Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-09-20
DELAY NEW CAPITOL.
Little Likelihood That Work on State
house Will Be Begun Before
Next Session.

MADISON, Wis, Sept. 1S.-[Special.
The controversy over the question of
poles around the capitol park for the
use OF the street railway company is
stlll unsettled and the asphalt company
is therefore unable to proceed in paving
the streets, one of the conditions con-
urgent on the spending Of the $500. 900
appropriated by the last Legislature for
one new wing and also for repairing the
present wrecked state capitol All that
has been accomplished so far has been
the tearing down of a portion Of the old
west wing.
Capitol Commission at Sea.
The law under which the present CAPT.
tol commission was created is so vague
and unsatisfactory that it is by no means
certain that the commission will be able
TO act with any degree of efficiency even
II Madison had her part of the work
completed. The law will need to be con-
strued so as to define the meaning Of
most sections, and as this would have to
be done arbitrarily, the commissioners
are naturally chary about attempting to
make law first and execute it after
wards, especially when their work would
have to be submitted to the next Legis-
lature.
Afraid of More Criticism.
The former commission was so badly
treated by the last Legislature that the
new one is not anxious for repetition
of the farce, and will only proceed on
PLAIN rules, and unfortunately the Legis-
lature did not make them plain.
For instance, it adopted section linn
ltlng the size Of the building to a certain
number OF cubic feet, but did not specify
whether this was to include the steps
and approaches. If it does, the building
will be too small; if it does not, it will
be because the commission puts q
strained construction on the law
Must Not Change Plans.
There are many other doubtful provi-
sions, including the one providing for
the making and acceptance of plans,
that seems to provide that the plan ac-
cepted must be perfect when submitted,
and shall not be changed in any respect
afterwards. If this position was literal
ly enforced it would be a serious handi-
cap both to the commission and the ar
chitect.
Having had enough of the criticism of
the last Legislature Judges r. d. Mar
shall and J. 3. Winslow have declined
to serve on the new commission, which
will thus deprive that body not only of
the value of their legal acumen in con-
STRUNG the law, but also of the benefit
of their practical knowledge acquired in
their service on the old commission.
The commission as at present consti7
tuted consists Of Gov. r. NJ. La Fol-
lette, j. +. Van Cleeve of Marinette,
Edwin Reynolds of Milwaukee, O. H.
Ingram of Eau Claire, II. W. Chyno-
weth of Madison. The new law pro-
vldes that in the event of the resigna-
ton of two members, the other FIVE shall
constitute the commission.
May Yet Remove Capitol.
1t is safe to assert that the commits
sion will do nothing towards erecting a
new capitol, and that the whole matter
Will be sent to the next Legislature for
solution, with a good chance that it
may decide on the removal of the capi-
toll to some other part of the state
1t will be somewhat of a wonder if
the remains of the present building are
not destroyed by fire within the year.
1t is in an unsafe condition, the base
ment being packed with paper. and con-
tanning a carpenter shop and a paint
shop. Several incipient blazes have
started since the grand confagration.
and have been quietly extinguished. If
lot of the refuse in the paint shop gets
going and destroys the entire building,
1T will be no surprise to those who I'M
derstand how hazardous the risk is at
present.