The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-05-05
Thr 8ulletin.
rxporr or THE sEN ATE COMMII
TEG ON THE COnsTnuCthON VI
rsGr GrE 0rATE HOUSE.

Early In February last, resolution
was introduced In the Illinois state SEN
ate for the appointment Of a committee
of five senator's TO investigate the affairs
of the new state house. The resolution
was passed, and day or two later Sena'
tors Jones, Whiting. Ra,ney, Mcclellan
and Frantz were selected
ms such committee. After more than
three months spent In gathering in
formation on the subject, the committee
on Wednesday last presented their
report. The report is very long. cover
ing more than two hundred closely writ
ten pages of legal cap paper. 1t gives a
brief history of the enterprise from its
commencement to the present time,
and summaries by giving an aggre-
gate of the amounts paid
out and the sum yet required to complete
the work, which is estimated at from
$500, 900 to 100000. From the report 1t
appears that the commissioners have
handled the neat little sum OF $500 ,0oO'
This enormous sum has been expended
and the Duliding is nUL yct cVinpie,cu
Notwithstanding the assurances made
hy tho commissioners that /
would complete the structure, ant
nave 1t ready for occupation by the LIST o.
January, 1877. Why these pledges have
not been fulfilled is a matter OF great
concern to the committee, and the COM
missioncrs can give no satisfactory expla-
nation tor their hardness in completing
the work. The greater portion OF the
expenses of the building over the esti-
mates haye been caused, in the opin-
ion of the committee, bv the excessive
and elaborate ornamenta.ion, of
the building, and by the
many changes from the original plan.
They report tie cause Of the cost over
the appropriations to be the fault of the
supervising architect. who, being man
fextravagant taste, took advantage OF
the commissioners, who, not being arch
fleets OF practical mechanics, allowed
excuses not warranted by the limits o.
the appropriation; as. for instance. the
change In the construction of the dome,
which change increased the cost $780,.
600. Other changes are also mentioned
Of similar character for which the com
mittee do not specially blame the com.
missioners. Some OF the work is com
mented on as follows: Terra-cotta
poor; Portland cement, inferio
quality; marquetry floors, cheap
and SO on-must be replaced; the imita
ton marble columns, etc, are a failure
and will have to be replaced. The fo
lowing figures of expense arc given i
round numbers: Commissioners salary
$4,000; secretary's salary, $4,000; al
torney's fees, $1,000; architects pay
$S3 600. The committee recommends,
action by the state Tor possession of tn
necessary additional ground, free to tn
state, vn the sVuui {. o">, a..a .~...,,. ..n
further appropriation contingent on tn
procurement of such ground; suspen
the salaries OF the commissioners durin
the period In which there are no funds
appropriate $4,000 for the protection {
those parts of the building now exposed
and the immediate dismissal Of j.
Cochrane, the architect. The repor
shows that the commissioners have nc
exercised due precaution in the mar
sgement OF the construction of tn
building, and to them must be laid tn
blame Of Its not being completed at tn
time specified, and the enormous cos
over and above the original estimates.