The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-14
THE STATE-H0USE INQUIRY.
The Commissioners Give Their Views,
and Report a Bill.
Additional Statements by Mr. Denig and
the Testimony of Mr.. Johnson

Inc StaLe-uOuse investigating committee neb
last evening, with all the members present but
Mr. Moody. The session was long and of con-
siderable interest. General t. A. Morris, mem
Der Of the State house board, the first wit
ness Through him the commissioners submit
ted their views in writing, and laid before the
committee a proposed bill Incorporating their
ideas regarding the most advisable course to
pursue. After preliminary remarks, the letter
reads: ''We prefer to let the work of eomplet-
ing the building to the present contractors, be-
cause their preparations for working are all
ready, and there would be 70 delay in the
progress of constructiol,. II we invite
bids from other contractors, the work
must be delayed until new plans
and specifications prepared, a
letting advertised, bids examined and contracts
made; and to do this will consume much time
that the successful contractor will do little more
than to make preparations for working before
the season ends. Again, we are assured, if the
present contractors continue the work, that the
entire cost of the building will not exceed the
limit of $4,000, 700. If other bids are resorted
to we have no such assurance; on the contrary,
we think it more than probable that new con-
tractor would require q considerable increase
over So, O0o, 600.
'These briefly the principal reasons why
we think 1t greatly to the best interests OF the
State to make such contract we have pre-
sented with the present contractors, if they are
willing to enter it."
The bill proposed by the commissioners begins
with a "whereas," to the effect that the con-
tractors have expressed their inability to con-
tinue under the terms Of the old contract, and
resolves shat the commissioners be authorized
to prepare specifications, ETC., preparatory to
letting" and, il Howard & Deuig are willing to
al wi fha m
to award to them the contract. No action was
taken and no opinions vouchsafed by the com
mittee regarding the letter aud bill, and both
were filed as evidence.
Dir. DEMOS TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Denig was recalled and subjected to brief
but spirited examination. He said that he had
general supervision of the work, and was
on the ground every morning between and
O'clock remaining until the close of working
hours. He authorized by the firm to make
all contracts for material. He was asked if the
work could at the start have been relet within
tue contract price, and replied that he thought it
could, He said that Howard 81 Denlg had car
rted on no contracts cctempOrary with the
State-hOuse construction, but that the witness
had done individu al work outside. The quarries
they had opened had involved a loss OF about
$4,000. All the machinery and general equip
mens had been charged to the cost of constrnc-
tlon, all OF which Is WORTH in It's place, between
$4,000 and $4,000. The net loss to date,
In the opinion of the witness. has been
material gregate about 100000.
Mr.. Denig was then questioned at some length
regarding his supervision of the work in detail,
including the number and kpA of superintend-
ents ana their salaries.
Mr. JoHNsoN's TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Thomas H. johnson. civil engineer for the
contractors, was then summoned at Mr.. Denig's
request. The salient points of his testimony, in
brief, are the following: Good workmen in all
departments were employs The contractors
were greatly interfered with by the supervising
architect, and when material was ready to work
on some particular portion of the building he
wonld insist upon working at some other point.
On account OF the delay occasioned by this
interference the whole work has been greatly
retarded To be more definite, he stated that
had every thing progressed smoothly the present
status of construction would have been reached
last spring. The witness knows that the con-
tractors have lost money continually, and at
tributes 1t to advance in the price of material
and labor, and to the aforesaid interference. He
thinks they have lost $l72, 900. At the time of
the letting of the contract II common laborer re-
ceived ST. per day, and he is worth now from
Sl.25 to S150 Stone, which is now worth AZ
cents per cubic foot was then quoted at 27 cents.
10 cover the entire expense OF completing the
building it would be necessary to add to the
original contract price, 80 per cent for increase
in cost OF stone and 35 per cent. for labor Mr..
Johnston said that new contractor could not
complete the work u der total cost OF 81, 5OO-
600, but thinks that the present firm do it
cheaper. speaking or the quality OF etOne re-
quired, the witness said that from 3 to % per
cent. of the material used in the Marion county
courthouse would not comply with the specliea- |
tions for the state-house He said that much
material had been rejected which was
as good as that used by any baildiug in the land
Mr.. johnson then volunteered an opinion regard
ing the language of specifications saying that it's
ambiguity put IL into the power of a supern-
tendent to either enrich bankrupt con-
tractor. "FOr instance, 1t specifies that stone
must be OF uniform color and texture. God AL
mighty never made two stones alike, and it will
readily be seen that superintendent has I'M
limited latitude"
Mr. johnson was then questioned infinitely re-
garding the kind of brick rejected and said that
fully one nalf the hard brick rejected complied
with any reasonable construction of the Ian
guage of the specifications.
The committee expects to complete its labors
with one or two more sessions, and its members
EXPRESS delight at the hope of speedy relief from
their arduous labors.
THE COURT RECORD.