The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-06
TO CONDEMN PROPERTY
CAPITOL COMMISSION AUTHORIZES
 THE PROCEEDINGS.
South Half of State House Block to Re Acquired by Law-Omcinls Tell of Their Especial
 Needa.

Convinced that the property on the south half of the Capitol Square can- not be secured by the State at what the Capitol Commission believes to be just and reasonable, Attorney General Mas sey Wilson was instructed by the Com mission at its meeting yesterday to be- gin condemnation proceedings against | the property.
 This action was taken by the Com mission after 1t had received the re- port from its select committee com posed of Treasurer J. Craig Smith and Attorney General Wilson. The report was accompanied by plat of the prop erty. list of the names of the owners and the valuations which were placed on the different parcels of property. The report was discussed at length. It was the unanimous opinion of the members of the Commission that the valuations of the property were too high. The Attorney General. will. un- der the special provisions of the Capi- tol improvement act institute the con- demnation proceedings in the Probate Court of Montgomery County. A date will be set for the hearing of the cause and a jury will be summoned to pass upon the value of the property
 This was the most important matter which came before the Capitol Build ing Commission in its meeting three hours long held yesterday morning in the private office of the Governor. The entire membership of the Commission was present at the meeting In response to an invitation from the Commission. the following State officers appeared and gave their views on the special needs of their departments Supreme Court; President John V. Smith of the Railroad Commission. Lii brarian Junius Riggs. Supreme Court Clerk R. F. Ligon. Commissioner of Agriculture R. R. Poole and Chief Clerk H. c. Gunnels of the Education al Department for Superintendent I. w. Hill Letters were read from Ex- aminer of Public Accounts John I. . German, and Captain D. w. McIver of the Adjutant Generals office, speaking for their departments.
 Hon. J. Kirk Jackson, Secretary to the Governor and Custodian of the Cap itol. appeared before the Commission and gave his views as to what addi- tions should be made and what over hauling of the present building should be done.
 In nearly every instance the State of f1cers reported that their present quar- ters were too cramped and close. The | statements of the State officials were
 
 of the situation. The State officials were requested to put their statements in writing and file them with the Com mission.
 The members of he Commission are well satisfied with the situation, hay ing their work we'll in hand At the next meeting which will be held Tues day. July 19. at 10:30 a m definite idea may be formed as to what new hJril
 be made.
 It was said yesterday that the Com mission as body had not considered the erection of a Governors mansion. In the first place 1t was pointed out that the law explicitly forbids the use of any of the appropriation for a Gov ernor's mansion and in the second place 1t was said that even though the pro- vision had not been in the law the members of the Commission were op- posed to the erection Of a Governors mansion.