Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-07-09
.F|NKB|NES 5 u|F[ WORK
Robert S. Finkbine's Great Ser.
vice to Iowa Not Thorough.
ly Appreciated.
Was Conspicuous in Iowa Before
the State House Plans
We're Drawn.
His Honesty and Capability We're
Extolled by Hon. John A.
Karson.
special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines July 9-Few of the
/ younger generation of Iowans fully APP
preciate the great service of the late
Robert s. F'inkbne to the state; in fact,
not all of the older generations know
bow valuable he has been to Iowa, for
ii may take a century OF so to discover
exactly what his services were. 1t is
fitting that the Iowa state capitol
should have been rendered the use of the
family for the funeral services. The
state capitol is his monument. 1t is his
a good many Des Moines people seem
to remember Mr.. Finkbine only as a
member Of he board of public works OF
the city, but what he did on that insig-
niticant board was as drop to his great
work on the Iowa capitol. Some tine
the story e the Iowa capitol will be told
and justice VIII be done its builders.
But AI.. Fnkbine was a conspicuous
public man in Iowa before the plans
1
had gone to Iowa City in 1850 and In 1861
was elected member of the legislature
from Johnson county and the others in
the district. He served in the Tenth and
Eleventh general assemblies. The rec.
lcrds OF these legislatures are filed with
paragraphs which show how intense
was the political feeling in those days.
For instance. in the Tenth committee
was appointed to make an investigation
10 see If the legislative postmaster had
| actually scratched his ticket at the town
election as reported, implying he would
be discharged if II could be proved
against him. Resolutions of political
nature with regara the admlnistra-
ton We're before the house but Fink
! bine was one of those who voted to
stud them TO political convention
about to meet He was one of the ear-
est agitators for the control and reguia-
! ton of railroads in Iowa. He was a
radical in political thinking and a con-
! setvatiye in action.
! How Mr. Finkbine came TO be the
guiding hand in the construction of the
state capitol is not known TO every one
There had been a commission which
started the capitol and put IN stone
"hich cost OYER $4,000 TO remove This
work of removal was the irst iuty Of
the new commission created by act OF
April lS, 1870. The commission WAS or
caniZed and got 70 work in 1872. Mr..
Finkbine was a member. He was prac-
teal builder When the work of con-
struction commenced the board placed
aaffils in the hand of an executive com
rlittee and this COMMITTEES virtually left
everything to Mr. Finkbine. The first
report Of the board says
The board felt keenly the need of a
competent person for an overseer, and
the difficulty OF finding such man. Mr..
Robert S. Flnkbine had beer strongly
recommended TO The attention of the
board by many intelligent citizens But
there vas seeming ircompatibility in a
man being commissioner and overseer
at the sane time. and by appointing one
Of their own colleagues the board might
incur cenSure and the charge of favorit-
ism. AS The season was far advanced
before an overseer was wanted lit was
past the middle OF June, the board CON
cluded to carry on the work during tn.
remainder OF the Year thru the agency
Il.
Mr.. Fisher and Mr. Finkbin. were ap-
pointed as such executive committee.
and they invested Mir rnkbine. as they
We're authorized TO do by the board. wth
all their authority ard he entered upon
the work and discharged in the name Of
the committee the duties Of local super-
intendent during the rest of the year
AT the extra session of the Legislature in
1875 a knowledge of the scruples of the
board as 10 the appointment of one of
their colleagues came TO the general as
sembly, ard they passed a joint resolu-
ton authorizing the board to appoint
one Of their own members local superir-
tendent or overseer, and Immediately
afterwards Mr.. Finkbine was unani-
Ts'ously elected To 'he Office and his an
nnal salary established at $1,000 which
includes his compensation and travel
ing expenses as commissioner
This report was made to Governor
Carpenter in January 1874. SO 1t will be
seen that MIR. t1nkbine was superin-
tendent from the start and that he was
virtually selected by the legislature.
AS to the name in which he per-
formed his duties hat is We'll known II
the hundreds of workmen who We're en-
gagged under hinl 0f the quality of his
work, Hon. John a Easson said in his
address on the dedication of the state
capitol a few years ago:
Il 1t is for us ali source of profound
qualification that from the day the pres
ent commission assumed control with
their accomplished superintendent of
construction the legislative bodies have
never withdrawn from them their conf
dence. Not one act OF speculation or
spoliation. not one coin wasted or vain
ly spent has dcfaced the bright record
of their admins 1t shall be a
part of the Legacy We leave to our chill
dren that all these vast and durable
walls have been laid in the cement of
honesty and built by the rule of fidelity.
More proud of this legacy are we than of
all these classic columns and brilliant
domes which please the eye and satisfy
the taste
The capitol was far from being An
ished when these eloquent words were
spoken. When the final settlement was
made with the commission the tribute