The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1904-02-17

ney, chairman of the commission on
completion of the State House, to Sc
cure and guarantee the faithful per-
formance OF the contract; said bond
bears date 2lst August, 1900. The
form and execution Of the bond was
approved by the Attorney General and
accepted by the commission. On the
I'd of June, 1902, Governor McSWeeney,
chairman Of the commission, acting
under the oral advice OF the Attorney
General las testified to oy ID. ID.
Means, secretary,) caused satisfaction
to be entered upon that bond and SUR
rendered it to the obligorS.
This surrender and attempted dis
charge Of this bond, the States only
security for the vast losses sustained,
was not the act of the commission, as
the Governor alone, advised as IT IS
said, by the Attorney General, under
took to perform this act, and 1t may
be that the State may yet be able TO
realize upon said security.
Your committee do not consider that
it comes within the scope OF their du-
ties to determine questions OF law IN
yolyed in the matters embraced herein,
but would regard it remarkable indeed
if there IS not some remedy, civil or
criminal, or both, to bring these male
factors to justice and to some extent
to redress the wrongs of the State.
We feel that what we have report
ed, and the testimony taken, reveals
dark picture. it is true, but nothlng
short of an actual inspection OF the
work can convey an adequate idea OF
the monstrous sWindle of which the
State IS the victim, appropriately por-
trayed in the closing words OF Capt.
Hunts testimony: :,
1.-The introduction of stamped metal
work in the ceilings of these massive
porticos: the utter disregard for the
strength of the structure by the re-
mOyaI of the two inner columns which
were to carry the bond lintcls TOR
securing the nedmcntS of the main
structures: the unfinished manner in
which the tin cutters were left with
out the absolutely necessary brlck
notwithstanding the vertical sides OF
the cutters, which are twenty inches
or more in height, of one thickness OIL
tin entirely unprotected from the pres
sure of water in the time Of even an or,
dinary fall OF rain-thls, with natllral
deterioration Of sheet tin, makes II IN
conceivable why this work should have
been left in its present condition.
Unless something is done at once TO
rectify this blundcr, the interior, OF
the building is liable to be Hooded al
any time, either from ccrrosion or tnc
expansion and contraction OF the me-
| tai.
This together with the rough and
combustible nature OF the main roofs
the crude and unfinished character OF
the metal ceilings of the lobby, the
! iuollstroiis ildnllur in which the inner
dome was finished, made this Work Il
! parody upon the science OF archltGc-
lure and an insult TO the fame or J0ln
r Nicrnsce and Il disgrace TO the
State OF South Carolina"
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Tie resolution under which this
committee was appointed requires us
,u,cuuru the Iucis asrurlailIcd Dy our
Investigations, and also such recon-
mendations in regard thereto as we
may deem advisable. According, we
recommend:
|. That appropriate legal steps he
taken TO recover, if posslb lie, from
k'rankP. Milburn and MCllvain Unke-
fer Company as much us possible OF
| lie damages the State has suffered
! through their misconduct and breach
I of contract, and such other legal re-
dress as may seem to be advisable.
>. That the most g.arng and damag-
ing defects in the work be repaired
under the authority of the Legislature
until such tin" us The finances 9! -"
State will admit of the whole work
being done over in 4 manner to con-
form to the original design.
| Respects submitted,
Robert Aldrich,
Richard |. Manning,
On the part Of the Senate.
j. q. Patterson,
| j. VI. RlwlinsOn,
+. i. Williams,
On the plrt of the House.