New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-29
THE CAPITOL AGAIN.

That sumptuous monument TO incapacity
known as the State Capitol again makes itself
felt as n milestone about the necks OF the tax
pavers of Nev-York. For a few years they
have been contemplating it with signs of relief.
II might not be in good taste. 1t might be
reminder of rampant grating through a
long series Of years Of administration by boh
parties It might be the grave OF nearly
S25 OOOOO0. It might still be inadequate TO the
public needs. and might lack the tower original
ly planned to be its crown and glory. Neverthe
less, ii was officially finished, was expected to
serve its purpose for at least century, and It's
extravaganza was charged up to profit and loss
while its scandals remained a memory and
warning with respect TO public building opera
lions And now, when thought we could
leave behind us this petrifed Old Man Of the
Sea. behold. he suddenly wakes up and threat
ems 70 crush us, The Capitol is almost enough
TO make us believe in the innate perverseness Of
inanimate things
Still there may he compensatons. The state
st. staircase. whose piers are being crushed by
the fitting Of their foundations, owing TO the
excessive weight of the central structure of the
tower. of which those foundations are likewise
the spreading pyramidal base runs up by the
Assembly lobby It has been necessary TO close
the staircase the adjoining elevators, and TINS
for many years chief entrance TO the Assembly
chamber. This may mean that the Lobbyists
will no longer find a way to the House. Having
10 go around through the Senate parlOr and
through the Speakers room before getting to
the desks Of the members, they may find their
business handicapped. Moreover, sword Of
DamOcles hanging over the ASsemblymen
heads in the form Of crumbling walls may eX-
ercise an excellent moral effect The stone
ceiling Of the Assembly chamber, which few
Years ago served TO remind lawmakers of their
latter end and teach them 10 be morally pre-
pared therefor, has been supplanted by a papier
mach6 continuance for shutting out the light of
heaven and thoughts of the judgment day We
have not noted any enrolling effect Of that
canopy It will be interesting to observe the
influence Of the menacing staircase upon legis-
lative conduct
The engineers cannot yet tell how serious the
danger is and how extensive and expensive the
reconstruction will be- The repairs must Of
course. be made whether they involve merely
some new piers, an entire new staircase, or
even extensive work on the foundations Of
that quarter OF the structure. The burden will
be diSagTeeable to the taxpayers utterly out Of
proportion to any probable expense, for it is
irritating TO be called upon 10 rebuild the Capt.
toll and the administration of Governor Hig-
gins is in the proverbiaI plight Of the bearer of
evil tidings. II is no fault of Governor Higgins,
however. This evil is handed down to him. The
staircase was extensively repaired-it was sup
posed for all time-in 1883. when David B. Hill
was Governor, and before that time its his
tory is lost I'm the confused records of changing
plans changing architects and changing ad-
mnistrations Governor Higgins like the rest
of the people is a victim Of this Unsuitable ar
chitectural Moloch and is entitled to sympathy
in his situation.