Year: 1865

Oux hADAny correspondence


ALBANY, Feb. 2, 1896.


spfeEdid model Of a new State Capitol Building is
placed on exhibition in the State Library with plans and
specifications designed by Lockwood OF New York city
The plan 1s highly admirable and would make edico
larger asd nure imposing than that at Washington It's
dimensions arc ample and adequate q design. II
would make an appropriate accommodation for the Legs
ature Of e Empire stae but its erection in the ra,dst
ofa heterogeneous and shabby tT5 town like Albany
would present most unsuitable displacement or 80
much experssand elegant architecture.


TIKI PROPOSED REMOVAL or THE sTArx CAPITAL.


The appropriate committees OF both houses Of the Ics
gslaure have under consideration the proposed building
of new Captelbuldjng, and will report favor OF its
removal The committee of the Senate authorized
to correspond with tho several municipalities OF the State
In regard TO proposals for It's location esew acre.
Assembly Commstte on Ways and Means have reported a
bill this morning appointing commission comprising
the Governor, Lsutepant Governor and Secretary Of
State for the purpo;c Of making all the for
removing the capital The bill makes tho mayor OF any
city president OF sch village shall be chosen for the
location of the capital additional commissioner by
virtue of his Office Tie feeling regard this matter
among leading members and tho State officers is such
10 give Specification and importance to the movement
which presented any previous occasion Tho
which have led to this movement although at





viuns will present itself in such conclusive form
as to be worthy Of special notice.


LEGISLATORS AT ALBANY REcAHDFD As NO BHrTER THAN


STATE CoNvrcTs


The principal motive which has given rse to the pro-
position for removing the capital is tho relation which
tho State officials and Legislatures have held for number
of back to the social coeres of Albany chronic
quarrel has existed here between these sets The called
Kn ckerbOckers have established usage with regard
to- tho politicians and officials which keeps them apart,
the latter being denied most rgdly any social recogn
tion whatever The fashion set by the exclusive and





the traiesmen and all others, including even the
churches In tho language Of an eminent Sate official
the members OF the Legislature and state officers
treated Nike so many State convicts Those who have
spent the longest period OF here bear the most
emphatic testimony to this state Of facts There
said to be but two private houses IN Albany society
where amy hospitality Is ever extended, even TO the
wnahiest and most cmnen citizens OF the State who
be sent here by constituency in public capacity
These exceptional have been, however, prom
inentfy identified with the State government. and legis
lativc interests through their heads.


RxroRTOSs AID iMrosIiIoNs MgmBrRs
This condition Of affairs might have gone uniner


pted had not the general changes In the cost OF living
brought tho subject into special consideration this
Price OF hotel and boarding house accommodations is 30
much than the pay provided under the statutes,
that the cost OF living here has forced into particular
notice tho systematic extortions and practscd
upon visitors There is but good hotel here, and that
Ia about to be moved like the capital The propctors
OF tho Delevan House have bill pending amendngthe
vii transfer their business to New York as
soon their lease shall EXPIRE two ycan hence
The cost hotels here the same as the rates at tho
Fifth Avenue Hotel and the As,or House. At private
houses and at boarding houses, twonty dollars week
ar charged for rooms and uni ss an official Is endowed
with fortune he cannot expect TO bring his family Tho
brie Of hundred days Is made the occasion for
charging for tho ordinary expenses OF hrcs hundred and
sxtyfvc Good faro and cvility might be apology
for this, while the is notonously the fact Al
though the Deavan ranked with the best houses in the
country, 1t Is not rightly Albany, but a
Central Railroad concern and Is its way the
New Albany bridge TO the neighborhood OF the Central
Park In New York Should the new capital take the
course, the metropolis will give both suita
Bile sphere.


rrosAL AMENDMENT DEBATE TO-DAY.


But the mos, important bearing OF the question OF
removal Ia illustrated while this despatch Is being in
dted The debate upon the passage OF the joint rosou
ton endorsing the constitutional amendment progresses
In the nate with great spirit. Senators Bailey, Muir
phy schalcr Hastings and Williams are enlisted in the
warinst discussion Of the session passage Were
the Legislature and capital located in the metropolis the
skilled reporters and convenient types Of gr at presses
would present to the public such scene with its ami
nation in detail and place the debater vantage
ground which the United States Senate cannot for the
OF It's distance from the metropolis Of the country For
this sole reason tho location Of the capital should be
changed to the city Of New York. and with such change
the state government would take the most commanding
position In the van OF the States.


PARTY MOVEMENT.


Since this matter has been suggested the manner In
which the Senatorial Invsstgat ng Committee has pro-
gres cd In New York city has attracted special attention
here Ii and that they have currency
in the best circles Of New York society and that in
party point OF view II gives indication of far greater
honor and power to bo realized from oncc in connection
with the proposition OF q metropolitan capital The
municipal sness asris patronage Of places than
the State governmcaa Az the appanago Of metropoli
tan location OF tho state government ais would greatly
increase the importance Of both executive and legislative
prerogave Vowed from the standpoint OF the
Darlington decision In the Court 81 Appeals and the
metropolitan tendency OF reforms New York city cgs
laon In show the republ can patronage b. doubled
from this soureonow almost exclusively possessed under
special egissen by the opposition Thus on the score OF
bonor and of reputation which he constitution
shall exc out he meagre pay OF he State official and
also upon ;nsground Of paronsge" which Ia tho
gbe aim s party organizat on, New York offers most
tempting apoct ~ tho ocatica Of the capital OF the
State.


THE REMOVAL ov TIE cArrAL MOST suurARY nsyoRs
The location Of the capital IN this city for long
period ns established numfcr OF organized sources OF
corruption which change would shake off at least for
time The two regencics Of political profit.
gacy and corruption, which change OF the State capital
versisod, and their relations 10 legislation here have
| formed the topic OF vcmminous discussion. With
change OF the capital new ORGANIZATIONS Of the
change, and with II respite II might go far To
change the organization of parties as II would certainly
change the control Of politics in the State Possibly
Greeley and his followers might hope TO succeed weed
had they the capital In New York. with perhaps Dudley
Field and Dick Busseed In either house OF the Lessa
| turc.


MUNICIPAL Arscr os TIE ourxrroS
| with tho Legislature located In New York city Ia
The nrst Ct the city could End convenient 70 be
elected memters Charles OConor, Evars Astor Stuart
and the men Of brains position and wealth. wosld aspire
| 10 us "honora" like example would be followed In
other counties. position In the metropolitan halls Of
legislation would command Q hearing and attention
throughout the States With the press OF the mctropo
at s doors u would have the vantage ground Of Con
greS From such body the Citizens Association OF
any other more judicous body, would find hearing "a
soma purpose for municipal complaint and for redress o
local grievances How gladly should such Legislature
| be hailed as substitute for the Common Council
| WHAT NEW York COUNTY SHOULD LOCATING ruI
i CAPITOL.


From these aud many other striking facts which could
bc the mporenoc OF the proposed removal should
ba seen In New York city. Let the necessary steps bs
taken at once 70 secure the Capitol for New York Tbt
plans now on exhibition here call for three millions o
dollars for their completion Let be raised by the city
or by property owners, and let ample sts in hs
| upper part OF tho city be- also rendered Like thu
Park the cost will be repaid by the increased value
| xabe NV In location would algg