The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-27
SAY THEY MUST GO
Would Obliterate Paintings in
Representative Hall.
Haven't Money Enough to Put
Others in Their Places.

How to decorate the walls of the hall
of the house of representatives is the
problem with which the executive
council is wrestling today.
One thing is certain. The mural dec
orations must co. There are four big
paintings on the ceiling, and they will
be obliterated In the process of ref1n-
ishing. There isn't money enough avail
able to put others in their places. Why
not refurbish them and let them stay.
There is no use to obliterate them.
1t may be too, that the panels bear
ing the names of distinguished Kan
sans will be displaced, or possibly that
new list of names prepared. There
are a number of prominent Kansas
people whose names do not appear on
the ten panels now provided ThoSe
who now have, their names inscribed IN
this Kansas Hall of Fame" are the
following:
Gray, NJ. F. Conway, J. Montgomery,
Benz F. Nudge, Henry J. Adams, A.
H Reeder, Charles Robinson and J..
W. Barber. Some of these people are
almost unknown, and the chances are
that it would be hard to find a per
son who would tell just why they were
included in the list.
John ]. Ingalls,, Frederick Funston,
and other prominent citizens OF later
growth are not included.
The legislature appropriated Sz.oVo 70
fix up the walls of the big room. u
this amount $500 will be needed LOT
various minor repairs, and the councii
asked bids for redecorating on OASIS
of s., 200. In order to have any gooo
mural decorations, the appropriation
would have to be raised to ABOUT sty.-
900. Mural decorations come hlgn-
Some of those in the magnificent state
house at ST. Paul cost thousands OF
dollars apiece. The four big paintings
now on the walls are nothing to Drag
Of might be better but they are NOT
bad by any means and should be pre-
served.
Four bids were received for doing the
work of redecoration. They came from
the following parties and firms:
w. G. Andrews Decorating company
Clinton, Ia.
Albert T. Reid, Topeka.
L. A. Thiel & Co., Chicago.
w. w. Gillespie, Topeka.
After opening the bids, the executive
council went to representative hall,
and there listened to each of the bid
ders in turn explain just what he pro-
posed to do for-the money.
Gillespie's bid was about 1880, ana
he explained that he was simply bid
ding on a straight job of refinishing,
and thought the council might want 10
the remainder OIL Tile IhOAOy ~
mural decorations, as far as 1t would
go. fl.
The other bidders bid about the limit,
and il is merely a question with the
executive council which one Is able TO
do the best job.
Lewis & Kitchen Get Contract.
The executive council this morning
let the contract for putting in new
heating and ventilating system IN
representative hall to Lewis &
Kitchen. of Kansas City, Mo. "A. B.
Muller Heating company also sub
mitted bid.
The Lewis & Kitchen bid was 49,
$50. but there are a good many ex-
tras to be added to the work which
the firm agrees to do for that sum,
which will consume the rest OF the
$4,000 available for the purpose.
When the new system of heating
and ventilating the big room is in
operation, it won't be necessary to
have so many employees to keep open
ing and shutting windows. Repre-
sentative hall is undoubtedly the
worst ventilated room in the state
house, and every session there is a
crop Of pneumonia and grippe har-
vested from among the members and
employees of the house.