The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-02-09
ANOTHER HITCH.
Governor Hastings Asks fer an Injunction
Restraining The Awarding Of a Con-
tract for State Capitol building.

From the Harrisburg Telegraph
There will be sharp criticism and uni
versal condemnation Of the course pur-
sued by Governor Hastings in filing an
application Just at this time for a pre-
limiuary injunction to restrain his fellow
members of the new Capitol Commission,
with whom be has refused to act for
number of months past from making a
contract on Monday next for the erection
Of the Capitol building. The only pur-
pose Of this action can be delay. The
Court, Of course, viii grant a preliminary
injunction, although il may very prompt
ly dissolve il when the time comes for a
much valuable time of the little that re
mains in which TO prepare for the ac-
commodaiion OF the next Legislature.
The feeling viii be widespread that this
action by the Governor is prompted not
50 much by anxiety for the interests Of
the state as from desire to prevent the
consGmmafion Of theplan Of construction
adopted by the four other members OF the
Commission; and there will beuniversal
hope expressed that the Court viii act
promptly in deciding the question. OF
course, if the Court continues the injunc-
tion, after argument, that will end all
hope of erecting a Capitol building this
year. If the Court shall dissolve the in-
junction. the other Commissioners who
are deserving of much commentator for
doing, will at once proceed with the bull
ding, and il is not at all probable that the
Supreme Court, after its emphatic decla-
ration as TO the large discretionary power
Of the Commission will interfere with it.
Il is a great pity, and an everlasting
shame 10 the state. that jealousies aud en-
miles should obstruct the construction
of a building so necessary 90 the State.
Il was hoped that the scandals that have
attached themselves to this class OF pub
lie work in 50 many states would not ap-
pear in Pennsylvania. but it seems that
we are no better than our neighbors. If
the other Commissioners differed in opin-
ion from Governor Hastings, he had no
cause TO complain. 1t was not the first
time in the history of the world where
Commission composed of Eve persons did
not agree. and where the minority Of the
Commission though it had quite as much
cause Of complaint as Governor Hastings
had in this instance. Governor Hast
ings alleges as one Of his reasons for this
action that the time is not sufficient in
which TO construct a building. and anOth-
er that the plans do not indicate a fire
proof building. Is it fair 10 assume that
the four members of the commission are
quite as well able to judge OF the ability
TO construct a building in the time that in
tervenes, and As to that building being
fire-proOf. as the one member? However
much Governor Hastings may think
otherwise we greatly fear that the sin
cerity of his actions in this matter will be
questioned by the vast majority of the
people Of the Commonwealth. They will
regard this new delay as only another
piece of evidence TO confirm them in their
belief that it was not the intention, at any
time, to construct a building upon the
modest plan that is now proposed. but that
the proposition from its very inception
was political bGncombe, devised at the
time TO cater 10 the suddenly aroused
economical spirit that singulariy enough
pervaded the closing hours of the Legis-
lature.