The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-10-26
i0u's IS tfI'y. G. SWALLOW.

"'Yours truly.
IS. c. SWALLOW
'III. The same candidate has charged
repeatedly on the stump and in the
newspapers that the sum of SS,350.0l
was paid for carpenter work ON the rose
propagating house. which the state au-
thorities admitted was worth, includ-'
ing material and labor. not more than
81. .S00
The rose Propagating house referred
tc was built under an act of the leg
islature of the session Of 1895. in which
In the general appropriation bill the
sum OF 81. 500 was appropriated. The
language used in the act is as follows:
For the payment of the erection, con-
struction. completion and furnishing Of
a rose propagating house, the sum OF
one thousand eight hundred dollars, or
so much thereof as may be necessary.
Under this act a house was built, to-
gether with all the excavation. mason
~. carpenter work. glass. iron, paint
ing and material Of every kind, finished
complete for use, for the sum OF $500,
the amount appropriated. built by
Charles H. Miller. who took the bid.
i have these figures taken from the
record OF the auditor general Of the
state. The statement. therefore. that
this building cost over $ 900 is utterly
and unqualiCedly false. and / challenge
any practical builder. who understands
the value of material and labor, to
construct a duplicate Of this building
for any smaller sum than was paid for
this rose propagating house by the
board OF public buildings and grounds
of the commonwealth, and I also chal-
lenge any man to show that the build
ing in question cost more than $500.
Nv. At the trial in the Dauphin coun-
ty court, above referred 10. the candi-
date. in his defense brought out OF
course, everything he could to justify
his charges in regard to the fitting out
Of Grace church, and inasmuch as he
was found guilty Of criminal libel, after
producing all the testimony within his
reach. ii is hardly worth the time of
this audience to make any further ref
erenee TO il. As a matter of fact. the
church was fit ID up for the occupancy
Of the Legislature in four days and
four nights / took personal charge Of
the work myself. and if the Dauphin
county jury had brought in verdict Of
acquittal there might be some ground
on which the defendant might rest his
allegations 1t was necessary TO fit up
rooms for the senate and house of rep
resentatives. The cellar was utilized
for committee rooms. There were re-
auired Lew boilers. partitions. windows.
electric light. steam heat. plumbing.
retiring rooms, desks, chairs. tables,
carpets and whatever else was neces-
sary to make the church habitable by
the legislature. its officers and en-
ployes Every bidder who had obtain
ed. after competitive bidding, the year
ly contract for furnishing the supplies
10 the state government, was summon
ed and directed TO do his part Of the
work by the following Monday night.
/ The fire occurred on Tuesday The
| contractors went to work on Wednes-
day, and although the church was not
! completed. the church was habitable
for the legislature. and the two houses
met on Monday evening. according 10
my promise TO them. There was a dis
position among the members OF the gen.
eral assembly to take a recess OF so
days.
I was opposed 10 the recess. and il
was only when ! gave them my person.
al word that the building would be
ready for their occupancy on the fol-
lowing Monday night, that they acced-
cd TO my wishes. A delay of 50 days
would have cost the state. at a conserv-
ative estimate. between $20.0O0 and $50
coo. perhaps more than the latter fig
ure. The old Capitol building was COM
plCtely destroyed by fire. Nothing but
o small amount OF furniture was saved.
Mark you. every contractor was re
quired to furnish his material and do
the work. under his contract price for
the year. after the competitive bidding
and letting on the previous first of
June. Two sets and sometimes three
Kets Of wOrkmen worked alternately
through "a hours Of each day. The
desks, chairs. tables. bookcases and pa
per files comprised a large part of the
expense. amounting TO slS.531.6s. The
lumber used was measured after Il was
put in place. and paid for on that
measurement. I am informed the de-
fendant himself had Il measured. AT
least he had the opportunity to have il
measured for use in his trial. and still
the jury found him guilty. Since his
conviction he has been as assiduous In
repeating his charges as ne was before.
Tbs must convince the people of ths
cA--At A--t HAAA Va Aac ApE
laws and courts--as after his conviction
he continues 20 repeat the crime for
which he was convicted.
1t may be proper for me to say
that the present law providing for the
purchase OF supplies for the state gov
ernment Is modelled after that in force
: by the Federal government at Wash
ington. By our law and the constitti-
tion there is a maximum price fixed
for each article. and the commission
Is required 70 give contracts to the low
est responsible bidders. each bidder be-
ing required 70 bid such percentage as
he may desire on the maximum fig
ure. The law requires that each item
must be advertised for bids In 12 news
papers Of the state. and that not more
than three OF the y shall be IN the sane
county. ANY person desiring TO bid on
any articles can apply 20 the board OF
I public grounds and buildings through
its representative, who furnishes the
schedule Of maximum prices. He can
make out his bid and hold il until the
day of the letting. which rs public. and
in the executive chamber. where all
bids are opened The contracts are by
law required 10 be awarded 70 the low
est responsible bidder. who must fur
nish a bond for the faithful perform
Ence Of his contract. Ali parties have Q