The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-02-18
CHARGES OF FRAUD By
STATE HOUSE COMMISSION

|
should have been used.
3. AS the work proceeded, it appear
cd that the contractors were not doing
the work in accordance with the plans
and specifications in construction or IN
finish.
4, That the contractors claimed. and
the commission allowed them all the
old material taken out of the State
house, whereby the State sustained a
heavy loss.
s. The failure Of the contractors to
put in two of the large futed columns
/ in the front portico. to the injury OF
the building. a saving to the contrac-
tors Of $2,400, and corresponding
| loss to the State.
6. In violation OF the plans and spe-
cifications, the splendid steel ceiling
of the main lobby. which cost $4,000.
was torn out. and a cheap and com.
mon stamped metal ceiling that cost
s40O was substituted therefor. Also
the ceiling of the house of representa-
tives and the library were badly dam
aged by the contractors.
Z. The contractors removed the
gas pipes from the halls Of the house
and senate. to the loss OF the State
of that much property.
s. That when the architect reported
that the work was completed and
ready to be received, and that the
contractors were entitled to payment
objections were made in various par
ticulars. among others as follows: The
work had been improperly done, was
not in accordance with the specifica-
tions, that the roof and walls leaked
badly, that the water came through
the main lobby, and through the floor
and landing of the front portico. all OF
which was pointed out to the commits
sion. and proposition made by tnls
and another member OF the commls-
sion to get an architect from Washing
ton, in the employ Of the general gov.
ernment, to pass upon the wIrk. ana
whether it was in accordance with the
plans and specifications. which propo-
sition was declined by the commission
Notwithstanding those two members
offered to procure such an officer at
their own expense and without cost
to the State. and the commission over
ruled all objections, and directed pay
ment to be made to the contractors.
8. That since the acceptance Of the
work and payment to the contractors,
the roof has continued to leak. and the
floor and landings Of the front portlco
have leaked so badly that the water
closets, which had been installed
Hereunder. had to be removed to an.
other part Of the building, the con-
tractors defraying one-half of the eX-
pense Of such removal, the State bear
ing the other half, complete loss OF
$500.
10. That great loss has been and
will he entailed upon the State because
it has been forced to pay for defective
work. and much Of it will have to be
done over again.
II. That the bond given by the con-
tractors for the faithful performance
CT their work has been cancelled and
surrendered without authority OF the
commission. and without the knowl-
edge or consent of at least one OF its
members.
THE matters referred to in these
two reports" says the new report. put
your committee in possession OF what
they had to investigate"
The remainder OF the report. which
is given verbatim, will prove interest
ing reading:
THE first thing they felt called up
on to do was to secure the services
of a competent man familiar with this
kind of work. skillful in his calling and
of such eminent standing in his pro-
fession as to entitle his testimony to
full respect and every consideration:
for obvious reasons we did not care
to have one from the city of Columbia.
nor even from the State of South
Carolina, the utmost impartiality ard
freedom from bias or personal infiu-
ence being Of the highest Importance.
Accordingly We communicated with
the honorable, the secretary Of the
treasury Of the United States, who at
first led us to hope that We could OBJ
tain the man We wanted from the Of
flee. of the supervising architect OF the
treasury department. but later he
wrote that the pressure Of work in
the Office Of the supervising architect
Of this department is SO great, by rea-
son Of recent legislation. as to render
it practically impossible to make the
detail as desired Thereupon, we
corresponded with United States Sen
ator 3. R. Tillman, and solicited his
aid in the matter. With his usual
promptness and efficiency. he put us
in communication with Mr.. Elliott
Woods. superintendent Of the capitol
AT Washington, who recommended to
us Capt. S. S. Hunt, chief constructor
of the United States capito! buildings
and grounds. whom he recommended
as 'flrst-class contractor. who had
over 40 years experience in the erec-
ton Of large buildings. etc. Accord
ingly your committee employed Capt.
Hunt at salary of SIS per day. the
sum stated by Mr.. Woods to be his
usual compensation. besides his
travelling expenses. He came and eX-
amined plans and specifications OF
Architect Milburn for the completion
of the State house, and the work done
hereunder, and attended a meeting
of the committee at the State house on
Tn 25th and 26th days of May. A. d.
1903. went all over the building in
company with your committee, and
pointed out separately and in detail
the different pieces of defective work,