The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-07
THE CAPITOL BEuNDER.


 three winning designs for tho en- largement and extension of the State Capitol building. These reproductions will enable the public fin a large measure to see what the Capitol Commission had before 1t in it's deliberations on Wednesday. There were seven designs submitted.
 It will be seen that the out-nouse proposition has again triumphed. A two-story building. arranged practically as the Supreme Court originally wanted it, Is to be erected. The only difference is that the new out-house is not so far out. It has been moved up from cor ner of the grounds, and is put forward of the front limo of the present build ing just a little A sort of connection Is arranged with the present building. but tho general effect Is entirely out of harmony with the design of that build- ing. In fact, the present proposition will look worse than the old idea of 6 separate out-house of to one side. It will he more conspicuous and the lack of harmony more glariug.
 The Advertiser has no hesitancy in saying that the other two designs are far more harmonious and attractive than the one selected for first prize. Both of these provide for three-story wings, and both artistically blend the wings with the present three-story building. We believe that the public generally will agree with this Judgment and will be absolutely amazed at the selection of the first prize design.
 We are not saying this so much in criticism of the architect who made the design as of the design itself. He Is not so much to blame in the light of the facts. He followed the specitica- tions of the subcommittee of the joint Commission, of which Chief Justice Mcclellan was the dominating spirit. Those specifications practically required a two-story building in order to make the interior arrangement to suit the Supreme Court. Five of the seven com peting architects refused to follow those specifications, distinctly recognizing the impossibility of carrying out the views of the Supreme Court if an artis- tic addition was to be made. The i've made a three-story addition. the two. two story addition.
 It is a significant fact that the de- cision was made after several ballots, in which finally the seven members of the Supreme Court voted all one way for the two-story addition ar ranged according to their special wishes. while the Governor and the other four members of the Capitol Con- mission proper voted for the second prize winning design. the three-Etory addition which harmonizes so perfectly with the present building.
 This unfortunate situation is due ap- parently to the selhshness of the Su- preme Court in determining to have a new and separate building. arranged for their exclusive use and according to their own peculiar views. They did not want a three-story addition. because it | would not suit their ideas of their own convenience and comfort.
 The whole trouble is due to the fol- lowing provision in the act creating the Commission:
 1 Provided. further. that in the event a
 sivs sHw are 9 0 to en be made for the
 accommodation of the Supreme Court and the library the Chief Justice end Court shali. with the Executive officers | hereinabove named, constitute Com mission for the determination of the | plans and specifications for such build- | ing or improvements.
 This provision was added to the meas- at ho tot nf a Supreme Court Friends of the meas urc in the Legislature were frighten ed into the belief that the appropriation could not be passed. unless that. provis- ion was put in. .... ~. The aim of It appears to have been to secure for the Supreme Court all 1t might want-a new building arranged to its views. independent of the im- provement of the present building. the preservation of its beauty. or the com fort of the rest of the State officials. | That apparently is to be the result. The whole of the $70.oo0 remaining of the appropriation is to be spent on new | Supreme Court building. and that q two-story wing jutting forward beyond present building. =..-ts To illustrate the absurdiues of the proposed addition, arranged to suit the ideas of the Supreme Court. it is to have between TOO and 800 square feet of its room devoted to water closets as much as is usually given to a large hotel accommodating several hundred people. It looks as if the Court had de-
 cided to erect an out-house sure enough on Capitol Hill.
 The Supreme Court, 1t seems to us,
 is paying too little regard to all other
 considerations besides their own com
 fort in this matter. They are certainly
 sacrificing the beauty of the present
 building and site to their own vanity
 and convenience. Will public opinion in
 the State approve their course7 We doubt it. The addition the Court has decided on is a monstros-
 ity, and If 1t is erected. the
 people will know who is responsible for the blunder. That historic building
 and that beautiful site should not be
 sacrificed to the lack of artistic taste. | to the comfort. or to the seldshaess of
 even so high a body of men as the Su-
 preme Court. ....: *- We hope it is not too late to undo the blunder. Is it not possible for the Com
 mission proper to rescind its action. to let alone new quarters for the Su-