St. Paul daily globe., 1893-03-05
THE NEW CAPITOL BILL.

The house committee on public build
ings has unanimously reported bill
providing for the construction OF a new
state capitol building. The Importance
of the measure and its general interest
to the people of the state call for a sue
cinct statement of the provisions of the
bill, as preliminary to any discussion
of the conceded need OF the building.
A board of state capitol commission
ers, to consist of five suitable persons to
be appointed by the governor, is crsated,
of which the governor is eX-otficio pres
ident, the members being removable for
cause by the governor. The senate is
to concur in the appointments. The
members ale to be paid their actual
travelling expenses and 8 day for
time devoted TO the work. The COM
miSsionerS are TO take an oath and to
give a bond in the sum OF $4,000 for
the faithful performance of duty. The
oath pledges each commissioner to have
no interest in any manner in the site of
the building or in any land to be sold
under the act, or in any contract for the
location OF erection of the building or in
the profits of the same. A violation OF
the oath is made perjury, and punish
able as such.
The bOard may appoint superintend-
ent and a secretary not or their number,
and establish their salaries. They, too,
take oath and give bond. 1t is made
unlawful and punishable for any COM
missioner to be Interested in any way
in sites, contracts. supplies or profits.
The provisions for the means to con-
struct the building are as follows: For
the years 1898 and 1894 s., 900 is set apart
from the general fund to the credit of
the commission. Each year after 1894
an annual levy, for not exceeding ten
years, of two-tenths of a mill is made
to pay for the site and construction of
the building.
Section provides for the selection Of
plan for the building to be secured by
competitive contest. The building is
to be planned for a site containing not
less than five acres of ground, and it is
to have all proper heating, lighting and
ventilating apparatus. The specifica-
tionS for the drawings are very minute
in detail. The board Is to call to its as
sistance in passing on the plans sub
mtted two architects of reputation, one
or whom shall be resident, but neither
of whom shall be competitors.
No plan shall be adopted which does
not give detailed specifications of the
cost. including all details. nor until it is
ascertained that the building completed
will not cost more than S2,000,000.
Ample provision is made for notice Of
the letting of contracts, securing the per-
formance of contracts made aud guard
ing the interests of the state in every
direction. The board is authorized to
take by condemnation proceedings and
acquire the title to any property de-
cided on as a site, If unable to agree
with the owner as to the price. All work
is to be done by contract. The eXpendi-
lures of the commissioners are to be
itemized, verified by majority of the
board, and certified to by the governor
and audited by the auditor of state.
This, in substance, is the measure
which has been drafted, and a careful
examination leaves little or no room for
suggestion or criticism. The interests
of the state appear to be guarded at
every point. The bill is the special or
der in the house for Tuesday next at
2:30 p. m.