The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-27
MEMORIAL HALL.
Appropriation to Complete the
Building Recommended.
Places Amount at Little More
Than Former Allowance.

An appropriation bill introduced
this morning by the senate committee
on ways and means calls for an ad-
ditional appropriation of $250,0OO for
the completion of the Memorial
building in Topeka. The greater por-
ton of the 100000 appropriation
made by the 1909 session reverted to
the state on account of delays in
pushing the work before the close of
the 1910 fiscal year.
Under the provisions of the new bill
$4,000 of the amount is to be avail
able this year, and the balance of the
appropriation to be paid to the build
ing commission within the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1912. The bill re-
cites that an act of congress May 20,
1908 appropriated to Kansas $97, 1852
to reimburse the state for expenses
incurred in equipping its soldiers to
suppress the war of the rebellion and
that a later act of congress of May
8, 1909, appropriated an additional
sum to the state of $425,065 to reim-
burse the state for expenses incurred
in depressing invasions and suppress
ing Indian hostilitieS. 1t is from the
balance from this fund, or any further
funds not already appropriated, that
the ways and means committee pro-
poses to erect a monument in Topeka
to the memory of the members of the
Grand Army of the Republic.
Following the appropriation of the
at Tenth avenue and Jackson street;
and under the provisions of this ap-
preparation, $500 was used in the
purchase of the site. This fund was
not sufficient to buy the grounds and
the citizens of Topeka contributed to
a fund to provide the balance The
contract for the foundation of the
building was let and this work COM
pleted but before the building proper
could be started. the fiscal year ex-
PRED and the funds set aside for the
work reverted to the state.
Since the work was started, it was
deemed advisable to erect more
modern building than that originally
planned. The department command
er of the G.. A. R., state officials,
members of the legislature and others
were of the opinion that the frontage
of the first story of the new memoir
ial building should be of granite or
marble. The remaining two stories
were to be faced with native stone.
1t is questionable whether the pres
ent appropriation bill will be suffi-
cient to provide this additional i'm
provemenc
The committee in its report recommends
that the building shall be supervised by
committee to be known as the Memorial
composed of the governor, lieutenant gov
ernor, speaker of the house of representa-
R., secretary of the State Historical So
Getty. and one member each appointed by
the senate and house. Plans shall be fur
nished by the state architect and such
brick and other material as might be sup
piled from the penitentiary at Lansing
may be used on requiSition from this COM
mission.
In it's report the committee does not rec
ommend to the style of architecture of
the new building, but leaves the plans
within the option of the new commission
and suggestions of the state architect.
The plans have already been adopted.
The memorial building is to be used for
purposes designed by the department
commander of the G. A. R., and to pro-
vide for permanent home for the State
Historical society, which has been in con-
slant siam danger OF damage or total destruco
fourth floor of the state house. This col
lection is one of the most valuable in ex-
istence and it was largely through an eff
fort to preserve this collection that the
1909 appropriation was made. Little or no
opposition is expected to the present bill,
as it's main object is to fulfill the work
inaugurated two years ago.