Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-09-19

and trace up the history and progress Q
this work. 1t will be seen that from ls4O
to 1s4s, no appropriations were made, tn,
law for building new state house having
been repealed; but in December, 844 com
missionors appointed by the Legislature re
ported plan and specifications for new
state house, with detailed estimates of the
cost. The entire cost according to that plar
was estimated at 1851 ,235. In February
ls4e, the general assembly passed Law
providing for the building of a new state
house, and adopted this plan. In the frsi
section Of that law will be found the follow
ing provision: provided, that the saiG
commissioners may mako such modi6ca
tons in the details OF the said plan during
the progress Of the work as they may deem
expedient and proper; Provided, however
such alterations SHALL IN NO WISE
INCREASE THE AGGREGATE COST
OF THE SAID STATE HOUSE" This
act continued in force and the work was
supposed to be prosecuted under its provis-
ions until the session Of 1852, when the
democratic party cameinto full power in all
the departments Of the state government
To use a common expression there was hard.
ly ''grease spot" left of the whig party in
the Legislature. This democratic legisla.
ture repealed the law of ls4e, and passed
another law for continuing the new state
house, appointed democratic board of COM
missioners and appropriated 1925, 200, max
ing up to that time and after the law Of
1s4s was passed, $S65,OoO. Theplan was
materially changed and the cost greatly in
creased. These commissioners, after there
had been expended $4,000 on a state
house that was not to cost to exceed $36l,-
2S5, reported to the legislature at the ses-
sion of 1854 that it would then require
100000 more to complete the state house.
Thereupon that democratic Legislature ap-
propriated $4,000, aud after that sum is
also expended, the same commissioners re-
quire $S77,344 20 to complete the house
which was only to cost when completed,
$361,2S5 1t seems the more they ex-
pended upon the state house, the more it
required to complete If. The republican
Legislature very naturally suspected that all
was not right. The work was ordered to be
suspended and committees of investigation
were appointed. The commissioners were
required to make full statement of their
expenditures and liabilities and it was found
that on the first of March, 1856, they had
run the state in debt after expending all
appropriations, $685. ,125 GA. Only $29,
s4s, of this was for work done after the
18th of November, when they reported their
indebtedness to be only $l96 ,237 80. where
as it was s2sO,277 "a. The republican
legislature instead of appropriating the
enormous sum which these democratic COM
missioners required to complete the state
house, turned them out and put in their
places men believed to be honest and ap-
propriated only 100000, just enough to
place the building in state representation
and finish off the necessary rooms for the
general assembly, state officers, supreme
court, &C. in plain and cheap manner
a large amount had already been expend-
edin expensive and useless ornaments, which
were ordered to be dispensed with in finish
ing the house.