Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-03-27
WITH THE MAKERS.
NOTES AND COMMENTS FROM THE
PENNSYLVANIA CAPITAL. So,

Capitol Building Commission Tells How
1t Squandered Over Half u Million
Doliars-Inte crest in Senate rial Contest
Is Waning-Taxes Must Be Increased.
Harrisburg, Pa, March 80, 1s99
The most important event of the week
was the presentation of the report of
the capitol building comm ission. As
was expected, the appropriation of
$3.50 200 which was made by the last
legislature for a completed capitol build
ing, so expressly stated, has been nearly
expended, but the structure is but half
finished. The report relates all the
work done by the commission, tells of
its trials and tribulations with competing
architects and deals at length with Gov
ernor Hastings action in leaving the
1 commissioners meetings.
The financial statement shows that
of the $55o,OoO appropriated there has
been paid out S499, ,6l0. 26, and there re-
mains $4o,155.07 yet to pay. Among
the items paid were: Architectural Ad-
wiser Laird, $1,000; six invited ar
chitects, $4,000; Architect Cobb, S24,-
325.5o; attorneys fees, $4,000; Contract
or Rorke, $492, ,3l293
In closing, the committee says that
In view of the Limitation Of cost i'm
posed on it, and the various delays to
which it was subjected, it believes it
has
| ACCOMPLISHED THE WORK
as well as could have been done; that
the building is not handsomely decorat-
ed, because Of the lack of funds The
building at present, however, meets all
the necessary requirements and provides
convenient and comfortable accomoda-
tions for legislative work. The build
ing in its present shape can be used for
| legislative purposes for many years
without the expenditure of any addi-
tional money. The question of surfac-
ing is one that is left to the wisdom of
the general assembly.
| Interest in the senatorial contest
may not be abating, but it is spreading
over larger surface, and is conse-
quently becoming less intense here at
Harrisburg. The voting is merely
perfunctory operation now even on
days when the attendance is compara-
lively good and altogether so far as
the halls of the legislature are concern
ed the fight has degenerated into a
listless affair. 1t is not freely stated,
but nevertheless seems certain. that no
1nn Of II.
this session.
The members OF the general assembly
are growing weary Of the prolonged
struggle and
ALL SORTS OF SUGGESTIONS
| are made to avert the evil. A number
| Of gentlemen have been discussing the
feasibility of only holding one real ballot
each week. That is to say it has been
proposed that on each day, except
Wednesday or Thursday, most of the
senators and members pair and thus re-
| duce the attendance to less than a
| quorum and the session to the brief
period occupied now on Saturday and
Monday. As it is obvious that there
can be no election it is reasoned that
such a course would serve to fultill the
law and give more time to general legis-
lation. Thus far, however, no course
has been agreed on and for the present.
at least, things will go on as usual.
Many members are giving serious
thought to the stand taken by Governor
Stone, who advocates cutting down the
appropriation to the public schools
They realize that the state has been
gradually increasing this appropriation
! from session to session until today it
consumes half the revenues of the state,
and yet the school term has not been
heightened; the pay of teachers has not
been increased. In the cities the direct
tax for school purposes has not been
lessened, while
IN MANY COUNTRY DISTRICTS
the states bounty has been substituted
for the school taxes that were formerly
laid. So they naturally wonder what
has become Of all this money, or why
should the state continue to pay this
enormous sum when the general con-
| uibiOH is no DeJteT IHdn lG was DeIOfe
this great amount of money was given
to this object.
The bribery investigating committee
held session during the week and con-
siderable evidence was secured. 1t is
believed that criminal action will be
brought against several persons impli-
Gated in the charges.
The financial condition of the state
treasury is still giving the members of
the legislature, having that part in
charge, and the governor, considerable
trouble. The expenses for the next
fiscal year, including $4,000, 900 for
furnishing the capitol, will be about
$1s,600,000. To Offset this there is only
S11, 1,6s7,0 900 in sight. This would leave
a deficit of about seven millions. Now
where to raise this money is the ques-