Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-01-20

- willing to risk his reputation on 1t.
Pennsylvania is going to have the
handsoment state building in the coun-
try" he declared to The Inquirer cor
respondent today. 1.-THE design 10 my
masterpiece. and I am proud Of 1t. My
plans will cost the state SO per cent less
in running expenses and rs per cent less
in cost of construction than those of
any of the other architects who origi-
nally competed with me. The building
will have plenty Of light, and feel GER
tain that the people Of Pennsylvania
will be delighted with 1t when 1t is I'm
ished."
Some radical departures have been
made in the plans from the stereotyped
ideas concerning state capitols, but Mr..
Cobb declares that they are all In the
nature Of improvements. At the last
moment a change in the arrangements
of the rooms was made, and the in
coming Legislature will see the senate
chamber and the house of representa-
tives in the same relative positions they
have occupied for nearly a century. The
commission agreed to this remodeling
of the original plans because 1t was
found that the sentiment was against
any change of position of the two
chambers.
The capitol will face the west. The
senate chamber will be located on the
north side Of the rotunda, and the house
Of representatives on the south SIDE
Adjoining the senate and house wings
will be two large buildings devoted to
department work. The entrance to the
capitol will be through the center build
ing. The west front will be Eve stories
high with the senate and house each
two stories high. Back of the rotunda
will be situated the committee rooms
arranged in a building seven stories
In height. The wings on the extreme
north and south, in which the depart
ment work will be oone, will each be
five stories high.
The main floor of the centra! portion
of the building will be the second. Wis.,
itors will enter from the basement floor
ard public elevators will convey them
to any of the floors on the west front.
In the rear of the rotunda, on this floor
private elevators will be built for the
exclusive use of members and employees
of the legislature. Exits to these ele-
vators are to be constructed so that
a member can go from her chamber
to his committee room without being
seen by any visitor If he so desires.
In the center of the building will be
large rotunda. On the second floor
from the rotunda one will enter on the
western side the rooms Of the lieuten-
ant governor and ladies' reception
room. Card rooms separate the two
legislative chambers from the rotunda.
In the rear is an entrance to the COM
mittee rooms building. A memorial
stairway will lead from the rotunda up
to the fifth floor of the front and to a
40 foot gallery extending al around the
interior. From this will be the entrance
to the press rooms and to the public
galleries of the two chambers. In each
of these public galleries there are 400
feet of bench room. The senate library
will also be entered from this gallery,
and on the house side large caucus
room has been arranged, into which the
house library can at any time be
thrown.
While the legislative wings are only
two stories, the second story Is very
high. The most radical departure has
been made in placing all the windows
Of these two chambers on the outside.
In no other state house In the country
is this plan followed. Its advantages
are light and ventilation. Everything
has been planned to make this a mode,
building.
Local politics are In a cyclonic condi-
ton in the city of Philadelphia. A.
though David Martin has succeeoed in
forcing his brother-in-law upon the Re.
publican ticket for receiver of taxes the
prospects for Mr.. Roney's election are
far from promising. 1t is true that he
has received the nomination. but in this
respect he is no better off than his op-
ponent. Mr.. hewitt has also been nom
mated, and he received his nomination
in a conve- Ion in which 1t is asserted
that 511 of the S91 regularly elected del
egates handed in their cred -.tials. Mr..
hewitt proposes to remain in the field
on the ground that he was really lie
choice of the voters at the primaries,
and that the Roney nomination Is ia Mt
ed and that il was brought about by IL
legal and unprincipled methods.
In addition to this there is very
strong popular feeling against the lead
ership of Mr.. Martin in Philadelphia,
No one attempts to disguise the fact
that the party organization here has
been used for the personal advancement
and selfish interests Of a little clique Of
politicians who are willing to wreck the
party If necessary in order to accom-
p'ish their own personal ends. The fact
that the so-ca led Business Mems
League has united with Mr.. Martin in
order to force Mr.. Roney upon the peo-
pie once more is likely to prove disas-
trous to Mr.. Martins candidate. The
people know and thoroughly understand
the all ged business mems organization
and il is simple statement Of fact to
say that the favor of this organization
will seriously cripple, If it does not en-
trely ruin, any candidate for public
Office who is unfortunate enough to
receive It
T. NJ. A.
i..e Husbands Way.
She Cat the desk)-Dear, please tel
me how to spell costume. I'm writins
to mother about my lovely new gown. ;
He-Well are you ready?
She-Yes.