The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-02-18
Astounding Report Made By the
Examining Committee
WHOLESALE RASCALlTY ALLEGED
The Committee Gets After the Son'
tractors and the Supervising Areh''
tect-A Tremendous Sensation
Sprung.

The report OF the commission ap-
pointed last year to investigate Tue
completion of the State capitol was
submitted to the general assembly
Monday.
The report makes most interesting
reading. since it contains very serious
criticisms at the work done by the
contractors. McIvain Unkefer Co.,
undc- the supervision of the architect
Frank j. Milburn, and the original
con;r,,ss,on Those members of the
commission who approved the final re-
mort of the contractor and OF the ar
chitect were: Gov. McSweeney. W.
r. Cooper, Secretary of State; Repre-
sentative CAN'T and w. ]. Johnson.
and the following from the SINKING
funl commission: Senator Mower.
Representative ]. Harvey Wilson. e.
Duncan Bellinger. attorney general
J.P. Durham, comptroller general; X.
H. Jennings, State treasurer. The gov
ernor and the secretary Of state were
also members Of the sinking fund COM
mission. The investigating COM
mittee's report sustains the protests
made from time to time by Senator
Marshall, which were not needed by
the commission. and his minority re-
port to the legislature which brought
about the investigation.
The investigating commission con-
sists of Senators Robert Aldrich and
r. |. Manning, Representatives J. y.
Patterson. J. NJ. Rawlinson and T. Y.
Williams. by whom the report is sign
ed.
The report is as follows:
To the Honorable the State anu
the House of Representatives:
During the last session of the gen
eral assembly the following concurrent
resolution was adopted: BE it re-
solved by the senate. the house OF
representatives concurring. That the
several reports IF the commission FOR
the completion Of the State house De.
and the same are hereby. referred to
special committee. consisting of two
senators. 20 be appointed by the preSi'
dent Of the senate. and three members
of the house of representatives. to be
appointed by the speaker OF the house
of representatives. to consider the
same. and report to the next session OF
the general assembly such facts and
recommendations in reference thereto
rs they may deem advisable That
said committee be empowered to sit
during the recess, to appoint a secre-
tary. and to employ an architect. to
summon witnesses. and shall keep
record uf all its proceedings. and sub
nit the same with the report to the
general assembly"
In accordance with the said reso-
luton. The undersigned were appoint
ed TO compose said committee.
The subject matter for our consider
alton is the work done upon the State
house to complete the building. and
the manner of its performance. By
an act Of the general assembly. ap-
proved 18th February. A. ID. 1900. the
sum of $4,000 Of the sinking fund
was appropriated ITO complete the
State house" and a commission con-
sisting of the governor. secretary OF
State. one member Of the Senate. and
two members of the house was deslg-
rated with the sinking fun6 commits
sion to take charge of and direct the
completion of the State house. to let
cut all necessary contracts. including
the employment Of an architect, and
to see that said work is completed ac-
curding 10 contract and to do any and
every act necessary to carry out the
purposes Of this act. Provided. That
No funds be used except as they are
actually needed. and shall not be used
rniess a contract be entered into to
complete the said State house for the
sum set apart"
At the last session Of the general
assembly. the said commission made
lis third and final annual report. bear.
inc date Of 4th February. \. d. 1907.
giving ci:custantially all that was done
Under the act, and concluding with
resolution as follows: Resolved
That it appears to the commission that
the work is satisfactory and that the
contract has been substantially per-
formed. Page So, majority report
At the same time minority report
was made by one member OF the com
mission. Senator J. Q. Marshall.
whereby the attention Of the legisla'
ture was called to many defects in the
work. briefly stated as follows
l. Plans and specifications submit
ted by the architect are too indefinite
and lacking in particularly. the evil
effects Of which were afterwards
shown.