New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-31
LIGHT ON THE CEILING.
MORE FACTS LEARNED BY THE ASSEMBLY.
A COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS APPOINTED TO MAKE
FURTHER INvEsTIGATIoN-MR.
sHEEHAH'S RESOLUTION.
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A FURTHER INvEsTIGATIoN-MR
sHEEHAH's RESOLUTION
[BY TELEGRAPH IkiBUrE.l
Albany Jan. 30-The Assembly Chamber cennB
was again the subject of consideration to-day In he
Assembly; and good deal OF light was thrown upon
the dark corners Of the subject. The remarKaDle
statement was made to the Assembly by speaAef
Cole, and Assemblymen sheehan and Gallup VINO
are members of the committee that had charge OF
The construction of the Assembly Chamber ceiling that
Il was their impression from reading the contract that
the ceiling was to be Of carved oak like that OF the
senate Chamber, and that they had no rcoilecuon
OF the contract authorizing papier-mache ceiling
Tho debate was opened by Mr.. Ainswofth, the
chairman Of the Committee on Appropriations, who
suggested TO the Assembly the appointment as ex-
merits TO examine the ceiling Of c. H. Chester, pro
sossor Of chemistry in Hamilton College, Archimedes
Russell, an architect Of Rochester and Charles H.
Bush, civil engineer Of New-fork.
Mr. sheehan suggested that Stanford White, Of
tbe firm of McKim, Neal White, architects Of New
York, be added to the list OF experts
Mr. Ainsworth accepted Mr.. White, and then said :
aMy plan for the investigation is to have these ex
pers examine the ceiling, report It's cost and whether
II was made according to contract and then the COM
m,ttee will sec how the contract came to be lett
Mr. sheehan said It seemed to him as II this was
not broad enough task and he offered the following
resolution:
Resolved, That the committee Of experts examine
a" Frst~IIas the present ceiling been constructed IN
all respects in accordance with the plans ana spec-
secondly-what would be the cost of said ceiling
10 0artered oak were used In place Of papler mache
fbIrdIy-what would be the cost for constructing a
proper carved oak ceiling IN accordance Win lno
mans adopted for the building OF TINS present otii
ing and in case carved oak were USED IN INC speSi-
locations in place Of Quartered OAK OF paper naeno
Tourthly-That said committee further ihVesuea'e
and rerOrt upon any other matters pertaining 10 w
building OF said ceiling they deem material ana aso
n HE article paplcr mache, as used In this culg Is
proper and frstclass material
General Batchellcr thought tho resolutions might
confuse the reports The sole question was whether
tberc had been fraud by the contractor or cupaoe
negligence by the Assembly committee.
Mr. sheohan Insisted upon the investigation being
thorough one.
Mr.. Hunting expressed the belief that the whole
matter was chImborazo steaL'
sneaker Cole said that the specification for the con-
tract had been drawn up by Mr.. Rowe. an architect
and the contract by Attorney General Tabor More
over the speaker had discovered that the clause OF the
contract providing for papler-maehe substitute was
IN the original contract and In the copies OF n sent 10
various CONTRACTORS. Hc for one was ready to bear
his share Of whatsoever responsibility there might be-
Then, replying directly to question by MI Fish,
ma said that no expenses Of the committee were ~
cluded I'm the payments, aggregatlng $500 TO Dir.
Mr. shcehan resented the luslnuaton that he wanted
10 make n scapegoat Of anybody.
Speaker Cole stated that he had not audlted any
bn whatever In this matter, nor had ne yet sent IN
any bill OF his own
Sir shcehm admitted, with blush, that he had
drawn from the Controller little matter OF vi OF
s1a The Assembly then, by q unanimous vote,
adopted Mr. Shcehans resolution