Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-02-27
Madison, Feb. "a.


Milwaukee architects with griev-
ances, firmly believing that they were
not given full justice in the competi-
ton for plans for the proposed new
Wisconsin capitol the prize of which
competition is the honor of super
vising the construction and the ma
terial rewards consequent thereto, pre-
scented their arguments in full at a
public hearing before the joint legisla-
tive committee ON capitol and grounds
in the senate chamber yesterday after
noon The committee had set limita-
lions on the hearing, restricting the
discussion to the question of the Sc
lection of an architect and leaving out
the controversy over the merits of the
three plans considered by the commits
sion in the competition. 1t had ap-
peared to the committee that the mat
ter of plans was a closed subject and
that no good purpose could be served
by going into it, but that the resolu-
ton to be determined upon by the
committee was that authorizing a con-
tract with Cass Gilbert, the author Of
the successful plans. However, after
the Milwaukee architects had protest
ed against thus limiting the discus
sion, and upon the earnest appeal of
Justice Marshall of the supreme court
a member of the commission, the doors
OF discussion were thrown wide and the
aggrieved gentlemen and their attorney,
with some assistance by Senator Nc
Gillivray, presented freely their reas-
ons for believing that the commission
had erred. 1t was we'll perhaps that
the restrictions were removed, for in
the long afternoon scarcely a word or
a suggestion was made directly oppos-
ing the fitness of Cass Gilbert to con-
struct the capitol. Each speaker who
appeared in opposition to the resolu-
pliments to Mr. Gilbert, and only one
of them, Mr.. Ferry of Milwaukee, sug-
gested anything against Mr. Gilbert
this in mild and well qualified re-
mark, that while | have known Mr..
Gilbert and have seen his ability dis
played in many splendid buildings, 1
know that he is inclined to overreach.'
The committee took no action and
it is possible that another hearing may
be held, although the committee is ap-
parently DESTROYS of determining the
matter as soon as it can be determined
with the assurance that it is settled
properly and with absolute and un-
questioned fairness to all the interests
involved. Some things were deter
mined, however, by the hearing.
Among these were the facts that the
commission, consisting of Justices
Marshall and Winslow. Governor La
Toilette, H. w. Chynoweth, e. S. Rey-
nolds of Milwaukee, o. H. Ingram of
Eau Claire and j. A. Van Cleve of
Marinette, had done it's utmost to be
fair and impartial and secure the best
results for the state; that the commits
sion had devoted itself to an exhaus-
tive study of the needs of the state
and of the general subject of archi-
lecture, paying particular and volumi-
nous attention to the details of the
best monumental governmental build
ings of this country and of the world
in preparation for the great and i'm
portant work in hand that the com
mission was of the opinion that it's de-
termination was wise, just and proper,
but that whatever should be deter
mined by the legislature would be &C
copied as desirable, whether it agreed
with the judgment of the committee
or not. The commissioners were pres
ent in the attitude of eagerness to i'm
part all possible information and lend
all possible assistance to the legisla
ture, but they consistently endeavored
to escape being drawn into controver
sy. They answered questions freely
but avoided making arguments.
Opposition Has Its Say.
Senator Stout, chairman of the
joint committee on capitol and
grounds, presided, and, sitting with
him were Senator Whitehead, and AS
semIblymen Lenroot, Ainsworth
Cleary, Greenwood and Brooks.
W. A. Austin of Milwaukee, repre-
senting the Milwaukee architects, H
C. Koch & Son, protested against the
program of the committee limiting
the discussion to the question: OF
choice of architects, rather than the
selection OF plans. Justice Marshall
appealed to the committee to allow
Mr.. Austin to deliver his speech and
the permission being granted Mr.
Austin reviewed the history of the
necessity for additional room in the
capitol, for the supreme court and
state law library The Legislature OF
1903 appropriated $4,000 to a commits
sion for the purpose of securing plans,
also 100000 for construction. The
commission chose CasS Gilbert OF