New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-20
cIRRYING orr THE CAPITOL.

II there is any truth In the reports which com"
from Albany during these last weeks OF III"
diving year. there's danger. unless actioh oi Sonic
sort is taken To prevent ii. that by the ISL "I
J,uuory the Capitol building will be broken up
and carried off picccm"al and the Legislature
will have no place Ia meet in. The persons WI"
have been in the possession Of power anu me
occupaiion of The building for several years seem
IA br acting upon the notion that they own me
b,ilding absolutely and have a right To take II
dawn and carry II away with them now that
they can occupy it no longer That they he
lcycd they were absolute rulers of IN" whole
state with a divine right to make laws to sur
themselves to regulate at their will all
the affairs II It's citizens. and TO divide among
themselves It's revenues. has long been apphr-
cnr. Rur it WAS not suspected until now 'ha'
they claimed the ownership of the public bulld-
nss. and would undertake TO carry them oil.
either pirccmcal or bodily when they wer" dis
charged from public functions AMI retired I"
private life II seems. however thar they do
labor under HAT Authorization. and III pursuance
thereof are not only diSmantling thr furniture
~ the Capirol bnt taking thc cdhcc 10 pieces
and gradually earring II away.
II was lately discovered that they had begun
ON the roof: 800 pounds ~ Head from the cutters
having been already taken away. costly 'uspl
doris have likcwlc disappeared. ana twenty or
the handsome ch rS valued ~ NOR" IMAM -"
each which did service in The N"w-lork state
Building nj the Worlds Fair ana Wor" stored
ON the top foo of the Capitol are missing
other property Of the stat" has mNSi"riol-ly
disappeared and the statesmen who are en-
gagcd In The dismanling process nave even
rnuc so far rs 20 carry of articles or wearing
apuarcl belonging 10 employees IN III" depart
mrnis which could not under the most liberal
construction ~ the lien of the retiring states
men bee held subject 10 seizure Personal prop
ertv Of This nalur. will doubtless be- returned
~ sonn os th.. retiring statesmen have had time
T., .xomlu. the. sintit,s and look mp the prccc-
denis For whil. Democratic practice may fur-
nlsh a warrant for appropriaiing all the pupI"
property In sight II has never been the custom
or m least the recognized custom. Ia carry Oh
the clothes 81 persons employed In ID" puDIlr
service Thes" are iroublous times to b" sure
and Il f.. not impossibl" that In the stress "f
them new prccedcnts may be established W"
cherish the hope. notwithstanding. that IN" Inc
viii be- drawn on personal wearing apparel anu
that tie clothes will hr returned II would 20
/ far T., r...cstnbli-h the Democratic party In pub
H. favor.
7 II may also be- said and We hope we shall not
b. accused Il on"n>iy" pari~an-hip In Offering
F the suggestion that The right Of the Democratic
part, ~ take down the public buildings and
carry thom off when il gets through using them
+. DISPUTED hy many eminent constitutional law
y.r- I'm ihi, state ~ affairs. The Who'll" lucs
ion bring involved iu 50 much doubt "l
account u the conflict of Democratic usage
with the Constitution AMI TIA" statutes. II
seems only proper thar III" demolition 81
the capitol should hc temporarily stayed
All The rights - the Democratic party being
reserved. Of course until judicial decision can
h. reached Now that The work IT demolition
* under way II may be- difficult 10 stop H. bit
If * within the province ~ Governor Flower
ana W.. are not sure Int that II Is his official
duty. ro call ont the National Guard. II n"c"s
s,ry. for The protection ~ the Capitol We be-
u.ye that citizens generally are disposed 10 treat
the. Democratic party fairly aud not deprive II
of any ~ IS rights. II WAS expected that when
q retired from the control of the State II would
carry away all the portabl" property In sight
but In the present state II the public mind We
feel sure that the attempt To carry of I'll" state
Capitol will provoke resentment