St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-14
FIGURES UPON THE COST
OF the Plans for the City and County
Building.
EXPERT EXAMINATION ENDED
Commissioner Swift Kicks for Business
Methods and Has Tilt With Com
missioner De Laittre.

The city hall and court house commits
sion met at the new rooms in the Bos-
ton block yesterday afternoon with
Messrs. Oswald, De Laittre, Erickson,
Mareck, Swift, Swenson and Clough
present. A number of letters received
from various competing architects were
read. Appleyard & Door, whose plan
was thrown out Oh the first inspection,
sent in an indignant letter, saying that
it was unjust to reject their plan with
out expert examination. E. E. Myers d
Sons letter did not favor the plan of
having another expert committee. Yost
Bros, who, at a recent meeting,
wanted to withdraw their plan, sent
in a letter saying that as it had
been reported that they were afraid to
submit their plan, they favored the APP
p0intment of an expert committee, and
wanted their plan to take its chances
with the others. The gentlemen selected
to act as such expert committee were
also heard from. S. S. Beeman said he
could not act owing to previous engage
ments; l.. III. Sullivan was willing to
serve, and E. III. Burnham was also
willing to serve, if the meeting could
be held in Chicago. Dennis Bros. sent
in a letter saying that they did not want
another expert committee appointed,
and that they were perfectly satisfied
with the decision of Expert BOyington.
When the reading of these letters was
finished John De Laittre took the floor.
ut seems.'' said he, THAT two or three
of the competing architects want an
other expert commission: three or four
don't care one way or the other, and
four or five don't want it at all. l,
therefore, move that we take no further
action in the matter of having another
expert committee. My reason for this
is that all the competing architects do
not want it. If they did | should be
pleased to see another committee eX-
anime the plans" This motion was
carried by unanimous vote.
Commissioner Erickson stated that he
and Commissioner De Laittre had en-
gagged H. E. Sullivan and DOdSOn d
Fisher to figure up the cost of building
the court house according to the plans
furnished by E. E. Myers d Son and
Dennis & Co. This figuring would
cost $50 for each plan.
1--WE did that" said Commissioner
De Laittre, "for the purpose of finding
out just where we stand. We don't
want to go ahead and put up this build
ing without knowing what it is going to
cost. If the board does not want to pay
for figuring up those plans will do it
myself"
''You had no right to order them
figured up without first consulting the
committee on construction, remarked
Commissioner Swift, turning in his
chair and looking at De Laittre.
''Oh, that's all right john" exclaimed
Commissioner Clough, as he pulled
Swift into seat.
"Well, it may be all right replied
Commissioner Swift, ''but all these
things should be done in a business
like way, and the construction commit
tee should know something of what is
going on"
81 did not think it worth while to
wait on the construction committee"
retorted Commissioner De Laittre,
somewhat sarcastically, ''as certain
members of that committee have never
even taken the trouble to come around
when they knew they should have been
present"
On motto of Commissioner SwensOn,
it was decided to have the five plans Sc
lected by Expert Boyington, as well as
the .."H" plan of Long d KEGS,
examined by Messrs. Sullivan and DOd-
son q Fisher, with view of finding out
what it would cost to erect the building
if any one of those plans was adopted.
John Swift voted against the admitting
of Long & KEGS III" plan. The board
adjourned, subject to the call of the
chairman