The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-10-07

| the CapltOl COmmlssiOn-Ine QueS-
lion Means Millions of Dollars Per-
haps to the Taxpayers OF Pennsyl.
yania.
CFrom Our Own Correspondent.)
Harrisburg, Oct. 5.-Do the people Of
hnnsylvania really understand what
behind this capitol building scandal?
n means IL persisted in one of the
reatest jobs of the century. 1t means
hat If certain schemes go through a
Sb involving millions of dollars will
e foisted upon the people; that there
,lll be a repetition of the condition of
fairs existing in Philadelphia, which
ave caused the people of that city to
,ay s20,0OO,000 for a city hall whose
,tual cost is one-third of that sum.
This building Of a capitol at Harris
burg has become national scandal. 1t
being discussed by the newspapers of
ne entire country. The American In
situte of Architects, the representa-
i've architectural body of the United
safes in session in Detroit last week,
ienounced the Pennsylvania commits
son. All of the leading societies of
uchitects in the state have denounced
Ne commission, because of their action
n going squarely back upon their
vOrd.
THE STORY IN DETAIL.
Now what of the facts, since the COM
rissiOn has been dragged into court?
The legislature at it's last session de-
taed to build capitol at a cost not to
Iceed $3.50 900. There was consider
Ge grumbling at the time among poll
tcans on the ground that the sum
nmed was not high enough. They
yanted a 100000 or $4,000, ,000 capitol;
ymething in which there was suf-
kent margin to give all the boys"
rake off; that was the idea evidently.
But the governor showed that first
dass capitol could be built for $3.50 600,
and so the ringsters, the booders and
The political hangers on were compelled
accept the situation.
A commission was appointed 80 build
ee capitol. 1t consisted of Governor
Daniel II. Hastings, Auditor General
Amos II. Mylin, State Treasurer Ben
amin ]. Haywood, President Pro TEN
Il the Senate Samuel J. M. McCarrell
nd Speaker of the House of Represen-
atiyes Henry j. Boyer. The duty of
bis comisson was to decide upon an
rhltect select plan, engage the best
ND lowest bidder to erect the building
nd superintend the work. None of the
asmbers of this commission are ex-
frts in architecture, so by solemn
Ereement carefully drawn and signed
all, it was agreed to employ three
pert architects, who should select
light Of the best out of all the Hans
admitted, and out of these eight the
card Of commissioners should select
|e whose design was to be awarded a
me and appoint him architect for the
w capitol.
4 board of experts was chosen. with
PfOfessor Laird, Of the University of
Pennsylvania, at its head. None of the
tembers Of this board of experts con-
itng of three persons, were interested
the slightest in any of the plans. In
ssd, 1t had been so arranged that 1t
as seemingly impossible for anyone to
now the name or design submitted by
ry architect. But it was subsequently
town that somewhere somebody was
liking. The eight plans. the best out of
early 80 that were submitted by archi-
hts all over the country. were care
ty seloc+od hu ,,o throa 49,, IL
ia board of experts. Then the capitol
nmlsslon, consisting of Governor
stngs Auditor General Mylin. State
ieasurer Haywood, Senator McCar-
and Speaker Boyer, came in to Sc
one plan out of the eight. whose de-
gner was to be chosen architect for
new capitol.
RTrNTOBs M, DEAy
Bur lon,r hot co.o ,,,.,, IT,
Oat around tIo,,;e,,,a.. - 'oa
st leodi,,o, oa,,,aa.s ,,,,,,
- IA M ,,ottS, -. -, ~
given tho toh 80 h,,i,',i,l, sU ., W., 10
. al cortoi,, a,,it'a. ~ o'p'to''
., " supposed to be among the eight
6V harmon, n'itS eu. tt,ie a "as "oi Nins
~ End of HE ava a 49,. az :. .oi "as "
as ssble for tI,i. ao,.,at ~ 1'u,u "
\, worki,g torot,,a.. -. n.',,, ' -,
n tol in a 80 ~ ou'.u 'ne
polit,c,on. ,,,t, ~ ~
" ssted in tho raw .onita, MT. on
cor wac a u,a.,, 80. - s ~
- avs and t,ot 49,. M, ~,
- oabpt was ''e HIN III '"e
(u, II so boons .,. Att, ,,
,l,. happeheu that thls Inlla-