The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-17

\
the House OF Delegates are very In.
adequate This Is especially true OF
1.-The House since It's last increase In
membership. It Is impossible for
lmembers Of the legislature to do their
lbsst work under the circumstances by
(which they are surrounded in their
present quarters. II the clerk of the
House desires TO see his assistants.
which he frequently wishes to do, he
must thread his way through the mem.
Ibers. and interrupt them, to get to his
assistants. There are no consulate.
i ton rooms, no room where member
I can retire and talk to a friend, but
these friends must come to the mem
ber's deck and interrupt him often
during the reading Of a very important
4 bill. The gallery Arrangements are In
adequate and primitive The floors OF
1.-THE hall OF the House and Of the Sem
ate should be restricted TO those en-
titled to admission under the rules.
but there is no place for the public,
things are now, ana consequently the
1public crowds in on the floor to the
\ great Inconvenience of the members
land the interruption Of their work. AZ
ter much consideration. venture to
Suggest that you decide to rebuild the
capitol. and that you make beginning
by beginning wing on Washington
street, with front on that street, for
4 the use OF the House of Delegates, pro-
viding committee rooms and other
rooms necessary. When that Is. finish.
led, let another one be constructed on
. Lee street, for the use of the Senate.
that to front on that street also When
, these two wings are completed let the
work Of rebuilding the Intervening
structure proceed gradually. The main
building should be extended back to-
ward the rear, SO as to front ON that
: street. There is no need of any back
yard for the capitol; but situated on
the square as 1t Is. It should have a
front on each OF the four sides. A pass
'Iage way for the use OF pedestrians
should be made through the middle Of
the building. from Capitol street to
Hutchinson street. The whole when
completed should be as nearly fire.
proof as is possible. q hope that 1t
will be the policy of the State in the
future to build fireproof. or at least
tslow burning buildings) By doing
this work gradually the expenses
would not entail any hardship on the
taxpayers. Before beginning the
work, however, 1t would be well to
have an adequate plan adopted; and
1 l would suggest that you create com.
mission for that purpose. which might
report either to the present or to the
next session Of the Legislature.
think you viii agree with me. however.
that the providing OF better quarters
for the House and Senate should not
be postponed very long, because it is
in the nature of necessity. The pres
ent build is especially liable to de.
struction by fire, on account Of a
great amount OF infiammable material
fused in its construction. It's destruc-
ton would be an incalculable loss, for
there would likely perish priceless
matter that could not be replaced.
You will note, no doubt, that some
Improvements have been made in the
corridors on the first floor. Some
thing had to be done; and having an
/ opportunity to get the tile flooring
and wainscoating very cheap, after
mature consideration, the Board of
Public Works were unanimously Of
opinion that this permanent work had
better be done; besides that, the cor
ridors have been frightened up, and
new chandeliers have been pat in.
These chandeliers, while of the very
best material and workmanship, were
bought at about one-half their usual
price, In fact, all OF the improvements
were secured at very low cost in.
deed. It IS hoped that the action Of
the board in this matter will meet
with your approval. The capitol is a
cheaply constructed structure, and the
: cost of annual repairs is large. The
walks about the capstol-as you will
have occasion to notice, no doubt, dur
ing your sojourn hereafter become
canals. They were wrongly construct
ed, and should be relald with cement,
with proper drainage. This applies to
the pavements around Capitol. Square
also. secured estimates showing
the cost Of the work. which will be
presented to your proper committees.
/ have secured a plan and specifca.
tons for the re-wiring OF the building.
The original wiring was not well done
end the wires are too small to carry
: the load on them, and there is constant
danger of fire from this cause. 1 con-
slider the re-wiring Of the building al