The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-12-23

S.C Ashby, Cans e. Klein,
NJ. Morris, J. B. Sanford,
J. r. Watson, William W. Brown,
W. C. Gillette, D.. Flowerree,
T. c. Power, A. c. Botkin,
r. Jockey. John T: Murphy,
A. J. Davidson, E. Beach,
J. Feldgerg, S. q. Crounse,
! William Hudnall, Reed g. Kinda,
D. H. Weston,
And many others.
This is "a formidable array OF names and
the signatures will probably reach 400 to
500.
TO THE BEGINNING.
REWRITING back to the commencement o.
what is now regarded by the taxpayers az
q great white elephant, we find that the
original bill authorizing it's erection, was in
PRODUCED in the House by j. H. Jurgens
and was, as is customary, referred to the
Lewis and Clarke delegation, who approved
it, and the bill was passed unanimously the
same day, with little or no discussion. w
A. Chessman fathered the bill in the coun
| Gil and on March u, 1885, the act was
passed authorizing and empowering the
County Commissioner of Lewis and Clarke
to build a court house.
We give the salient eatures OF the bill:
Sections l., 2, 3, and 4 empower them tt
build, authorize them to issue coupon
bonds, not exceeding in the aggregate
$50, 900, of the denomination OF $500 anc
81, 900. bearing interest not to exceed +
per cent. per annum. payableseml-annually
to be signed by the Chairman OF said boarf
and the Treasurer of the county, and also
provides for the engraving, advertising ant
method to be adopted in the sale OF sale
bonds.
Sections-5 s, 6 and Z refer to the ~cancella
ton of coupons, the redemption OF thu
bonds and the deposit OF the proceeds O
sale in the hands OF the County Treasure:
to the credit of the Court House fund.
Sec. 8. Provides that no pay or commls
sion shall be allowed any person Tor nego
tiating the sale of bonds and also that tn
County Commissioners shall superlntent
the construction, and shall each receive L"
his services while actually engaged in sue
superintendency the sum of IS per day.
Sec. 9. That the Commissioners shal
cause suitable plans and specifications t.
be made, shall let contracts Tor material
NAV let the several classes Of work to sepa
rate contractors as in their judgment seem
best for the interests OF the county. In
contract or contracts to be awarded to tn
owest responsible bidder or bidders. l
also states that the contractors shall Civ
bonds with s%ureties to be approved by tn
County Commissioners, for the completion
of their contracts. =.
Sec. III. Refers 10 tHe lHdHuCL III "nie
they should advertise for plans and tina
they shall designate the cost.
Sec, H.. It shall be the duty OF the Coun
ty Commissioners to employ a sultabl
architect, in no way interested as con
tractor or furnisher OF materials, who
under said Board of County Commission
ers, shall supervise and direct the construt
ton of said court house, according to tn
plans and specifications adopted, and the.
nav discharge him and employ another
whenever in their Judgment the interests
the public require it.
Sec. l2. Provides for the location, an
authorizes them to purchase such lands a
they in their good Judgment may deer
Sec. IS. Suggests the material to be useo
hut st;u lea YES the matter to the judgemen
of the Commissioners.
Sec. Ia. No money shall be PAID an
County Commissioner for services Iendere
hv him in supervising and attending to tn
construction of said Court House, and othe
services in connection Herewith. exceedln
$500 Der annum, which may be allowed
nor shall any money be allowed therefor
, until the Governor. Secretary, an
one of the Justices Of the Supreme Cou1
l shall be satisfied that the services Tor "hlc
compensation is claimed have been actuail
rendered, and that the prices charged ther
for are reasonable, and are WITHIN the I'M
. tations prescribed by this Act, nor uni
1 s,id Governor. Secretary and Justice sha
4 have certified to the amount in writing.
4 Sec. Is. Empowers themto temporary
lease rooms or buildings for the public on
+ GERS of the county, il required, whlle u
D new Court House is being constructed.
j Sec. 16. This Act shall take effect an
r be in force from and after the 10th day
March. A, D.. 1885. Approved March l
1885.
t GOOD BILL 0 HONORABLE MEN.
This bill is faulty in it's construction al
vet in the hands of honorable men won
have proved sufficient, but the preseI
commissioner nave seen fit to ignore l
conservative and protecting clauses al
u have carried the authority weakly extend'
'e in others to the highest limit.
A petition asking them to not take al
further steps in the premises Tor q year
40 was circulated among the taxpayers
Anril. 1885, but with no energetic espons
and the County Commissioners comihenc
operations.
The County Commissioners advertls
for nlans and specifications, limiting the CO
-, To 1928 900, which, after conslderat
- heating around the bush, they awarded
~ Messrs' Hodgson. Wallingford Il Stein,
~ St.. Paul, on an estimate OF Sl32, SUI -.
q While the award was under ~consideratl
.. the architect, Hodgson, is said to ma
ID promised $500, and to have PAID S5Vo
a. the amount, to a young man IN helel
AZ either as a, bride for silence or Tor the use
Ia his influence in obtaining the award. 1t
I'd certain that the party in question, VINO =
at neared before the Grand Jury, hoids clpi
disnatches and letters from the archlt'
~ I --Ilo, 1,otwoan said Hrchlt(
ne and one of the Commissioners, ana y
&c sta ted positively. and is prepared to test
tn the fact, that the architect ~acknowledt
~ th.t he had fixed one OF the Commlsslt
orr. i~ntiJnating that $1,000 was the CT
s;deration, and that the first interview to
id nlace in the Cosmopolitan Hotel, =
Mr.. Ellis, the Commissioner from :
River ia not suspected, nor has, so lar
~ Lnown. involved himself in any qnesti
ahla fra nsaction in his relation with
'st Court House matter. and the men lnvoi'
10 NV their own action are Messrs. Cuthp
Ter and Pope.
,ar THE CONTRACT
NE The contract for the building, in spit
ut tho estimated cost OF Sl32 SOU was let
NJ e1e7 e5O to Messrs. Ryan & Brnnton, {
an Cher reputable builders and contract
lal wave refused the privilege OF taking
dy Mans and specifications from the o1ilce
rec the County Clerk apublic ofice)for the
ro- nose OF examining and bidding on the sa
The plans, however, being turned over
pvan e. Brunton and taken to their OH
to Again only fifteen days notice was al,o'
he foy bids on construction when 1t si'o
The properly have taken at least three mon
With every facility, to get a fair represef
lis ton OF bidders.
are :, ro,a tim to the letting of the contra