The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-08-28
A DlLAPIDATED CAPITOL.
How the Crazy Old Castle al bato"
Rouge swallows Up thu
Peoples Money.
The Ia,mense Cost Of Rebuilding the
Structure In which ,ka rupatIfsofs
and Overseers are Paid S;z Times
A. Much O. the WorkG;eN

sn0 OveIseefS are fat0 Six linss
a. Niich O. the NorkGeN.
N. O. Times.l
In the Tsmss OF Wednesday men.
tion was made that Senator Hagsn
had returned from Baton Rouge. and
would make some startling st-.te-
ments regarding the mis.manage
ment Of affairs ut the capitol build
Ing.
on the senator yesterday ct MS place
Of business. and interviewed him on
the subject.
The senator very willingly made a
statement Of how he found things
&C Baton Rouge, and from what ne
said 1t would look a. II the commits.
sion mismansgsd their trust most
outragsouely. :.
When the subject OF moving tho
capital to Baton Rouge was tirst
agitated, Mr.. Hagan was appointed
chairman OF q committee to visit the
ruins, and make an estimate OF what
would be the probable cost Of the
necessary repairs.
Senator Hagan and his COMMITTEES
made q careful examination 81 tue
premises; found that the walls were
burnt out and cracked In many pla-
ces the iron work Of no earthly use.
and the building 10 such q state OF
decay that to put It 10 thorough or
der would cost about $3.50, 900.
This estimate, which included build
ing new walls Ia many places, laying
pipes and sinks and arranging
basement, was considered very rea'
aonable, but when tho bill came up
for adoption only $4,000 was ap-
propriated.
With this amount at their disposal
the commission. which was appoint.
ed under act Sc, which provided lol
tho appointment Ut seven commits.
sioners, two from the senate and
three from the house. went to work.
The commission a. appointed and
created by the oct consisted OF the
governor, as-o11clo chairman. the
lleuten mt governor. and Senators
BuflnRton and HagaI. and Repre-.
sentatlves Robinson. Richardson and
Mundey.
When Senator Haesn attended the
late meeting Of this commission,
Senator Burlington and Representa-.
tivee Robinson, Richardson and Mup'
day were present. Senator Hagan
Immediately upon reaching Baton
Rouge, made On inspection OF the
building, and he says he was disgust
cd with the apparent mis- manage
ment. =,
He found Major Thompson Bird
sn ex.farmer. in charge Of the worEs
At a salary Of $500 per month. MIR
Brown as assistant superintendent
ct $3.50 per month, and Mr.. Freret q:
architect ct $500 per year. or S2Oo 3;
l-3 per month. and q general aeeist
ant at 40 per month, making tota
Of 9673 80 1-3 per month tor super1n
tending Workmen, and tho pay rOl
for oil the men now working lnde
these superintendents, for the montl
Of July, amounted to the large e0u
OF STA Is.
The work completed on tho build
Ing 40 far IL 81 the most interio
character; around the openings
feW bricks haye been stuck In her
and there, while one OF the wall
which should have been pulled dow
ore propped up with piecoa OF timber
Mr.. Hagsn states that outside 9
the work Of cleaning bricks. whic
Vas performed by q few amateu
brick.layors. the entire work VII
have TO be done over BY skilled Wora
men. Up to date tho commission ha
occe pted bids for work to the amour
Of SIS, 900, and they still have to le
out contracts for joining, plumbtn
4 plasterlng. painting and brsckHorl
It will be readily seen by the abOv
that It II impossible to flush tn
building according to the specifil
| lions, with the money appropriated
Tor take tho amount Of contrscte le
$4,000. from the appropriation
SIG, 900, and only $40 remain
with which to pay for tho JOINING
plastering, painting, etc.
Tho commission, Of tte last mee
ing, cav tho matter IN thu light, On
proposed 20 change tho specification
: but Mr.. Hagen moved % Q Oompr(
5 miDe 70 stop work q once and edve
tioo for bids for tho entire work, II
cludjng tho bids already accepte@
and go what could be done 10 th,
:. way.
His motion Wa tabled, howsye
. SO disguised Was Senator Hagen I
. tho whole proosediog that be pr,
/ posed to reeign st,on0e. Senator III
. gan 10 reply 70 question tom th
J TINES man, 0aid "ehat ct the preoel
; rate Tho bulldog would not b
J 20 live In for three years, and thl
? II would coat 800. 900 70 complete Il
! repairs.
III Senator Hsgsn proposes 70 q
i Governor Wiit1 to appoint Q commit
D tao Of Ave architects aud builders.
J. investigate the matter. and report
!. the extra session, which he feels CO.
Z Adent Governor Wiltz will cell
J, soon - he returns.
e. The commission will meet ON Fl
q day next, and no doubt will take sou
. action In the premises.
q twill be seen from the above ia
there IL likely to DO q serious hitch
= tho early completion Of tho ''p(
+ ple's" capitol. Senator HAaAN. NJ
= makes this statement, In q mseti
Of tho Committee subsequent 70 Il
interview, was called to task by q
ssid Board. He. however. reittel
ted the charges contained 10 6
). above statement. except 30 FIR
% saying that the contINcts had be
let out for 1lS2. 900. instead OF ~ q