St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-04
THE MAJORITY's VIEWS.
Four of the Senators Unite in the
ReDort Found nelow.


ton Of April 8, 1851. to investigate and
report to this honorable body its find
ings: First-As to whether, in its judg-
ment, new capitol building is neces-
sary; and, Second-If it appeared nee
essary to build new building, where
it should be located, together with facts
and figures relative to the size, cost.
ETC.. of the capitol buildings Of other
states, begs leave to report as follows:
The committee held its first meeting
on Nov. 4, 1891, and was organized by
the election of Senator f. q. Mcmillan,
chairman, and Fred n. Van DuZee. sec
retary. The committee has held numer
Gus meetings, and has made trip to
DeS MoineS for the purpose of eXamin-
ing the capitol Of Iowa. At these meet
ingS the committee has given exhaust
i've consideration to the questions placed
before it by the res olution under which
it was appointed.
New Building Needed.
1t is unanimous in the opinion that
new capitol building is necessary, on
the grounds of proper consideration for
the convenient and expeditions dis
charge of the public business, the care
and preservation Of the public records,
the health and safety of the public
servants, and the standing and credit Of
4 great and prosperous commonwealth.
The present capitol was erected under
the eXigency caused by the destruction
by fire Of the old building, at time of
great financial depression in the state,
followed by a succession of crop failures.
Time and money were both lacking. and
it is certain that the present capitol is
the best that could have been erected
under the limitations which the circum-
stances imposed.
Equally certain is it that the state has
completely outgrOWn the capacity of
this building, and with the crOWding to-
gether of the offices have come other
evils. For more than a decade it has
been constant bill of expense for re-
pairs, growing out of
Faulty Construction,
and has required almost annual remod-
cling to furnish increased room for the
old departments, or an abiding place in
some obscure corner for the new ma
chinery made necessary by the growth
Of the state, until every available inch
of space, including. in some Instances,
what was originally intended for air
and light shafts, is occupied. NaultSpace
is utterly inadequate, and vast guam
tity of the valuable public documents
and records of the state are now stored
away in the basement absolutely with
out protection from fire. The assembly
halls of the legislature are poorly
adapted to their uses, and legislation is
impeded by the lack of proper commit
tee rooms, while any increase in the
popular representation in senate or
house is absolutely prohibited, because
10 M
the floor Of either house. 1t has been
impossible to keep up with the best i'm
proved methods of lighting, heating,
ventilation and sewerage, and, as re-
suit, the public service is carried on at a
great risk of health. LII few years,
some of the departments will be crowded
Out OF the kSuilding;
and in this connection it must be re-
membered that even if the present leg
islature takes the initial steps looking to
at least ten years before it will be ready
for occupancy, so that whatever is done
to relieve the condition ought to be done
speedily. SO plain did these considera-
tons appear TO the committee that at
the first meeting it was unanimously
resolved to embOdy in this report rec
ommendatiOn that new capitol build
ing be erected, and that the maximum
| limit of expenditure be S2.000000.
The next matter in order for consider
alton was site for a new capitol. and
| the question OF recommending the pres
ent location, or one in its immediate
vicinity, or of removal to an interurban
! point, OF location still farther removed
| from the states entire population, was
reviewed by the committee. The capt.
| tOl is essentially designed for the con-
venient dispatch of the public business.
| This end can only be reached by its
location as nearly as may be at the
Center OF Population,
not only of the state, but of the capita
| city, convenient of immediate access
! and within easy reach of the best hotel
and railroad facilities. For these rea-
sons the committee rejected the latter
| alternative and at the first meeting the
following resolution was made part of
! the record:
Resolved, That in the report which
this committee will make to the senate,
we shall recommend that the square
upon which the present capitol stands
| is in all respects the most eligible Situa-
lion for new building. If the plans
finally adopted should require greater
| area for building than the site named.
we recommend that sufficient ground
adjacent to the present square should
| be obtained.
If, however. the committee should
advise a removal in order to obtain a
greater area than may be practicable at
| the present location, or to secure more
conspicuous situation, we recommend,
on account Of public convenience, that
the new site shall not be more than
three-quarters of a mile distant from
the present capitol.
In order that the burden of the cost Of
new building may fall as lightly as
| possible upon the people Of Tire state,
YOUR committee recommends that small
! appropriations be made, not larger than
the average annual amounts granted to
the educational and other institutions
of the state. We recommend that for
| the preparatory work $1,000 be- set aside
in each of the years 1898 and 1894 to
defray the expenses of the commission
to be appointed to enable it to invite
| aud
| Select Suitable Plans
for the new building. After the year
| 1894 we recommend that an amount
equal to two-tenths of one mill upon
the assessed valuation of all the prop
erty of the state be set aside from the
general fund 10 the credit of the capitol
commissioners to defray the eX penSes
! Continued On Fifth Page.