The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-02-26

CAPITOL EXPENDITURES.
What . Special Committee Of the Lesisla-
ture Says About Extravagance In the
Use Of Public Funds.
Tho Legislature having instructed the
Committee on State Affairs In the two
Houses to examine into alleged irregulari-
ties In the expenditure Of the $4,000 ap-
propriated for repairing the east wing OF
the Capitol. that committee reported to the
Legislature. from which the following ex-
tracts arc taken:
early during the last session Of the Legis-
lature resolution was adopted. requesting
the board OF State House Commissioners to
cause to Be prepared plans for remodeling the
Senate chamber, and an estimate OF the cost
thereof. and report the same to the chalr-
man Of the Committee Of Ways and Means
to enable that committee to report an appro-
priation TO- carry the same into effect: At
Anderson. John Hammond and = Hood:
and 3. T. Carr was State architect. General
Anderson. who had been q member of the
board since the organization. in 1873. resigned
Carr. Who resigned the position of architect,
a1Sl3 per month. to accept that OF commie-
sioner At 20 per month. Thomas Butler was
succeed Mr.. Hood. whose term had expired.
and the board then and since, during the en-
tire progress Of the work has been. and now
is composed OF Mr.. Carr. MT Hammond snd
Mr.. Butler. Messrs. Haskell & Wood having
prior to the resignation OF Mr.. Carr, per-
formed the assistant supervisory and archi-
tectural services. at salary OF $2D per
as frm to the Office Of State architect: but
finding some difficulties in drawing the nee
essary amount OF salary. the firm resigned.
and Mr.. Haskell was appointed State archi-
and his partner, Mr.. Wood. was appointed to
do the assistant architectural and supervisory
services. at q salary Of $50 per mouth. fixed
BY the board. since which time the State has
architectural and supervisory services. be
aides paying &l35 per month to superintend-
ent during the time the work was actually in
The committee recites the Senate resolution
OF 1885 asking for estimates, the action of the
board Of comm issioncrs the estimate OF Mr..
that the work would cost $15.0IO. and the mp
preparation BY the Legislature OF the $.5UO
which was to complete the work. The COM
miitee continues:
from the history of the appropriation and the
language of the act itself. we are impelled to
the further conclusion that the present men,
bers of the board of State House Com mission
ers. Is well as the architects. all well knew that
1t was the intention of the Legislature to limit
the expenditure to be made upon the east
wing to the $4,000 named in the act. And we
urther find thai the board of State House
Commissioners. in violation of their duty. and
in violation OF what they knew to be the in
tention Of the Legislature and the law. being
ably aided and abetted therein by the archi-
tect, who is equally culpable. have already
expended. including liabilities incurred
but not paid. more than $4a.0O in excess Of
the amount appropriated. and that from $15,-
90 to $as5,tU0 more will be required to com
pletc the work. The excuses made for this.
are that it was necessary TO put in additional
iron trusses to support the ceiling. at cost
of $l0.:S0. and new boilers for the heating APP
paratus. at q cost of f2.lSi. which were not
known to be necessary at the time the esti-
mate was made; and that they. the architects
as well as the boarl. supposed that the Senate
wanted better room than the House: and
that il the Senate chamber was finished in the
same style as the west wing. II would not be
in keeping with the growth and progress of
the State We do not think the excuses suff-
cient. This increased expenditure caused by
these items amounts to but xl2,5O. General
Anderson testifics that the sum of S3.6.5 was
put into the estimate for renewing the steam
heating apparatus, which reduces the amount
of expense not in the estimate to less than
$a.00. and the expenditure OF $4p OF that
sum caused by not letting the iron
truss contract TO the lowest bidder: and
which should have been adopted. the
board of Comm iSsOners and the archi-
tects had no right to gainsay the wishes and
commands of the Legislature. The board of
State House Commissioners met once n
month-and in one OF two cases oftener-
went through routine of business. allowed
the bills that were recommended b. the arch
fleets. and went hOme-rarely staying more
than one day. and frequently iess-for which
they were paid 10y law $50per month-in reali-
" about SO per day. Instead OF giving the
interest of the State requ, red. and rs the law
makes il their duty To do. they gave il no
personal supervis on. allowed il to take care
Of itself. turned it over entirely to the archi-
hindrance: on their recomme ndat on allowed
Illegal claims amounting To hundreds OF dol
lars. and seemed in all things TO forget. or
neglect. the duties and responsibilities which
the law devOlved upon them as sworn OH
GERS of the state.
The committee then refers to favoritism In
the letting of the contract for the iron which.
to say the least. appeared suspicious. and
adds: The board allowed work to he done
ara material TO lie furnished amounting 10
thousands of dollars. without any written
contract. the person doing the same present.
ing his pay rolls and bills. on which he was
allowed bv the hoard pay for his own services
and for all expenses as reported by him. and
in addition thereto. ten per cent rs Il petquis-
ite. 80. As for the arch tocts. III the mat
tiers of exceeding the Appropriation. letting
of contracts 10 other than the lowest bidder,
payment of Illegal claims we find them 10 he
equally blameworthy with the board. aS In
WAS taken. AMI were able advocates OF the
adoptions of the plans that they well knew
would require an eSpend iiure far beyond the
amount appropriated The Senste chamber
is in manv respects well planned. beautiful
and artistic in design. in material and in
and in other respects the plan
is bad. fhe material faulty. and the workman
ship poor"
Here follows a criticism on the character
of the work and designs in the Senate cham
her and defects. which should never have
tN-,l k,,ek
the eyes of the architects. the most that can
he expected will re an attempt TO pa-ch. or
cover up the most glaring defects. leaving
the others to be criticised and condemned for
all time" The commits protests against
the system that has been pursued in this
State OF appropriating money to he expended
in build ny. before full plans. specifications.
and estimates are prepared and approved"
The report concludes:
I'VE recommend that the present board of
State House Commissioners. the State archi-
moved from Office. That when new hoard
is appointed. il shall in addition 20 its duties
as now prescr bed by law. cause to be pre-
pared full plans and specifications for the
and completion of the central
building of the State House with careful esri-
mates of the cost thereof. and have the same
ready TO submit to the next session Of tue
legislature.
The report is signed nv W. W. Smith, T.. C.
l.. ID. Young. r. J. Donneli and C. H.
Kim bail on the part of the Senate. and G. ".
Lewis. II. A. Miller. W. A. Lower. George N.
kreger. Thomas ]. MatlOck. !. Ware Butter
Held, W. II. Mcbride and J. X. Spiers on the
part OF the House.
He Was q Prophet
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2O-Prof. DevOe, Of
who came to Washington to
wrestle with the weather problem, has been
thrown in the first round. The professor on
Friday week last announced the gloomiest
weather imaginable to prevail: until the 18th,