The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-04-20
NEWS FROM
HARRISBURG !
The Passage of the Walton Bill GiyeS a
Chance to Architects.
INTEREST ON STATE DEPOSITS
The Bill Which Has Passed the House tC
That End is Held Up in the Senate.
Farmers Support the Bamil-
ton Road Bill.
Special HERALD correspondence.

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the Walton capitol bill in the house. by
a vote of 149 to 80, was the chief feat
ure Of the last session This measure
was pretty thoroughly discussed and
various amendments offered before il
was permitted TO become a law. Among
the changes suggested was one to limit
] the total cost to 81 600 900; another TO
allow four weeks instead Of two in
which TO bid on plans for the new
structure, and still another to provide
for light and heat plant The tenn
per of the house. however was against
any change, and the bill as originally
/ framed went through 1t has since
been approved by the governor. and is
now a law.
| Recognizing the necessity for haste
in the matter of perfecting plans for
the new structure, the new capitol
building commission met Professor
Laird, the architectural adviser of the
body few days ago, and went over
the preliminaries of the building opera
tions. 1t is their ambition to secure
the best results it is possible to accom-
plish, in order that the building to be
erected may be in keeping with the re-
quirements of the state in every way.
and in point of architecture be a credit
to Pennsylvania. Every safeguard is
being provided for to secure the rights
Of competitors at every point, and it is
thought that competition will be made
1 attractive to all the best architects.
The commissioners seem desirous of
I Of In ~ Ha
such conditions as will bring into com
petition architects of the highest stand
ing, and in this way secure to the
state the best possible service in a
fair and equitable competition A pro-
gram will be issued in pamphlet form,
which will set forth the terms on which
the competition is to be conducted,
and all architects who so desire may
1 file their requests for information cons
cerning the competition with State
Treasurer b. J, Haywood, secretary Of
the commission, at Harrisburg. This
VIII specify IN detail the requirements
of the various state departments
and The general conditions that
may influence on govern the in
vestigatlon of the problem. Stipula=
tions viii also be contained concerning
the manner of judging the drawings,
the scale and maner of rendering, and
the time and place at which they are
to be delivered,
An Opportunity for Architects.
Provisions are made that drawings
submitted in competition are to be
passed upon by board of dlsinterested
experts. These viii select a limited
number of the best designs, and then
]
| commissioners. The identity of the
competitor viii not be taken into ac-
count in passing judgment on the vari-
Gus designs, and it will be made a
special feature to insure results upon
the merits of the designs in competiz
ton, This program win also contain
d map of the grounds, showing the
different structures as they are located
at present, the contour of the surface,
various views of the hill and it's build
ings, and in this way furnish COMPETE
tors with all the information necessary
to a thorough understanding of the
problem.
AS the extreme urgency requires an
early beginning Of the work Of erection,
1t is decided that the drawings to be
offered in competition are to be re-
ceived not later than July H. and no
extension of time whatever will be al
lowed. The unprejudiced competition
seems to have awakened a spirit OF
great ambition among the different
architects to compete for the prize
which they consider awaits the sue
cessful competitor. The great import
ance Of the state Of Pennsylvania will
be mark of special distinction to the
member of the profession who is sue
cessful in having his design adopted.
There is as well, very considerable
interest developing among the promi-
nent builders of the country who pro-
pose to compete in the bids for the
construction Of the new building,
Many Of the largest contractors have
visited the ruins, and have been get
ting all the information It Is possible
to obtain.
The libel bill which was prepared by
the Pennsylvania Editorial association,
defeated some time ago ana suhsequent=
ly recopsidered, was called up few
days ago and series of amendments
presented which practically makes a
new bill and eliminates the most OBJ
jectionable features.
The bin as amended passed second
] FthuluBs III IT'S present SNdDe III pros
vides that In all criminal prosecutions
for libel the truth may be given In evil
dence to the jury, and If it shall ap-
pear that the matter charged as IL
belous is substantially true, and was
published with good motives and for
iustifable ends, the defendant shall be
acquitted, and the jury shall have the
right to determine the law and the
facts. 1t also provides that in no case
can the defendant in any prosecu-
tion for libel be indicted for the print
ing or publication of the same libel by
the same individual in more than one
county in the state. and in trials of in
dictment for libel the commonwealth
shall be at liberty to stand aside iurs
ors, The title has been changed 10
read An act relating TO criminal
libel"
Farmers Urge Hamilton Road BIZ.
One Of the remarkable features of the
session is the rapid change of senti-
ment among the farmers, who have
heretofore been opposed to the Ham
nton road bill. Many letters are now
coming to members from this class
urging their representatives to vote
for the measure for they now recog-
nike this as at least one step in the