New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-21
THE STATE CAPITOL.

There are two things which the State Capitol
mt Albany may confidently be relied on to fur
nsh: an enduring opportunity TO spend large
sums Of money. and an occasion for speculation
as to when, If ever, the huge pile will be fin
ished For twenty years. or thereabout, the ex-
penditure on this building has gone on at the
rate of nearly $1.OOO.OOO annually. and so far
we are now able TO judge 1t bids fair to continue
indefinitely. Not long ago we were assured that
q contract would be made for the completion OF
the work. which, according TO the estimates pre-
scented. was to cost nearly $3.OOO,OOO. But the
estimates did not provide for finishing the build
ing in its entirety. and. in spite of what has
since been done the end is seemingly as remote
as ever. And not only so. but the spectre is
raised of an additional building. close at hand
for the accommodation of certain branches of
the State Government which. it is gravely as
serted. cannot be fifty provided for in the Cap
itol itself Members of both houses OF the Iegis
lature have conceived the idea that they need
more room. and must have it. even at the ex
pense Of crOwding other important departments
INTO narrower space or pushing them ont alto
gether Indeed. the suggestion has been forth
coming that TO provide for the state Library
and the Court OF Appeals II will be the duty OF
the State to buy more land in the immediate
vicinity OF the Capitol and erect on it build
ing for their special and sole use.
Unless we greatly mistake the temper Of the
people Of the State any scheme Of this kind will
arouse storm of popular Indignation The peo-
ple's patience has been tried quite far enough
IN this matter They know that large per-
centacc of the ;wenty-odd millions already sunk
IN the Capitol has been literally thrown away.
They know that it ought TO have been finished
wears ago for less than Onehalf of what il has
cost. They know that the politicians have been
working this rich mine for all 1t was worth year
after year They know that the vast structure
Is capaclous enough for all the wants of all the
departments Of the State government for an In
definite time 10 come. They realize that the
nronosal OF another building is merely plan
for spending TWO or three more millions for the
sake of giving employment TO a number or faith
Phi workers" and affording The opportunity for
rich pickngs for the favored few. Knowing
these things the people of The State are in no
mood for further trlfiing. II 1t Is impossible to
~omnlete the CAPITOL for q reasonable sum 1t
will be wise 10 leave 1t unfinished Certainly 1t
IA the height of folly to go on with the present
poljcy. and it borders on criminal wickedness to
tear out one part VA p""u'"S "''i """'A>i
In order to replace them with something differ
emit. and add other millions TO those that have
already gone the wrong way. One or the chier
troubles In connection with the work on this
buildins has been that the State has employed
the laborers who have In consequence been in
the habit of taking three or four days TO do one
DAYS work. The adoption Of the contract sys-
tenn for a portion of the work yet TO be done is
a movement In the right direction. But 1t has
not found favor with the politicians. Much of
the interior OF the Capitol as now planned, is to
be finished by days labor and there Is sus-
pic.on abroad that the giving Of contracts will
be frowned on by some at least Of those in au-
tbority when the matter comes up again.
For an outlay not excessive II ought to be
possible to finish in fairly satisfactory way.
through contracts awarded to 'the lowest bid
ders. a building whose cost exceeds It's value
even more grossly than in the case of that mon.
umental steal Of the Tweed regime, the County
Courthouse In this city. II there is no disposition
10 do this. let the huge structure remain incOm
plcte, 10 teach to coming generations the folly
and worse, In which the people Of the Empire
State INDUCED as the nineteenth century drew
near its end. And let us hope that there will be
nothing more heard of the preposterous plan for