The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-05
Goodwin Bill in the House
 Today. It Carries an Appropriation of $25O,- 900 and Author Thinks It Will Be Passed-Opinions
 from All Sections.

At F o'clock today the Alabama House of Representatives will begin considera- ton of the Goodwin bill which carries an appropriation of $25o.0oo to extend and improve the State Capitol and to pur- chase the south half of the Capitol square.
 The bill has been favorably reported by a standing committee of the House, and its consideration was made a special or der for today at noon.
 Letters have been received in Mont gomery from every section of the State urging the passage of the bill, and MT. Goodwin said last night that he felt sure the measure would be passed by the House
 Citizens of Montgomery who witness daily the cramped condition of officials at the Capitol are united in the hope that the bill will be passed, and indications are that 1t has the sympathy of a great majority of the people of the State.
 In his n essage to the Legislature, Gov ernor Jelks urged the Legislature to im- prove the conditions. and 1t is intimated that he is strongly in sympathy with the measure.
 In response to requests for their opinion The Advertiser has received numerous let ters from leading business and profess cAchoi Ahch oA thc NdIlOuS ScCttOHS Ol tHe State earnesting advocating the passage of the bill, some of which are herewith preserted.
 Capt. Thomas D. Sanford.
 Capt. T. D. Sanford of Opelika, who, as private secretary to his father, the late Governor Sanford. was custodian of the Capitol. thinks the improvement of the Capitol Is an urgent necessity,
 Captain Sanford wrote The Advertiser as follows
 Tt affords me pleasure to comply with your request for my views on the neces- sity for enlarging and improving the State Capitol. though I can say no more than what Is well known to every one who is informed concerning the several departments of the State with headauar- ters in the Capitol.
 "The present building was erected at a time in the early history of the State when the demand for space was not so imperative; since that time an addition has been made to the rear, but only sufIi- cient to meet the pressing necessities at that time. Our State has grown rapidly within the past two decades and the work of every department of the public service, to keep pace with this phenom- "nal growth. has been increased in force and volume. and. to meet growing de. mands. new departments have been es- tablished. and necessarily provided with apartments In the State House.
 Even under normal conditions. no dis. cussion Is necessary to prove the neces. sity for more room, but the accumulated files. public papers and documents oi years makes the demand imperative. As It ia. valuable papers, documents an6 files. are necessarily packed away ir boxes and stored n the basement. ex posed to destruction by fire or othe, causes. and practically inaccessible t, inspet ton and certainly not to read, reference.
 The public welfare and ordinary WIS. dom requires speedy provision for more room. There is scarcely County in this State but that is better prepared to take care and preserve the public records. doc. uments and papers than is offered by the present facilities in the Capitol at Mont. gomery.
 As to the improvement of the hiild. ing. every casual sight-seer or visitor tc