Evening journal., 1911-10-25
OPPOSE COURT
HOUSE PLANS
Members Of Bar Think
Changes Will Not Provide
for Future
LEVY COURT MUM
ON ITS POSITION NOW

terday afternoon, for discussion OF the
Court House plans, and passed
resolution disapproving of the plans
prepared by the p. l.. Rice Company
at the direction OF the Levy Court.
The principal objection at present IN
the minds OF the Bar Association
members is that the plans were not
adequate for the future.
Two facts appeared to guide the at
torneys IN their opposition, one be-
ing that the legislative act which
authorized a bond issue Of 100000 for
improving the court house provided
for an annex, while the plans which
the Levy Court has accepted provide
for an addition. AS a result, some
doubted whether the bonds would be
purchased. Another thing pointed out
by pretty nearly all who spoke in op-
position to the plans was that such
an addition would not provide ade-
auately for the future. While the pres
ent court room is not considered SUI
ficiently large, the new one would
only be about three-fourth the size
Of the present one.
After the action had been taken by
the association. Levy Court Commits
sioner II. w. Perkins, a spokesman
for that body, took exception to the
remarks made concerning the pro-
visions made. What action the court
will now take is uncertain
Those who spoke in opposition TO
the plans we're Robert II. Richards.
Thomas Davis, George A. Elliott. VIII
liam s. Prickett, Howell s. England,
CHRISTOPHER l.. Ward, Josiah l.. Ward,
James w. Lattomus
Attorney General Andrew G. Gray
who was unable 10 attend the meet-
ing. sent the following letter:
Unfortunately am called suddenly
10 PHILADELPHIA and will be unable 10
attend the meeting Of the bar assocla-
tion this afternoon I went down yes
terdav afternoon to Architect Rices
ONCE and examined the plans for The
proposed alterations TO the Court
House. and I desire TO register my
emphatic protest against the auoP-
tion OF any such plans.
"In the first place, IN my opinion,
such alterations are not contemplated
or authorized by the act OF the Legis-
latnre and | do not believe the honds
would be purchased with any such al
terations in contemplation. In the neXt
place. while l am willing TO acknoWl-
edge that possibly the suggested alter
atoms give as much additional space
az could be secured for the amount OF
money allowed, yet the changes woulu
leave our county building painfully IN
adequate for the present and -" room
TO expand In the future. IL seems 10 ms
inhniteiy better that We should, ioi
the present, put up with the lhcoh'
! veniences that exist, and at tne nsN
legislature, get an authorization tol
an adequate bond issue 70 construo
either a Joint county and city bulluine
ar an adequate county building, WIZ
proyision for the future.
ON my opinion. the proposed after
atione--in addition to the lnconVehl'
ence and inadequacy-would be eN-
feriorally blot upon the city l re-
man, '''' "A. c. Gray"
October "a, 1911.
ID. J. Relnhardt, Esq, No 92S Mar
ket street, city.
Nv Dear Reinhardt: l am very
sorry that l cannot attend the meet
ing this afternoon. | have no nesl'
tation however. in writing you mS
views on the subject.
In the first place, II does not re,
aulre any very great amount ol
! thought or consideration 20 reach the
conclusion that the plan now propos'
ed 10 add a story or stories upon the
present Court House is a pure make
/ shift. and that the present Courl
House Is incapable Of being remod'
eled so as to supply even the present
needs OF the community, and that SC
far as the future Is concerned, there
is absolutely no opportunity fol
! growth under such an arrangement
While no one, assume. is desirou'
Of having an unnecessarily large
court room, such a room with ceilinl
sixteen feet high is impossible an'
would be utterly worthless.
| am clearly OF the opinion that thu
act passed by the recent Legisla
ture does not authorize the Lev.
Court TO make such a change for th'
Court House There can be no possi
BILE question in my mind that tn
word annex" Is fully defined in th'
act and that we are not left 10 an.
speculation as 10 its meaning Their
are many things in the act which ne
cessarily lead to this view in M
. judgment.
In short, what we want is a build
ing which is capable OF supplying
the present demands and which i
also capable of being used In con
} nection with the expanding needs o
the community. In my Judgment,
would be an outrage TO add a hun
dred thousand dollars to a buildin
already antiquated. and which is IN
, capable Of being made modern In an
. Of It's requirements.
I have for some time been of th
, opinion that the only sensible thin
, to do is 10 build a new Court Hous'
but as the act is, this is impossible
but Il seems 10 me that the anne
contemplated can be so built as I
make II possible In the near futuI
to tear down the old Court House an
to rebuild upon its site somethiu
that will be a credit to the con
munity. Yours very truly,
William S. Hilles
Architect Rice was in attendant
, and explained the plans. Levy Coul
= Commissioner Perkins said the Ley
Court had tried in every way TO pleas
the bar and the public In the worl
Mr.. Perkins said some members
e the bar objected TO the plans becaus
i the law library would not be on n
third floor of the building. II Il wei
(~ke'the building az all II would be thei
s through courtesy.
L Objections were made TO having b,
one elevator in the building. Il wa
" pointed out that there is only OF
= II. -. -.