Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-10-05

buildlng covers a trtne more than two
acres Of ground. and IL man walked
around the completed structure, following
all the embrasures and offsets. he would
go half mile before reaching his starting
point. The weight OF the dome is 52OO.OC0
pounds The entire cost of the structure
and its furniture is over thirteen million
dollars.
Alphabetically described, the capitol
consists of a main building. with imposing
facades and Two wings. One enters by
flight of wide stone steps through the
bronze doors to the rotunda. Opposite the
entrance is a broad marble staircase. with
elaborate balustrades and massive electric
light fixtures of bronze. Overhead Is the
dome, $50 feet above the tiled floor. Done
in gold, cream and robins egg blue, the
dome displays a wealth OF color, softened
by the light that finds its way through
amber colored windows BY an arrange
ment OF electric lights the effect of the
combination OF colors is heightened at
night.
On the first floor are the house and
senate caucus room. The entrances to the
senate and house are from galleries on
the second floor. In the senate chamber.
which is so by % feet in size, the colors
predominating are green and gold. From
the walls at intervals four doric pilasters,
iuted in gold, rise on each side from a
marble wainscoting. The ceiling is ribbed
into curved recesses gilded in quaint de-
signs. Six immense gilded chandeliers sus-
pended by massive chains provide the
lights.
The governors rooms are the finest in
. H. fVt..
Is room 30 by 50 feet, wainscoted to a
height of II feet in panelled oak, carved
in rich and costly design. The mantel Is
OF African marble. the shelf supported by
fan caryatides. The reception room is also
OF panelled oak. The other floors in the
main building and wings are finished in a
dull Indian red and marble wainscoting.
relieved at intervals by white Vermont
marble columns and pilasters. On the
upper floors are the various working de-
partments of the state government. The
style of architecture il Roman csrinthan.
In its detail the house is corinthian. the
senate doric.
AS one looks up to the massive dome the
following inscription catches the eve:
There may be room for such holy ex-
pertinent and my God will make u the
seed OF nation. that an example may
be set up TO the nations, that we may do
the thing that is truly wise and just
The words are by William Penn.
When the building was formally opened
to the public few weeks ago the claim
was made, apparently on authority, that
the cost was slightly under the 100000
appropriated and small unexpended bal
ance would be turned back into the state
treasury. Much agreeable surprise was ex-
nj ot,,Io
eral. Here is a magnificent building, q
credit and an honor TO the state and COM
pleted for less than the amount appro-
priated., Pennsylvanians retoiced and
pointed to the new capitol as proof OF the
ability OF the state TO put M n public
building without extravagance and scandal.
These rejoicings were short-lived. State
Treasurer Berry an independent, polite
ally, probed into the accounts and dis
covered that the bare wallis and roof of the
building cost a trihe less than $4,000 the
finishings and furniture cost over 50, 0O00O0.
Mr.. Berry's figures were subsequently af-
firmed by Governor Pennypacker. Uncom
pleted contracts and other claims, It is
estimated, will carry the total to $50 900.
THE sum spent in furnishing" says the
Philadelphia Press, lis sheer, unmitigatcd
extravaganza. 1t is no unusual thing when
an expenditure has to be made upon
grounds for the items to mount. but in
this case nothing has been spent in this
way. To spend A,S5l,iS5.27 Cplus whatever
share may be in doubtful itemsl in FUR
nishing building OF this size throws the
burden of proof on all concerned to prove
there was neither extravaganza nor graft.
They may prove this. The presumption Is
against them until it is proved. The
burden of proof rests on them.
This extravaganza has been caused by
three great factors.
81. The sum of s.. 5Sl, $50. 20 for files is out
of all proportion more than should have
been expended for such a purpose on files
with bronze fittings.
~. In a day when all corporations furnish
their Offices with machine made furniture.
save as special desks may We made for a
few principal officers, the state has been
charged with handmade furniture for the
entire capitol. Whether value has been
received or not remains to be seen and
awaits investigation. But 1t Is clear that It
is sheer extravaganza to fill a great build
ing with handmade furniture manifold
greater in cost than the furniture which
the taxpayers who foot the bills daily use
in their own offices and corporations
20. The sum spent for chandeliers, which
reaches in all 100000, is another wholly
unjustifiable expenditure. No one who has
seen the elaborate, some times beautiful
and some times ugly chandeliers. but will
see that 100000 could be spent OH them.
None the less, 1t is wholly uniustihable.
Had these items been adequately handled
the capitol would have been furnished for
somewhere between S1.5OO,e00 and 81, OO0.OO0.
The remaining expenditure deserves rigid
investigation. The possible margain for
undue profit inside profit or downright