Smyrna times., 1925-01-07
MOVEMENT MADE TO HAVE
STATE HOUSE, DOVER, ENLARGED
LEGISLATURE WILL BE ASKED
TO BUILD ADDITION TO EDIFICE
Urge Need for Moore Room to Take
Care of the Various Departments
as Well as Executive Offices


as Well as Executive Offices
Owing to the great increase of bus
mess of the women's state depart
ments the Legislature, which convenes
on January 6, will probably be re-
quested to consider either the build
ing of wing on the State House or
the erection of a separate building to
house some of the departments. The
Secretary of States offices and es-
pecially the automobile license depart
ment are greatly overcrowded.
The automobile license bureau, which
is conducted in connection with the
office of the Secretary of State, is be-
coming one of the. States most pro-
fitable departments and larger quar-
ters will necessarily have to be pro-
vided to take care of it. Last year
the automobile registration reached
the $4,000 mark, while this year it has
jumped to $4,000, with a possible in
crease from three to five thousand in
1925.
This department requires so much
room that the Secretary of State has
been crowded out of his private Office
to make room for the files and other
equipment necessary to keep the
blanks and papers in connection with
the business, and has taken quarters
in a corner of the Governors private
Office across the corridor from the
Secretary of States Office.
The removal from Newark, some
months ago, of the entire State Board
of Health equipment with the execu-
tive offices of the State Health and
Welfare Commission occupying three
rooms in the State House, has made
conditions even worse. The State
Health and Welfare Commission, the
State Board of Supplies, the State In
come Tax Department and the In
dustrial Accident Board are now oc-
cupying offices that during a session
of the Legislature are used by the
Legislative attorneys, typists and bill
clerks. These departments will get
temporary quarters in the State Arm
Ory during the session of the Legis-
lature.
The State Board of Education ard
the State Banking Commission, also
occupy quarters outside of the Sta,C
House, which with the laboratory of
the State Board of Health also in a
rented building, cost the State an an
nual rental of $4,000, which could be
saved if a new building were erected.
The State Health and Welfare De-
partment, in addition to the rooms
they now occupy, also use the halls
for filing cases and files necessary in
keeping the records of that office.
The State Archives Commission
quarters, in the basement of the
State House, directly under the hbr-
ary, is also Over-crOwded and it will
not be long before something will
have to be done to relieve the conges-
tion existing in this department.
1t has been suggested that the libr-
ary quarters be used for the State
Archives and that the Library be To-
Gated in a new administration build
ing.
The State Auditors office with the
additional duties placed on it within
the past four years, has also been
forced to use the hall adjoining that
office.
Realizing the great necessity Of
relieving the existing crowded condi-
tion and also reducing the expense il
the way of rent, Governor Denney II
his coming message to the State Leg
islature will recommend an appropria-
ton of sufficient funds from the ex.
listing surplus in the State Treasury
to construct a building large enough
to take care of the States needs fol
many years to come.