Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-02-12


Mr, Msliett--Gen. Harris informed me
that the Governor told him 10 20 ahead and
; be would back him up--I give it as the IL
formation came to me. In the OLD part. ear
pets for the representatives, hail, $50 so.
That is making and putting down-Goy-
ernor's room. Si0e.75; rubber carpsting for
old part-shat il for the corridors, and 10.
putting dovn-Sie5; electric lights
s23s.75: old part, gas bill, 45l9 81; two
saYels, Psesiien, and Speaker, $40; five
cases water closet paper, $50; hghts in
Senate chamber, $50 So; expense Of put
ting in large gas pipe, slss 3s. that is q
large gas pipe from the street into the
capitol, necessary TO put in to furnish gas in
suffi cisn. quantity for the increased demxnd
throughout the new ps,t of the capitol; dig.
giug for lesk in water main, 81 so; light
ming rods on State house, $500. This
| Item, while il was no, authorized by either
| the Governor or Council. was put in at The
request Of the contractor and he relies on
the Legislature to pay The bill. under
stand that he has )vered the State House
in thorough manner with rods. and Gen.
Harris put the item in.
Mr.. Swanton--I would like to inqai,e Of
the committee if the item Of lightning
rods is approved by the committee on pub
lie buildings.
| Mr. Msllett-We have nothing 10 10 with
that. II was left to the superintendent of
public buildings. Il was pu, in during the
past two years.
Mr.. Wslton-Wss it put in at the request
| Of the contractor?
Mr.. Msllet-No, bu. by the party who
furnished the Lightning rods, at his own
expense and risk, without any authority
from anyone.
Mr.. Msllet-He has rodded the building.
| If the Legislature sees fit to pay him, all
right. if not, do not know but he will
have TO remove them.
Mr.. Walton-Hss that bill been spproved
By anyone?
Mr.. Mallet-I do not know as tina. par
ticular item has been approved. |. was 10
the deficiency bill and vas explained at the
time by General Harris aud, / think, sp.
proved by the committee; the whole ded-
cheney bill went into the appropriation at
the time that General Harris appeared be-
fore the committee on public buildings, if
| remember rightly. If am mistaken the
chairman of the committee, Mr.. Adams,
will correct me. General Harris appeared
before the committee and explained these
matters. do not remember whether that
item was called to the attention of the com
mittee.
| Mr.. Waltnn-I would like to inquire of
the senator from Cumberland if he has got
at the items which make up these different
bills satisfactorily to himself?
| Mr. Msllet-I have gone over every item
with Gen Harris, with the bills that have
been sent in to Gen. Harris,-we were in
his room and uninterrupted.
Mr.. Wslton-I have great confidence in
the Senators industry, but want to know
whether he has sscertained in relation to
these amounts and as TO the disposal of
them and the items which make up the
different amounts satisfactorily to bimself:
Mr.. Mallet-I have this to say, Gen.
Harris explained the matter to me and |
have the fullest confidence 10 him and am
satisfied myself that they are correct so far
as they have been returned.
Mr.. Walton--Quite q number of them
have been estimsted and not returned:
Mr.. Malle.-No Sir only one. the others
have been returned, and bons-
| fide statement of account between the State
Of Maine and the parties who have furnished
the material, fixtures, furniture, etc Reg
ulsr bills have been sent into the State of
| Maine and are in the hands Of the superin-
tendent of public buildings. / have gone
over every item, and looked at every item
in every bill aud have the assurance of
Gen. Harris that everything that these bills
! call for has been furnished to the State.
Mr.. SwsntonThe point Of my question
in regard to the ligitning-rod bill is this
| A mechanic has come here on bis own re-
sponsitiiity and has been permitted to go
to work on this building with the under
standing that be was to get bis pay ii the
york WAS satisfactorily done. l want TO
ascertain if there is some approval
! of that bill, and that the building needed
the rod5.
Mr.. Mallet-All that know about this
! ligh;ningr rcd bill is from information fur
nished me by Gen. Harris. He informed
me that the party who put up the reds did
so ut his own risk without authority from
the Governor and Council. and that in his
/ judgment it was a good job. / don't re-
member tha. he told me it was necessary
| At that time, as | said before. it had not
| been called 70 the attention of the commit
| tee on public buildings
1 Mr.. Swauton-I want to know if it was
necessary for the interest OF the state and
the safety of the property. If Gen. Harris
/ says II WAS hliJ tiiHs is
! | want to know about it.
| Mr. Adams of Penobscet--I understand
! from Gen. Harris that the Governor and
| Ccnucii and Gen. Harris say il i3 good
| Investment for the state, rather necessary
at the time, that the oil rods were worse
! than none.
/ Mr.. Mailett-Takiug out old counters,
| 50 so: table for Governor room, $z02 A. !;
Z 4 G- & .
clock for Representatives. hall. Sl7.15
express bill, Sl.50; deficiency in coal on
account of tie addition to the State fiouse
! for heating, Sii3S .0G. Gen. Harris IN
| formed me that this was made necessary
in building the new addition. 1t was
found necessary to keep very heavy fire
10 keep the building warm. so as 10 CON
tinre work aud preserve what was already
done. OF course you will understand that
when You have taken the broad side
of oRiiiing out. it would nee sssitate keep
ing up heavier fire, and that is one reason
why this large deficiency in the coal xc-
count appears. New desk for secretary Of
state, s85; brick, cement, trucking, etc,
for Governors room. fireplace, S3l IS
Mating for old part. oilcloths. towels. car
pet sweepers, ETC., $50 OF. Paintiog and
t
desks in representatives hall, ink wells
that the general had to furnish 1888.
Brooms, lamps and necessary implements
and vessels for keeping the old part clean,
| si00 That item wss e300-Si00 went
into the old part and $500 into the new
part, as near as We could estimate it. Fire
places, Governor and Council room,
$50. Extras, $500; that is for
incidental expenses for hundred AMI
one article, that wear out AMI
have to be replaced by rev, making sum
total Sl6, ,253ll That is a, near az we
could get at it at that time. There were
quite large number of items and it would
have taken quite long time to have
written il all out. So the Senate will see
that out of this SIC coo, odd, almost sl2,
0C0 has zone into the new part. To pat i.
as Gen. Harris claims. and think perhaps
be has put it very well; I'VE put the new
part in proper shape for the reception OF
committees and officers Of this legislature
80 that when the Legislature met and
organized there would not be any delay in
assigning rooms or having rooms ready for
occupancy. II any Senator would like sc
ask any further questions regard
ing this item I shall be glad TO furnish
them ali The Information that | have.
have gone carefully over the matter with
Gen. Harris and have his assurance that,
in his Judgement, everything that / have
jus. mentioned vas needed. do not sec
how we could have used the nev part il
the chairs, tables, and fixtures had not beer
put in II 10 question ia the minds of a
great many members CT this Legislature
about pyDpndiuy this iSYge amount al