The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-24
Given Full Discretion to Deter mine Plans.
It Authorizes Condemnation of the South Half of the Capitol Block and Acquisition
 by the State.

Hon. R. T. Goodwin of Montgomery, yesterday introduced in the Alabama House of Representatives a bill for ex- tension and improvement of the State Capitol and the acquisition by the State of the south half of the Capitol Square.
 The bill carries an appropriation of $2so,- GOO and creates Capitol Building Com mission to be composed of State officials who will serve without extra pay.
 Mir Goodwin, the author of the bill, Is Chairman of the Committee on Capitol and Capitol Grounds of the House, and he | is deeply interested in the enlargement and improvement of the Capitol. The Building Commission is, under Mir. Good l wyn's bill, to be composed of the Govern or, tho Attorney General. the State Treas urer. the Auditor and the Secretary of | State, with the Director of the Depart ment of Archives and History as Secre- l tary of the Commission.
 ! The bill invests the Attorney General with authority to apply to the courts of Montgomery in the name of the State of Alabama for an order condemning the property on the south half of the square. Capitol Extension Bill. | MT. Goodwyn's bill, in full, is as fol- lows:
 | Section 1. That a Building Commits sion is, hereby created to consist of the | Governor. the Attorney-G General, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Secretary of State and a Secretary, which position shall be filled by the Director of Archives and History, which said Commission is clothed with full authority and power for and in behalf of the State of Alabama to contract for the extension. enlargement or improvement of the present State Capi- tol building. for the acquisition of addi- tional grounds, for the erection or acc | quisition of any necessary additional building or buildings for the use of the State, and the furnishing of the same. the said Commission being given full dis erection to determine what extensions, en- 1 Judgements, Improvements, grounds and new buildings shall be erected or acquired. The said Building Commission shall have | the power to adopt all necessary rules, | regulations. and plans for it's own guid- ance. and for the proper conduct of the duties herein imposed. shall keep a regu- 1 lar journal of its proceedings; and shall make detailed report of it's entire work and operations to the next session of the l Legislature.
 To Condemn Property.
 Sec. ?. That the Attorney General, when directed to do so by the herein- above named Commission. is hereby au- thorized and directed to apply to the Pro- bate Court of Montgomery County, in | the name of the State of Alabama, for an l order condemning to the use of the State | of Alabama in perpetuity that plot of ground in the City of Montgomery, Ala bama. described as follows:
 Beginning at the northeast corner of l Washington and Bainbridge Streets run ming thence north along Bainbridge Street to the property line of the State of Ala bama. thence easterly along the property line of the State of Alabama to Union | Street. thence south along Union Street to Washington Street. thence west along Washington Street to the point of begin ming.
 Sec. 3. That said application need not | be verified by cath and need not be ac- companied with security for costs. but must in all other respects take the same course under the statutes that all other applicat tions for the condemnation of | lands for public use now take.
 Appropriates S25O, ,O00.
 Sec. 1. That the sum of $150,0O0 be and the same Is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose | of carrying out the provisions of the pre- | ceding section; and the State Auditor is | hereby authorized and directed to draw his warrant for the said amount or any part thereof on the State Treasurer upon the requisition of the Governor, accom- panied by a certificate that said amount or amounts have been contracted for and that work and labor have been performed or that buildings or property have been purchased or acquired to the extent | thereof.
 The bill was referred to the Committee | of the House on Capitol and Capitol Grounds of which Mfr. Goodwin is chair man.
 It Is said that q determined effort will be made for the passage of the bill. Moreover 1t has been strongly hinted that Governor Jelks and the present admin istratIon favors the bill or some meas urc that will give relief from the cramp- cd condition at the capitol
 What the Governor Said.
 In his recent message to the Legislature Governor Jelks on this subject said:
 "The capitol building is in great need of repairs. as you have noticed. The economy practlced on it for the past SIX years has been savage. The Auditors report will show that in two years there has been spent for repairs and refurn4sh- ing S3,O6S.57. This sum would have been adequate if at the beginning of the year ending Sepber 30. 1900, the building had been in good or even fair condi- ton, but, unfortunately. the previous ad- ministration had touched it with most sDaring hand. You will be called upon to make such an appropriation as will re- pair the ravages of several years. A large part of the most recent charge has been spent in an effort to prevent the roof from leaking. It has been recently re- painted and may keep the water out for another year. The whole building, in- side and out. needs paint and there are some changes in the inside construction which ought not to be longer delayed.
 Moreover. the house is now too small 10 accommodate the deparments. The two wings of the building facing west l should be extended from thirty to fifty | feet to the full three stories. This plan | has often been suggested and the duty Is | now well night imperative. You ought l to face it early in the session.
 '"rhe Department of Archives and His | tory has had a most remarkable growth | and is now quite beyond the physical op- | portunities which should be allowed 1t. | The addition to the building, as above | suggested, will meet the full present l wants of that and other depart | ments.
 .'The remainder of the capitol square | should be acquired. Hardly a reflective | person looks at the surroundings who | does not at once wonder why this has | moi been done before On 1t a Governors | home might he built if you. in your wis 1 dom. are of the opinion, that the present | condition has existed for a sufficient time
 T, therefore respectfully suggest that