Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1892-05-18
THE CAPITOL INVESTIGATION,
Secretary Thomas Testifes as to the
Funds, the Failure 10 Insure
and the Defective Water
Supply.

Supply,
Before the capitol fire investigating
committee, Hon. B. NJ Thomas, terri
torial secretary and member Of the capitol
commission, testified at length, saying,
among other things, the following;
"The appropriation for 1891 was $4,000,
and under that appropriation there was
81 per cent made available, that was
$500. | advocated drawing against the
whole appropriation, but l think that was
not done. There was some part of the
appropriation drawn against for neces-
sary expenses, such as engineer $3.50,
janitor $720, night-watchman $3.50, water
81 200 or more, coal and wood 5000 or
500 and gas $500. Incidental expenses,
say 5000, which will make $3.50; there
are other expenses | am satisfied can be
shown by the books of the secretary, Mr..
Spiegelberg. In this amount OF $4,870
there is an item of $500 for pay to the
mem bers of the board allowed by law.
"The question of insurance was very
often discussed by our board. There WAS
no insurance at the time the building
burned. There was no insurance on &C
count OF there being no funds and our
inability to make saving in any way to
| get the funds. The legislature made no
provision Tor insurance, but l. and the
other members OF the board, would have
assumed the responsibility OF using some
| OF the funds Tor that purpose II the
amount had been sufficient Inc mini
mum cost on insurance on the building
would have been SOU 1of SIOO,OOO; my
recollection is that the lowest oHef we
had was 81 900 or ! per cent:
THE water supply since have been on
the board has been very unsatisfactory
and much OF the time very inadequate.
| don't know that there was any formal
complaint by voice OF the board, but the
attention OF the company was called tC
the matter through Mr.. Seward, the agent
OF the company, by the Janltor. Inc
reply was that they were doing the bes'
they could do Tor US. l know as matter
OF TACT that there was good pressure al
around us and that water was very
? abundant. ain not acquainted with the
I pressure in the vicinity OF the capitol
but in my own residence tits very weak
which attribute to the care OF the com
pany to not let me have too much water
1t seems according TO allthe evidence
that have gathered that this valve at tht
capitol has stood all these years partly
turned-oh. 1t was covered from sight by
dirt, ETC., and this was the secret OF thu
detective water supply. we were unde
the impression that we were getting TIT
full water supply from the Chief main
We tolerated this because we thought w
were getting all the water we could expec
and under our agreement We were en-
titled to all the water and the force tina
we could get from the main on the street
l think that the superintendent was unde
the impression that we were getting al
that we were entitled to, until the da
after the fire. l always understood tina
this valve was under the control OF tn
= water company as they had the key to 1t
at least they did that night as we had t
send for it.
81 consider Mr.. Everhart to he aremark
, often instructed the lanltor to see that TIA
building was not lett alone night or day
that the night Waterman must connet
with the lanltor in the evening; but
think that | have said to the Ianitor the
during the long days it might be permi
ted to the night Waterman not to arriy
there as early as O'Clock before darl
The president of the board has attende
to these details up to the time OF leavln
the city, and left the instructions OF b
nominee, the present night wachman,
him, expecting soon to have night watcl
: man whom had nominated ana then
: become responsible myself for his taithf
l. performance of his duties.
a " The janitor often complained that II
P night Waterman was not performing n