuously absent.
1t is understood they were overlooked, un-
Intentionally of course, by the committee.
Prayer was offered by Rev. John Jones,
chaplain of the Senate.
PRESIDENT DUBIGNoN's INTRODUCTORY
President duBignon then rose and intro
duced Capt. Howell as follows:
FELLOW REPREsENTATIvEs--T official position
which have the honor Of occupying, has never
conferred a privilege upon me more highly es-
teemed than the duty which the present occa
sion imposes. Surely Georgians could not
wish to gaze upon more creditable evidence
OF the growth and progress OF their
state than is offered by the surround
lngs in which we are assembled.
Rich as she is in that truest wealth which any
rot. mat Ffo,,v
her sons, to none does Sire owe debt of graft
tude more than to those whose labors have
erected this splendid editice and splendid rnonu-
ment to the integrity and character of her peo-
pie. AS her chosen representative, have the
honor of presenting to the people of Georgia
the Hon. Evan p Howell of the capitol com
mission
CAPT. HowELL's ADDRESS.
Capt. Howell made the following ad-
dress:
GENTLEMEN OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
GEORGIA: have been selected by the commits
sion lntrusted with the building of a capitol for
Georgia with the pleasant duty of formally
turning over our work 10 your body, who are to
hold it as the future home of Georgia's legisla-
tive executive and judicial officers. The Off
cial duties of our commission closed in April
last, at which time we made final fel tlement
with the contractors, all of which has
been formally reported to you by the board of
commissioners. We have discharged the duty
entrusted to us as faithfully as we were able.
We steadily adhered to the act of your honora-
BILE body in creating this commission and max
ing the appropriation for the building 1t was
the earnest desire of each member of the board
that Georgia should have a capitol equal in
convenience comfort and elegance to the de-
Inands OF our great state, and that this should
be done without exceeding the amount you had
appropriated.
THREE-FoURTHs GEORGIA MATERIAL.
In this we have succeeded to our satisfaction
ana with but one regret, and that is that all the
material used in the building is not Georgia ma
terial. 1t is a gratifying fact however that
three-fourths of the material used in the build
ing is Georgia material. | deem it a proper oc-
caSon to say that much of the success of the
commission is due to the admirable judg-
ment and wise discretion exercised by ex-Gov.
Henry D. Mcdaniel. When the bill became
law by his signature he went to work earnestly
as l know personally, to make it a success.
During his term of office he gave to the work
as much attention as if he had the entire re-
sponSibility. The selection of material draft
ing of contract, writing and revising spechca-
tlons, all received his undivided attention. 1t
has been of great service to the commission.
Another fact deem it proper to state, and it is
this That since the organization of the com
mission there has been no disagreements or
diSSensions. 1t has been The purpose of each
member of the board to carefully examine what
was necessary to be done, and after this was
determined by discussion, it was carried out
vigorously by each member of the board. We
were also fortunate in getting architects who
were capable and honest and who discharged
their duty to the entire satisfaction of the COM
mission, and now, fellow citizens, we have
capitol building worthy of Georgia 1t was our
duty to this grand old state TO build as hand
some capitol as we we're able. Sometimes
think our people do not properly appreciate
their glorious state.
When go to other states and see the number
of sons who have left us and hear them talk of
their disadvantages and how they would like
again to be back in our state, it makes me think
that we do not properly appreciate our own
state.
INTERRUPTED BY SALUTE.
During Capt Howell's speech, the
negroes were firing salute. At the first
shot, the speaker said ''That wasn't in the
programmed" and the audience cheered. At
the second shot he called out: There it is
again"
Gov. Gordon accepted the new building
for the state. In introducing him, Presi-
dent duBignon simply said: Georgia was
never illustrated better than she is to-day
in her chief executive, Gen. John B.
Gordon
The governor bowed to the storm Of ap-
plause and cheers with which he was
greeted.
At the conclusion of the governors speech
the benediction was pronounced by the
chaplain of the House, Rev. Mr.. CLANCY.
RECEPTION AT NIGHT
The ceremonies terminated tonight in a
public reception by the governor. There
was little formality about tie OCCASION and
its brillancy was marred by partial fail
ure in the illumination of the building. The
electric lights were not ready and the sole
reliance was the gas company, which was
utterly unequal to the occasion. The gas
jets were dim and kept up SUCH a constant
blinking as to produce general annoyance.
1t was a great disappointment to the thou
sands who visited the building during the
evening.
Gov. and Mrs. Gordon were found in the
state library, which is by tar the hand
soonest section in the building. Into this
room the visitors thronged, and were pre-
sented to Gov. and Mrs. Gordon, who
gave each gracious greeting and cordial
shake of the hand. After the ceremony,
the visitors passed out of the library and
scattered over the building. The color line
was not drawn. Many prominent colored
citizens, with their families, were seen in
the throng and they did not neglect to pay
their respects to the governor. The recep-
tion lasted quite a while, and the building
was not deserted till late hour. 1t was a
pronounced success.
Wavcroas Wants the Colleoa