Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-12-11
First Step Taken to
Clear Way For a
Municipal Hall
LEGAL STEPS
TO BE TAKEN
Comfort Station Is
Not Favored in
Market Square

City and county commissioners, at
joint meeting this morning, passed
O resolution directing City Solicitor
John +. Fox and County Solicitor
Philip $. Meyer to report whether
any legal questions must be sett ed
through Legislation before the city
and county can join in the erection
of modern building on the site of
the present courthouse. The solicit
ors VIII report at another joint ses-
sions, to be held next Wednesday
morning at II o'clock. This is the
first step taken towards a new Court
house and City Hall, although the
need of one has been apparent for
years.
The conference of the commits
sioners this morning in the City
Council chamber was held to discuss
the advisability of constructing a
public comfort station just west of
the present Courthouse. When 1t
was brought out in the discussion
that a new Courthouse and City Hall
should he built as soon as possible
il was decided to abandon any fur
ther plans for the comfort station
until it is determined how the city
and county can proceed together in
FlailllAA4N AVl AAlt new 'ulANAAl6 " ~
place the present structure.
Move Is Approved
All of the city and county officials
at the conference heartily approved
the move and said that If the county's
title TO the site on which the Court
house stands must he changed by
state legislation so that the city can
Join in paying for a new structure,
- cha1r1I inVnGfiUptR nj
once and make a report. after which
necessary legislation will be prepared
to be introduced at the coming ses-
sion.
Mayor to Name Committee
4 resolution was unanimously
passed authorizing Mayor Keister to
appoint a committee TO receive the
report and decide what action should
he taken TO start the plans for the
new courthouse and municipal build
ing. Mayor Keister said he would
appoint all the members of City
Council and the Board of County
Commissioners as they would be the
ones directly concerned in providing
for the big improvement
Everyone present urged immediate
action so that within year at the
most the necessary funds would be
available and definite plans complete.
The two solicitors will confer in a
day or two and prepare their report.
Should it be necessary to have legis-
lation prepared for passage at the
coming session it will be drawn up in
the near future the officials declared.
To Settle Legal Point
When the conference opened
County Commissioner II. c. Wells said
he would not favor the construction
of a comfort station in the vacant
space west of the courthouse, if the
structure would in any way inter-
fere with the erection of a new
courthouse. City officials who just
prior 10 the session lad been discuss
ing the need of a city hall, immedi-
ately asked the County Commission
ers for their opinion on making plans
for a joint city and county Office
building and courthouse. The county
officials approved the suggestion at
once but called attention to prob
present holds the title to the site OH
which the courthouse stands.
City officials said these questions
would he settled through legislation
and then County Commissioner
Henry NJ Slime made a motion that
the two solicitors meet and prepare
their report reviewing the legai
status of the property title and what
rights the city had to appropriate
money for Improvements on property
Continued OH Page 14.1