, 1877-11-11
TIE COURTHOUSE.


Since the election there has been 4 bitterness
and strife among the Commissioners which can
not be explained OIL any other hypothesis than
that the election did not suit the 'sRing." It
has been impossible to huld committee
meeting without some one losing his
temper, and at times everybody has grown mad.
Yesterday ut meeting of the Committee on
Public Buildings and Public Service there was
genuine ro.. and looking on one was transport
ed to Bridgeport and takcn back in memory to
the riors Ut July last.
The matter under consideration was an cstl-
mate Of $4,000 in favor of P. j. Sexton for
Courthouse work, and it was difficult to help
thinking, from the venom exhibited, that scy-
cral Commissioners had as much interest in the
S50,000 as Sexton had. The architect was pres
cnt, and attempted to show that his recon-,
mcudation was all right, and that there was
nothing wrong in the foundation of the dome
costing s6o,ooo, although he had prom
iscd to build it for $4,000, aud
which responsible parties had offered to con-
struct for $15,G 900. but he grew angry. aud iu
his frcnzv was led to curse everybody and every
thing, and to defy the atttAcks Of Commission
crs, the press. an1 the World, and to assert
himself, i'll violent manner, aster OF the st1l-
alton and at liberty to do rs be pleased. Mr.
Fitzgerald, too, got OIL his high Nurse and struck
i defiant attitude, charging. that IL conspiracy
existed between the architect and certain Com
missioncrs, aud foFtifying bis charges By a
vigorous knocking on the table with his fist.
Mr.. Holden, iu the excitement, was unable to
restrain his wrath, and joined Fitz-
gerald In hanmcrins the table and in
the exchange Of various compliments
The Chairman could not Keep order, nor
could order have been maintained had
there been o dozen Of such officials, and they
had all been armed with batons.
Mr.. Guenthcr volunteered his services, but he
was weak, and before he got through his
nervousness got the best OF him, aud he became
more administrative tnln any oil the others. Hc
held in his hand a copy Of THE TRIBUNE, in
whch was an item to the elect that he proposed
to contest tue election OF his opponent, and, al
though lie nad spoken to the reporter few mo- !
ments previous oil the subject, aud asked cor
rectlon, he turned upon that Individual aud !
threatened his demolition, emphasizing his re- |
marks with string Of oat!!s.
The scene was not only exciting but disgrace !
1ui IN the extreme, and it all grew out OF ritz-
gerlld's mild request to postpone action in the |
matter Of voting Sexton $4,000 until lie could !
hire some one to measure Scxton's work AMI re-
neft TIE amount hc was entitled to. Egau was
taudcd to Che skies by McCa1rrcv aud lIolucn as
1hc very typc OF perfection, and Sexton shared
ths saHe late. while OH the other hand Fitzgcr-
alu ~, uStr.cl them both, anu Gucnther poured
voted $5o,uW amt Egan s7.5OV, and
when it was all OVER they were the lappiest OF |
tht happy. The foundation for one hail Of the
Dome, 50 far, has cost $12U0W, and the prospect
IS that before 1t is completed: it will have cost
ior m ! thc entire cnunty's half oi the building
Sea:noo- The ioo, from its inception, was re-
sardtu as crooked, hut no one ever imagined
Lha1 The steal would be as large Us it is.