St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-03
A BUSINESS DEMAND.

If the same patriotic sentiment
and wise management which in
spired and caused to be passed the
bill for the drainage of Red river
lands were applied to other proposed
legislative acts, this session would
not be in vain. That it is good bust
ness policy to invest a dollar which
will return two is proposition which
no one will contest. Every foot of
land which will be reclaimed and
transformed from a barren waste
to a fruitful soil will, in time to
come, pay it's tribute to the gen
eral fund of the state.
But it is not alone in the reclaim
ing of waste land, nor yet in the pur-
chase of seed grain that the funds
of the state must be invested in Or
der that the state may reap the full
measure of profit and benefit. Min
neSota has her credit to sustain
among the states of the nation. and
to do this her public institutions
must rank second only to those
states which are better able to pro-
their people. Our university and
other educational institutions, our
insane aSylumS, prisons and char
liable institutions must be provided
with all that is latest and best sin
their several lines, and last, but not
least, the state capitol provided for
under the law of 1893 should be made
the especial object of care of this
legislature.
The commission having the mat
ter OF construction in it's charge have
found that the restrictions of the
original law are such as to seriously
hamper them in carrying out their
work, and have asked that this leg
islature grant them some extended
discretion in the matter of selecting
plans. 1t has been found that the
better and more responsible archi-
tects refuse to compete under the
conditions to which the commits
sion has been limited. For the pur-
pose of securing desirable plans and
responsible architects, the commits
sion asks that this condition of the
original law be wiped out, and That
the commission be allowed the same
latitude OF discretion in this particu-
lar which is accorded them in all
others. This request is certainly
reasonable and proper. The COM
mission will be responsible for the
character of the monument they
erect, and to tie their hands in the
matter of choosing plans and an
architect would be the first stem tow
ards securing a flimsy and unsub-
stantial building.
1t is then asked that $3.50 900 of the
total sum appropriated be made
available so that the committee NAV
take advantage of the CHEAP ma
terlal and cheap labor of the pres
tlme to do as much as possible be-
fore prices advance. 1t needs no
sage to point out the wisdom of such
course.
Inc building now in use is not onIy
utterly inadequate to the needs of
the state, but it is unsubstantial. un-
healthy and inconvenient. ONLY 2
portion of the departments of the
state government can be accommo.
dated within it's walls, while the
others are domiciled around in the
office buildings Of the city. This
unsatisfactory and expensive ar.
rangement will continue in force
and continue to grow more expen.
slVe and inconvenient as the bust
ness of the state increases from yea,
to year. 1t will take many wears r.
complete the new building, and it is
nigh time to commence. A delav ot
a few days now means an ultimate
delay of two years and a CORES.
pondingly increased expense. not r.
mention. the inconvenience and dan.
ger attached to the occupancy nv
state officials of temporary quarters
In separate buildings.
| Ihere1s every substantial argument
Tor immediate and favorable action
on the capitol bill, and there is mr.
sensible or consistent argument
against it.