The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-05
THE NEW CAPITOL
Ifttie Progress MADE On the Build
ing On Account ~ q Depressed
Money Observation-Disclosures Legfs-
Iatfop Ee~xes-Bending scheme
Outlined.

O0fhuEd-
OLYMPIA. Jan. 4-Specssi.--Tne spitoi
commission has prepared for submission
70 the legislature a report OF tts proceed
ingx from January !. Isss. 70 January /.
1sa-. ss follows:
TIE foundation ard basement story %
the capitol building were IN course %
construction At the date of our former re-
port. TnN work was duly com pisfec 3c-
eordlng TO contract and 20 the sasire sat-
tFscf price was $3.50, which was in
creased &c $50 a2 b. changes found rec
essay tn the course % construction. The
ara construction. leaves. it - thought.
pothsns go be desired. and tessifies strong
ness ~ an persors sirectiy connected with
- Taeee persons are Ernest flagg. arehl-
fect. n L. Copeland. local representa-
tive Of the architecf. George n. Evans,
ESD, Of Tacoma, superintendent % con-
str1csfsn. and A01atf Bros. OF Spokane,
contractors
Attention Is called TO the low cost o,
this work being put little more than one
hsf ar great ~ II would have been IN
earlier and more prosperous times. An
unpisasant thing ia fhE connection Ia thu
serious los 20 the contractors. Claims
fo- extra compensation to the anoant OF
flzT0 were made BY them. These claims
were for losses alleged 20 have been cats
- ns accident. unavoidable delays and
changes made sn Specifications. Under
fae stringent tsrlns Of this contract the
commission found itself without power TO
allow any az these Claims.
The claims were waived. however. and
ors and the work was accepted on June
q. Isa5.
work nc standstili.
Beyond the foregoing We are unable 70
rAport any sulsstsntiaf progress toward
the completion Of the capitol building
The reasons vii appear ia the course Of
tals report
CD 10 the date OF our last report the
~ local banking Institutions for their
Eastern correspondents. II view OF thls
interest carried by these warrants and
their undoab4ed security we had beer
led 10 hope that but ligtle difficulty would
be encountered Ia the financial part or
disappointed. n became evident at an
early day that the later issue OF the war
rants would not set as readily as the
The completed plans and specifications
for the superstructure were received By
us June ;. 1886. and with the assistance Of
the architect were carefully revised. and
form Of contract for the successful bid
der adopted. Notices were published in
Wiling bids for the construction and COM
pletion OF the building in accordance with
the plans and specifications and the con-
tract ADOPTED. Rids were opened on Au-
gust ~ isa6. AT this time three bids
were received bat as none were found TO
comply with the law all were rejected
The work was readvertissd and Novem-
hids. At this time FIVE bids were re-
ceived All however. were rejected. as
we were unable to ind any bid from
rnents 81 the law. This bidding and the
many representations made 20 the COM
mission on TIE subject seemed TO aemon-
strate that favorable bids from responsl-
bic Persons could not be secured unless
oennlts Arrangements were made In ai
rssSs ~ so ,,s, pssc ~ ans S y, ,hat
Te became apparent that the later issues
OF warrants would not sell as readily as
the earlier ones the warrants being pay
able In the order of their issue. Accord
ingly, IN October. 1895. enc of the mem
hers or the commission. Edmund Rice
Esq. visited Eastern money centers and
made thorough and painstaking but
unsuccessful attempt TO secure such an
arrangement
Warrants Issued I'm Advance.
An effort was then made 10 overcome
this difficulty by Issuing al the warrants
II advance OF the construction. n was
thought that on the letting OF ths con-
tract and ascertaining the cost. warrants
SAID and the proceeds placer with the
stAte treasurer. 70 be drawn and applied
as the work progresssd. Such = method.
on cash basis. and would obylorsi 4, Ai rss
suit In securing the lowest possihle hi5s
and the speedtest completion Of the build
.sne-al In written opinion. bearing dat.
December L. 1895, that such a ra,irse
wonld be in compliance with law. ana we
ton:
whereas. II appears 70 the state can
itol con mission that said commission can
dispose or warrants on the state capftoi
building fund fer the fun amour, OF the
anexusnded appropriation for said state
Ss gns 81 Ss eon ssss 6 s'p ,s en- TIE
STRUCTURE or the capitol building Tor
which bids are or viii D. invited. and That
itoI building wholly ana solely fror, ssis
state capitol hulaiug fund and without
resort 70 any ether fund Of the state.
said letting can ne reduced several fho,1s-
ana dollars and said sum saved TO inc
state, and without 40 eoing said contract
cannot be let; therefore b II
Resolved. That on the letting Of the
contract. me commission. with the con-
.ent % ne contractor. Issue 70 the aud
directing The auditor 20 issue war
rants on the state capitol build
ins f1na. paysble 60 the order OF
TIE contractor, 20 D. Endorsed by the con-
tractor AM 20 be delivered as 10 fnaoree9
hy the auditor IN exchange for cash az
not lees than psr. said ceftlneate or Ger
sums not exceeding Tire amount az tse
appropriation stid unexpendea. zafd
warrants 70 he held hy the sg4ts trss .,,'
or solely. 60 be aisturse8 uron cert fsi.saf ae
issued hy the board upon and with voufss
erS duly presented passra ur0n e.ape
ined, snditoe~ and allowed IN ire method
provided en- peetlnn t4saf chapter lqS tavys
of iNS certifying that services have hee,
TendeI ed ana material furnished ard ~ -
THE person therein named Is entitled 10
p" paid 'he amount therein named said
certheates q b audited and allowed az
tho etnte auditor
Ia pursuance OF the plan outlined r.,
this RESOLUTION. We advertised for hls4t
aNing January 90 1SaT as tha aav for
opening the same While thiz notice ur4s
pending the state. ny its proper 0gfirprx
Wrought a nrsce@Ginw - restrain ere COW,
sntsstoa fruns issuing the warrants In
thts prec%sclng The supreme court. by a
decision rendered GA the eeth day ~ r.
camSey, lStN fully sustained the com mis-
sion. TIE opinion WI - found AZ par
Sii, volume Is. Washington state RerN~Ts
TIE Plan, - was txnectea secured a
sni1ted ana satisfactory bidding twelve
hlts being received On January N ISss
TIE hses we've opened, and Fentan 81
Gnss, % Tacoma. VA. found 10 be the
lowest responsible bidder BIS bill being
As4.s7t The contract was arearssfrFfV
asarded 60 ain 81 thas suna on the co.,
o'fions go forth In the resolution.
Nshody Wants the Warrant.
T'ss warrants have net been sold ana ali
s1erts 20 placs theFa have proved fruit
less IN 80 natter ~ selling the Mar
t&ntA We hRve received the antirfnk a.
forts ~ tae iecsi hanks q = Frrss H.