The Green Forest tribune., 1909-04-30
RUSHING STATE CAPITOL
Legislators Are Anxious to Finish Consideration of Appropriation Bills and Arrange For Completion
 of the Structure.

The Glover state capitol bill, pro viding for the completion of the state capitol, was before the House nearly all day Monday, and when adjourn ment was taken IS amendments had been tackled to it, and the measure, with the amendments, had been or dered engrossed and to the third read ing. The bill when introduced car ried a total appropriation of $44O,OOO. It now carries, as amended, an appro- priation of $710,000. Chief among the changes made is the provision to the effect that $20O,O00 additional money is appropriated for the purpose of allowing any money which the arbi- tration board may hold is due Cald- well & Drake from the state, to be taken from the amount appropriated by the Glover bill. In adopting the amendment the House took the stand, contrary to the advice of the gover- nor, that it is not necessary to pass special bill appropriating money to be paid Caldwell & Drake in the event it is held the state owes that firm, but that. instead, the Glover bill can
 cover the entire matter. The amend ment in question provides that any claims under the old contract shall be paid out of the fund appropriated. The Caldwell & Drake claim, the House held, would be paid out of that fund and under that head.
 Another amendment adopted also
 cuts out the skylight provided in the bill and substitutes a stone dome, ap- propriating S120000 for that purpose. Other amendments adopted provide that the capitol shall be completed according to the old plans and speci- | fications; that the commission is au-
 thorized to take such steps and do | such work outside of that provided | for in the bill as it may deem wise ; | that the appropriation of $50,000 for | the removal of defective work be | struck out and the money for that purpose taken from the general ap- propriation carried by the bill; that | any uneXpended balance appropriat- | ed for one work may be used for an | other work in the completion of the l capitol; that the commission has the power to So change the plans as to provide for marble wainscoting in the | railways and scagliola finish; that l the governor shall discharge commits sioners instead of the commission dis | charging them. that the aDDOintment | of the commissioners by the governor | shall not have to be confirmed by the | Senate; that the commissioners shall
 receive $6 per day in place of $5;
 that the commissioners shall furnish | $50,000 bond instead of $10,000
 The fact that the House seemed to have one unanimous desire to do away
 with the state capitol matter entirely
 and have it off it's hands attracted comment on every side and the gen.
 eral belief was expressed that the bill
 will pass.
 The appropriation bill for the agri-
 cultural experiment. station was pass
 ed early in the morning. Other bills, | local in effect, was passed, introduc-
 ed and considered before the Glover | bill was taken up. Two special mes
 sages from the governor, one calling
 attention to the financial condition quest of Caldwell & Drake in the mat.
 ter of settling the state capitol con.
 troversy, were read during the day.