The Wilmington morning star., 1944-02-04
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER

ALEANY,-T is the seat of government
Of an American state considerably bigger and
richer than many sovereign prewar nations
and. for all its FAULT and historic crimes
and frivolities, is nevertheless an impressive
capital. Contrary to popular notion that
state legislatures are aggregations of rowdies
this assembly has acquired certain decorum
in its long life and the governor is surrounded
with a dignity comparable to that of pres-
dent Of the United States He lives in an old
maj sion provided by the state. with servants
and guards whose services go with the office
has 4 private elevator leading to his office in
the Capitol, installed for the special needs of
Franklin D. Roosevelt and is customarily aloof
from the life of the town.
The Capitol building is fine example of
the sort Of public architecture which Robert
Moses would describe as the 'God-aWful.
Begun in 1867, it was 20 years a-building at a
cost Of $25 million, includes for no reason for
anyone even an a1ienist. could suggest a hor
rible red stone staircase carved with funatic
designs, gargoyles, cupids, corncopias and
the whiskered heads Of the dead and forgotten
generals, orators, coroners and persons IN
known and is large waste space ard utterly
useless number Of citizens who had to do
with its building went to prison for grating
and the great front steps, characteristic Of
state capitols done in the old tradition, a
flight about IS yards long and adorned with
art, had been disused for many years and
soon will be torn down lest they fall down.
They cost half million but only mountain
climber would tackle them and not even the
ingenuity Of children at play has discovered
any use for them.
There is a huge state office for the COVER
nors like the Mussonis in Rome adorned
with portraits Of executives long gone, includ-
ing four who went to the White House but no
governor has used it for practical purposes
since William Sulzer who announced that he
would be the peoples governor and sat there
available to all corners until he was i'm
peached by Charlie Murphy Of Tammany Hall.
His portrait is missing from the gallery on
the walls, bur Charlie Polletti, who served 20
days between Lehman and Dewey and effect
ed Jail delivery union criminals, includ-
ing one of Sidney TIllman's henchmen in that
brief time, is represented. Having loosed a
union fire-bug and professional leg breaker
OF the community by stealth, Polletti has been
sent to Italy TO teach the Italians his own
and the new deals concept OF Democracy and
integrity in office.
The statesmen OF both houses get $500 a
year plus one round trip first class fare from
their homes to Albany and S. cash each week
during the session but their expenses are high
for living quarters and meals and there is
not much profit. They have to buy drinks,
too and do some helling around generally
which Of course runs into money Years ago.,
when AL Smith was speaker of the assembly,
big fire in the west end Of the building
did great deal of damage. John A. Dix,
then governor. asked Al if he could manage
to rip off wall and throw into the
flames terrifying portrait of old Ezra Cor
nell. the founder of the university, aud Mr..
Smith, always citizen of great public spirit,
tried his damndest but couldn't manage be-
cause it was screwed fast. However, when he
became governor ne did move the picture