The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-17
COMMISSION N[ARS
CONTROL OF CAPITOL
Horton Bill, Providing for OPP
eration of Building, Passes
Senate

Senator Horizons bill authorizing the
state capitol commission to maintain
and operate the new building during
its construction and occupancy, prior
to its completion, passed the senate
last night.
Only four senators voted against it
Senators Barker, of Isanti; Naeseth, of
Goodhue; Thorpe, of Kandiyohi, and
Wood, of Todd county. Fifty-five votes
were recorded in it's favor, after Sem
ator Horton had explained the bill.
Following is the text of the measure:
The Capitol Bill
Section /. The board of state capitol
commissioners, heretofore created under
and by virtue of the provisions of chap
ter two t2) of the General Laws of 1893
are hereby authorized and empowered to
purchase the necessary fuel and all other
requisite supplies. and to hire all such
engineers, firemen, electricians, janitorS,
elevator conductors and other employees as
may be needed to properly care for, main
tain and operate the new capitol building
of this state, as well as to discharge said
Snployes and hire others during its oc-
elpancy by various officials while In process
of construction and prior to the final COM
pletion of said building, together with
suitable and proper PREPARATION and m
same; the authority hereby granted to
said board to extend over such period as
TO Ihem snail seem necessary TO fully
complete all the duties heretofore imposed
upon them by law, which period shall not
exceed two cd years from and after pas
sage thereof.
Sec. q Said board of state capitol
commissioners shall at their first meet
ing after the passage hereof, elect one of
their own members as resident supervisor
and superintendent of said capitol build
ing, who shall have exclusive charge and
direction in the management thereof sub
ject to the orders and control of said
Il -.
sation for his services as such resident
supervisor and superintendent salary of
three thousand t$3,000) dollars per an
mum, which sum shall be in lieu of any
and all compensation to him as a mem
Der of said board under the provisions of
any and all existing laws; provided, that
nothing in this act contained shall be con-
strued as IN any manner amending or re-
peallng any Of the provisions of said
chapter two (2} of the General Laws of
1893 or the amendments thereto, except
as to the compensation to be paid said
resident supervisor and superintendent.
Sec. 5. For the proper care and main
tenance of said building there shall be
transferred from the general fund to the
credit of the board of state capitol COM
mlssioners the sum of seventy-five thou
sand ($75,O00) dollars, during each and
every year While the said board shall
remain in charge of the said new capitol
building under the provisions of this act,
said sum, or so much thereof as may be
necessary to properly operate and main
tain said building to be disbursed by the
said board under such provisions and reg
ulatlons as may be prescribed by the state
auditor and state treasurer.
Sec. 4. This act shall take effect and
be in force from and after its passage.
Several Senators Object
The bill was placed on its passage
without word being said for or
against it and a dozen or more sena-
tors had voted no"
rIyl.
reached, he arose and explained his
negative vote. He declared the bill
had never been before a committee to
his knowledge, and he saw no reason
why the bill should take different
course than any other.
Thereupon the author of the bill
made an extended explanation of the
measure, which he assured the senate
was entirely agreeable to Gov. john
son and in no way intended to deprive
the Democrats of any patronage or
the governor of any rights.
THE bill,' said Senator Horton,
was fully considered by the commit
tee on public buildings. l disclaim any
special interest in it. 1t is simply an
emergency measure to meet the situa-
ton. We are here in an unfinished
building, occupying it by permission of
the capitol commission. We must have
heat and light. The employees of the
building for whose payment no method
has been provided are working on the
assumption that we will find way,
and this is the way we have thought
the most practicable.
Creates $4,000 Job
True the bill does provide for a
$4,000 job-for the selection from the
board of capitol commissioners of a
resident supervisor or Superintendent
to take charge of the building at that
salary until its completion. 1t wouldn't
be fair to ask member of the COM
mission to devote his whole time to
such work for nothing, and venture to
say there is not man on the capitol
commission who wouldn't save the
1 C.ar, Ny A.AN a.