Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1905-09-29

ular criticism and Y often to the
most sensational charges Of pub
lic corruption, the charges being
varied in intensity only by the
desperate necessities Of factional
politics.
.Fhe commission will endeavor
to do their duty under the law,
fully realizing the responsibilities.
They are willing to be Judged BY
their deeds. but are nor to be dis
#turbed by vagrant or selfish COM
complaints, made even before the
work is begun. 5.
fair minded publicwill readily
realize the unusual character Of
the task that the law imposes up-
on the commissioners. They must
complete the bnilding within the
limits Of specific sum. There
must be no deficiency when the
work is finished The federal gov
ernment has provided literally for
the public buildings at the capitol.
The taxpayers Of the state must
not be called upon to make qresti-
tuition for official deliquencies, and
the commissioners will strive to
avoid every excuse for final pub
lie disapproval. At the same time
they are mindful Of the fact that it
would be too much for human in
.genuity to- contrive against the
studied efforts Of ensationalists
and others who are morbidly in
|clined to find some food to feed
upon.
Therefore it was that the COM
missioners, with all the legal re-
|strictions and other moral consid-
erations in taind, determind that
the safest method was as the law
permits, to have the. total cost of
the work particularly expressed ia
the several bids and the subse
|quens contract; that all parties en-
I3gaging aa the work or any part Of
| ~ sheaad be jointly liable under a
|connIon bond for the comple elton
aof the o,aild ding, So that there could
be NO Subsequent shifting oe re.
sponsibility from contractor to
architect or from architect to con-
tractor, as is to often the case,
| with the inevitable deficiency to
be met by the taxpayers. It must
mot be forgotten that the first duty
8of the commission is to the
state; at the same time they hope
TO have the respect and eo-opera-
ton of the architects and builders.
lie the mmissioners shall sue
ceed in this high purpose, if they
shall in the end turn over to the
state modern and enduring build
ing with the means provided by
congress; if in the process the
now idle lands given BY the gem
eral government may be utilized
by settlers and their enhanced
value added to the tax rolls OF the
state, and all this can be accom-
plished as it must DE accomplish
ed without cost to the state or any
Of it's citizens then there viii re-
main no onable doubt that the
object Of congress and ,of the Leg
islative body tLat passed the law
under which the commission is
acting has been faithfully carried
out.
The commission having no
greater means OF ascerta rtaining the
amount Of funds that may be real
ized from the end owment lands for;
capitol purposes. than the legisla-
ture, having accepted the legisla-i
tive declaration as expressed id
section ll Of the act, restricting
the amount that may be anticipat I
ID 10 5000, ,000. and bidders for the
whole work are expected to con
slider this sum as the maximum: |.
the beard under tlle terms ofs said
section being elnp npowered to issue
interest bearing land grant certi-I
icates Of indebted edness which may
be sold OF offered to the contractor.
at the time of letting the contract
Or at any time thereafter ut bar
And the commission, under auth
ority of the act. will, ia the con
siderations of proposals, Be guided
bg the expert opinion and the
work viii be proaecuted ualder the
supervision of sonla architect 81.
build der 81 cognized skill and
ability
Although the law provides that
contracts for construct tion. etc..
may be let after public notice of|
fifteen days, the commission fixed
the time at forty days, ard ID 81
der thatstlere may be the simplest
rtunity for bid ders the com
saisaien has extended the time lup1
ID December I2sll.