The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-09-06
THE CAPITOL BOARD
Another Vindicatioa Speech /,
Treasurer T. r. Lubbock.
The Supervisors Of Constructior
Don't Want to be "Slaugh.
tered by Ignorant Men"

The capitol board was in session la,
afternoon, with the governor, Treasp,s.
Lub book, Com ptroller Mccall and H.
Commissioner Hall present.
The governor had the following le.ts,
read:
AusrN, September !, I@s
To His Excellency L. S. Ross, Governor.
Dear Sir-The omissions and defects in thar,
strucd Of tie capitol building, reported by ~
we're made BY your orders and with the UNI,
standing that chou point them out to the bosra
am ready 70 verify every statement made by ne
By ocQlsr demonstration, and In Justice to uiyssG
ask tsat be allowed to do so; hes ;ectfully,
Superintendent OF Public Buildinrs
The governor said: "In explanation o,
this matter I want the calcium Eght
turned on this building so that a hole
which can hide a cricket can be seen.
have asked General Hardemsn aid Others
70 examine it and report to me. l have
never TO: moment doubted the ability
or honesty OF the officers having tSs
building in charge. I believe they have
honestly, and to the best of their ability.
discharged their duties. l don't believe
for a moment there has been anything
criminal in the whole business,
want fair and impartial investigation
of the building, and if the contractors
have done their duty it is we'll; but if, On
the contrary, there has been deviation
in any respect, 1 shall see that they cor.
rect it. would not wrong the contractors
nor shall the state be wrOnged, so far az
am concerned.
General Walker: IL feel as deeply in
-, ~
anxious that the building be examined;
am anxious to have it done and beg 10
have it done, provided competent man
is secured to do II; want it done By
competent and intelligent man; 1 do not
propose to be slaughtered here, in my
own country, by ignorant men; nothing
would please me more than to have it done
Three architects of your own selection
have examined this blildlng and pro.
nolnced it, as far as finished, completed
in a wOrkmanlike manner, il accordance
with the plans"
Mr.. McLaurin concurred with Mr.,
Walker, but suggested that the accusation
of General Hardeman be taken up with
the answer OF the commissioners to them.
MORE MEDICATION.
to make another vindication speech in
which he stated that he never made vim
dication speech the day before as stated
in The STATESMAN. l don't know who
wrote it, but l never made such speech
have no defense to make. 1t has been
attempted time and again to saddle upon
me this leaky roof. Now, gentlemeu,
that roof was adopted by he
unanimous vote of the boarl
Treasurer Lubbock then read, showing
that the copper roof cost several thousand
dollars more than any other, and from his
arguments, the extra cost of the material
over any other suggested, caused its
adoption regardless of its adaptablity
for the purpose desired, and in the face
of protests and the written advice Of
competent experts, who had no intere in
the matter one way or the other.
For political purposes possibly in the
ears of the people it would sound tier
to read that the change had been i ade
from cheap material to one more costly,
rather than from costly material to one
cheaper, Notwithstanding the latter would
have been vastly to the interest o. The
building and the people.
He said: "The roof has leaked from
the very first, and it leaks Low. 1t was
never put on properly and it has been
roughly treated during the progre,5 OF
the work. Men walking over it, and
material dropping on it. It's my opinion
it never was put On in accordance With
the specification" with the emphasi- on
"cif," land shall oppose receiving it."
Having relieved and yindicated himself,
the genial treasurer sat down and resumed
his wonted comp osure. He seemed to
feel that he was not being treated exactly
right when attempts were being made 70
Saddle the roof upon him. but suisse
quently, at another period of the meeting
he again alluded to the roof end
said: at is one of my pet measurs s.
Mr.. Hall-"I would like to know what
specific charges have been made against
the building, that may act intelligept ly"
The charges of General Hsrdeuan
we're then read and will be answ 5red
Monday by the commissioners.
The governor then called attention to
the charge of defective material and
of the wood work.
Mr.. Price, the agent of the COMPANY
said: II am willing for any oompetent
honest man not prejudiced to examine
t. egsrd il as fine piece of wood work
,s there is in the United States. and my
'elf and my company are proud of it. II
in honest man who has had experience II
wood work is appointed to examine it my
company will be satisfied"
The answer of the commissioners to the
harges made some time ago were real.
The charges were of no moment, and The
explanations seemed to be satisfactor,
The board then adjourned until Mo-,
lay.