Arizona republican., 1913-03-17
WOULD AID ARTISTS
 AND BUY FURNITURE
Governor Sends Special Message to SoIons Asking That Money Be
 Set Aside for This Purpose.

which had been withheld owing to q certain ruling made with reference to the $100,o00 appropriation made by congress for the constitutional con- vention election and ratification There was $10,000 i'll this sum. The officers of the election were paid and there remains q balance in the trea- sury of $6950 which the governor proposes to put to the uses explained i'll the following excerpts of his mes sage. if the legislature will pass the necessary acts.
 T am desrous of delivering to the state treasurer of Arizona the unex- pended balance s695072, remaining from the statehood fund, but do not first state legislature shall have made formal acceptance of the money and shall have appropriated it to the uses for which it was originally secured. namely the purchasing of additional equipment for the state capitol. I most earnestly and respectfully re- commend that legislative provision he made whereby a part of the bal ance available shall be applied to the re-furniShing of the interior of the senate chamber and the house of representatives,, which as will readily be conceded. are, at this time, not at all equipped in a manner be- fitting the dignity of our state Such action on the part of the first state legislature would, l am confident, meet with the unqualified approval of the citizens of Arizona, many of whom heretofore have had occasion to visit the legislative halls and ob- serve the very inadequate character of the present furnishings.
 With reference to the foregoing recommendation I would respectfully call the attention of your honorable body to the proposition submitted by Mir. Lon Mesargee. an Arizona artist. to furnish to this state for the in- terior decoration Of the building which will house the proposed Ari- zona exhibit at the Panama Pacific International Exposition, fifteen panels seven feet high and four feet wide Ut s250 each, which could after hay ing served their original purpose at san Francisco, be transferred to the capitol of Arizona and made a per manent part of the furnishings of the building thenceforth. I feel that an especial interest should attach to the plan submitted by Mr Megargee for the reason that he is a native Arizonan who has passed life in the deserts and mountains of our state making a study of those landscapes and topogra phic features by virtue of which he is able to make his work nd ture in her Arizona phases It would. therefore. in my opinion. be in har- mony with the plan for improving the equipment of the capitol for your honorable body to authorize the ap- pIication of a part of the fund avail able, to the purchase of these paint ings, small illustrations of which are open to inspection in the governors $ office, and would extend proper re- cOgnition to one who. I believe, is the only native Arizona artist to achieve. thus far favorable notice from the public.
 "A further matter to which. in con- junction with the foregoing. I could direct your attention is that the pie lures of two of the former governors of Arizona have not been added to those displayed in the executive of fices for the reason. presumably, that no session of the territorial legisla- ture at which special appropriation for the portraits could have been made, was held, under the terms of the enabling act, in 1911 It is as- assumed that the first state legisla- ture of Arizona will be desirous of ,l l,4 Iikenesses of the two governors who held office immediately prior to state hood and I would respectfully suggest that no better opportunity is likely ever to arise for having the portraits of all the former governors reproduc ed in oils than is available at this time when the necessary funds are at hand and an artist of wide reputation is residing in Phoenix for the bene- fit of his health In making the fore going reference. I have in mind MT. William Vincent Besser, who has ex- ecuted in oils the portrait of some of the worlds greatest dignitaries and who was recently terminated a con tract with the state Of Kentucky. In the event that your honorable body should regard this matter with favor Mir. Besser would undoubtedly be glad to appear before any committee de sgnated, with d view to showing his credentials and evidence of his rat ing as an artist.
 In response to inquiries which 1 have addressed him, MT Besser has assured me of his readiness to enter into contract with the state to paint the portraits of all the former gov ernors of Arizona at the rate of $100 each.
 For the facts and suggestions set forth above, therefore. I bespeal1 your most earnest consideration. and in this connection, assure you of my entire willingness to cooperate for the securing of adequate provisions by which the unexpended balance of the federal fund remaining, may be so applied as to establish a fitting memorial of AriZona's constitutional convention resulting in a lasting ben eft to our state and to those mem bers of posterity, who in succeeding years, will occupy the positions of honor and trust which you now hold"
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