Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-15
Historical Building

When the contracts now outstnnd !.
Ing have been performed the appro-
priation made by the last general as
sembly for the historical building will
have been expended. It was known
when this appropriation was made
that it would not complete the build
ing. l have taken some pains to se-
cure the most reliable estimate OBJ
tainable for finishing the work, and
! am Informed that 1t will require
$7S ,O0O. 90 to bring the building and
grounds to completion. This estimate
does, not include passenger elevators,
furniture or decoration. The furni-
tufe will not require large expendi-
ture, and upon the decoration YOU
may exhaust a large or small amount
according to your pleasure. 1t is most
important, however, that the build
Ing be finished, so that 1t can lie
fully occupied.
In this connection, I desire to call
your attention to the Hall Of Archives
which has already been set apart in
the building, and the work Of select
ing, classifying and removing to their
new location the archives which are
to be taken from the capitol. The
preparation of the new room, YOU
Will naturally consider in arranging
for the completion and furnishing Of
the building, but the work incident
to placing the archives in the room
may be overlooked. The statute OF
the Thirty first general assembly, up
on this subject. assume was intend
ed simply as beginning, for II you
place at the disposal of the director
no greater force than is now EMPLOY
ed, none of you will live long enoiigi1 to
witness the end of the undertaking
1t will require several men several
years to do what you contemplate,
and l therefore earnestly recommend
sueh an appropriation as may be me-
cessary to carry on the project with
reasonable celebrity
Election OF United States Senators
In obedience to the direction of the
Thirty first General Assembly, I in
vited the Governors OF the several
states of the Union to appoint dele
gates to a convention to be held in
Des Motnes for the purpose Of furth :
ering the application of sufficient
states to require Congress to call a
Constitutional Convention, to the end
that an amendment may be submit
ted providing for the election of Unit
ed States Senators by direct vote. In
| response to the invitation, the Gov
errors of twenty-five states appointed
delegates, and the convention assem-
bled in Des Moines on the fifth day
of last December. Thirteen states
We're represented by delegates IN per-
son and the remainder through cor
respondence. The convention was
composed Of earnest, high minded
thoughtful men, and the debates,
which consumed two full days, were
Interesting, instructive and patriotic
The outcome of the convention was
the adoption Of a preamble and reso-
buttons, as follows:
Whereas, 1t Is the judgment OF
this convention that the Legislative
branch Of the general government
| should be placed more directly under
the control of the people OF the sew
eral states, and
Whereas, There exists and has lone
existed a strong popular demand for
the election OF United States Senators
by the vote Of the people, and said
demand is In the opinion Of this con-
ventfon, well founded, and
Whereas. The Constitution OF the