The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-26


Chapter 1893, passed May 10, 1892, sub
mits to the slectors.a proposition for the
issus of State House bonds. The lam
gusge IL precisely that suggested by the
State House commission in its report for
1891 and for 1892, and Is as follows:
"Shall the General Assem- bly, be author
lied and directed TO provide for the issue
Of State douse bonds in an amount not
to exceed the sum Of 81. 800, 900, so much
OF said sum az may be necessary to be
applied to tho purchase of site for, and
the completion Of, new State House."
This proposition was spproyed by the
people OF the state Nov. 1892. The first
State House commission then ce use & to
exist.
Chapter 1901, passed May "a, 1898, creates
the present board Of state House Com
missioneis. The principal duties of the
hoard ara prescribed In section 2: "ssid
Board shall at once proceed to select and
acquire sitp for now State House,
and to erect thereon q new
State House substantially in acordsnc,
with the plan accompanying the report
OF the state House com ission made to
tine General Assembly at It's January ses-
sion. 1892. and recommended ny said
commission"
The commission is q bipartisan board,
it's members coming from the two princi-
pal political parties in the State.
1he commission In accordance with the
act made q report at the January session
OF 1894, snd of 1895. No mention is made
in either Of thess documents that II was
TO contract for o state
House costing more than the sum voted
by the people.
In the report OF the commits ion pre-
sented at the January seIsiou, 1925. on
page Is, IL IL stated: "The hid Of Messrs.
Norcross Brothers for 1850, 900 was sc-
cep;ed ty decided vote and the contract
wac signed August 26, 1926" The com
mission hac succeeded to the documents /
Of he first State Hnuse commission and |
hsd full iuformstion Of tbs proceedings !
and records of that board. That the |
hoard had full knowledge Of the vote Of |
plsced upon tboir scijon IL evidenced by |
The following extract from the contract
with Messrs. Norcross Brothers:
"lt is mutoslly agreed and understood
betw tho parties hereto thar at the
late CT the execution OF this contract the !
owner mas not subject TO bi. disposal
'utficient money TO meet oil the payments
provided to be made herein, and that not
any of the previou, provi-
'ions OF this agrsemsnt, N, at my time
o,foro rho compilation Of tho work pro.
Tided herein to be done. tie money at
he dispo.al OF the owner shall he ex-
1austsd, oil work under this contract
bsll be suspended until such tins q, the
ienersi Assembly OF the ststs OF Rhode
slsnd shall provide additional money for
he use OF the owner for the purposts of
bis contract, at which time the work
ball be resumadi aud so on TO its CON.
'Ietion. Provided. that u, at the e.pirs.
Ion Of the period OF two years from the
late OF the suspension Of the work herein
'roviced TO lie done. the owner
\ not in posse,sion OF money for the
omplstion Of sail WORK. Il shall
'c at the option Of the contrsc.
or whether or not he viii compIe,o
he said work for the unpsId b,l,uee Of
he sum named horein 40 q considera.
ion."
In such circumstances. II Is to te de.
'lored that q oontrset so opposed to the
ornally exp.es,ed will Of tho ,,e..,,t. |