The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-09
THE STATE HOUSE INVESTIGATION.

The people OF the State will not have
failed to read with interest the testimony re-
ported from the State-house investigation.
There have been repeated inquiries into the
letting of the State-house plans and con-
tracts, but until the present time it has been
next to impossible to obtain anything like
clear idea of the complicated state of affairs.
Now, however, it has been made reasonably
plain that, so far as the State is concerned,
the people have no interest whatever iii the
contract or the contractors By the con-
struction of the law in behalf of the commits
sioners, construction apparently main
tanned by the Attorney general, the State
has delegated all its right and authority to
the board of commissioners They are build
ing the State house, and at the conclusion of
the work will, Doubtless turn it over to the
State The contractors are simply the SER
wants of the board, can be replaced
at pleasure, the specifications for their work
may be changed at will, sup lementary and
additional contracts can be entered into ad
libtum, the only check upon the scope of
the commissioners authority being, accord
ing to their own view of the case, that the ag-
gregate cost of the building shall not be more
than two millions of dollars. 1t is hard to
see. under the view OF the law maintained by
the commissioners, what, if any, relation
the contractors have with the State. If the
State has any surety or indemnity it must
be only upon the bonds of the several COM
missoners. We are not making an objection
to this, but simply call attention to it as
possibly clearing up confused idea there
may be in the public mind.
BY the way, it is also of interest to know
decisively that there is but one contractor
for the State-house, Mr.. Denig, and that his
financial hacker, Mr.. Howard, having in
vested $3.50, 900 of his private funds in the
building up to this date, distinctly asserts
his indisposition to contribute anything
further, and also expresses his belief that
Mr.. Denig cannot go on with the contract
II is also interesting to learn that while che
architect of the board, Mr. Scherrer, estimates
the cost of the capitol, according to the
present plans, to be 81 $780, 900, only $4,000
within the legal limit, Mr. Denig estimates
it at 81, 500, 900 or $2,6000O0. If there is a
difference up IL the present time of quarter
of million of dollars between the commits
sioners and the contractors, it is
reasonable to accept Mr.. Denigs
figures as nearer the truth, to count
nothing upon the known and recognized in
trinity of architects estimates. As a
rule they are worth little more than the pa
per they are written upon. We begin to fear
that the State has fully entered upon the long
road that has no turning. Itisan experience
the county of Marion suffered and is still
suffering from. A public building is ordered,
alleged estimates" are prepared, the public
mind is led to compose itself upon a certain
price, a law is passed within that limit, the
building is begun and pushed so far that it
must be completed at any cost, and when the
end comes, if it ever does, the fact is found
to be that the original estimate" is mere
bagatelle beside what has been paid. The
building may be worth all it costs, but the
credulity of the people has been none the
less played upon. We hope the report OF the
committee will set forth all the facts clearly
and succinctly, tell the truth and the whole
truth This the taxpayers have the right to
expect