The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-02-26

After keening the testimony. and
their proceedings secret, as believe
from May TO December more than six
months. received note from the
secretary OF the committee, dated
! Barnwell, S. c.. Dec. 7, 1903. hut mailed
in Columbia. l1th December, giving me
an opportunity to appear before the
committee. if / desired. Having heard
OF the proceedings in May. at which I
was told. and believed, Col. Marshall
had been present, decided, without
having counsel, that l had best not
appear unless the committee desired my
presence, l had been guilty OF absolute
ly no wrong, or conscious neglect of
amy duty to the State, but had given
my best efforts to assist the capitol
commission in the discharge Of it's du-
ties and the proper expenditure of the
states money, hence L had nothing to
explain away. But knowing that had
modified and detailed drawings In my
office not on file in the State house.
L offered to place my office records Mt
the disposal of the committee In this
connection ] see that my note to the
committee has been termed curt"
wish to diSclaim any such intention:
ana If II is. regret 1t, and plead in ex-
tenuation the fact that 1 began the
struggle for bread early in life, and had
not the opportunities of collegiate edu-
cation enjoyed by some members of the
investigating committee.
but III JUStce 10 tne capltOl commits
sion, which with one exception ap-
proved my work, as well as to myself
and family, l wish to say something in
regard to the specific findings of the
investigating committee, in the order
stated.
First. AS TO the charge that
the plans and specifications filed with
the secretary OF state We're not suitable
ana complete.
| believe this was the first objection
Il. 81 "a,
ton as architect, ana was fully con-
sidered and passed upon bv the capitol
commission in the year 1900, MIR. Mar
shall alone dissenting. AT that time
the commission had before it letters
from four OF the most prominent con-
of the country, who, after studying
those plans carefully to base upon
them bids for n very large sum OF
money, secured by Il heavy bond, had
bid upon this work. Some Of these
gentlemen We're personally known to
members of the commission, and their
statements were TO the effect that the
drawings and specifications were plain
enough TO make an intelligent bid. that
the plans and specifications were fully
understood. and were proper for good
work. The opinion OF such well known
contractors and builders as Guide x
Walker, J. w. Bishop * Co. w. a.
Chesterman and Nicholas Ittner. COM
outweigh the opinion of Mr.. Marshall
and the Washington expert" with any
impartial judge.
Second. That the contract fixed the
old work on the completed portion OF
th" building. rs the standard.
This is not true. There is nothing in
the plans and specifications which
could be so construed except, perhaps,
the word prototype" on one of the
general drawings. ana this was intend
ed TO apply only to style outline. form,
shape; and was not intended TO apply
to the classification OF the workman
ship. Under each of the headings of
the various classes of work the same
WAS fully outlined, giving the number
of cuts to the inch for the different
parts Of the work.
In this connection, ! may say that
ii was not intended to make the stone
cornice in one piece. for instance. The
small appropriation for the whole work
neceSSitated great economy, and
the scale detail drawings show that it
was to be built up of several members,
as il was done, instead OF the more eN-
pensive onc-piece cornice.
Referring to sheet Of the general
drawings where the note before re-
ferred to is found. ii will he seen that