The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1905-12-06

constructed north wing, and erecting a
new main building to articulate with
that wing, also for the building of a
governors mansion. The board was
authorized to issue certificates of in
debtedness to the amount of 100000,
and these certificates we're to be redeem
cd by the sale of capitol land owned and
held by the state for that purpose.
There was not much opposition ex-
pressed to this scheme till the board ad-
vertised for bids which we're to be ac-
companied with plans. The architects
and builders of Fargo and Grand Forks
we're up in arms at this, and started an
injunction proceeding in the supreme
court. They claimed that the intention
was to freeze out North Dakota builders
and give the contract to Butler Bros, of
st. Paul, who had built the north wing
and who had the main contract for the
Minnesota capitol. Butler Brothers did
submit bid with plans, as directed, but
tho awarding of the contract was never
made. The supreme court knocked out
the law. The decision was on technical
grounds, but was just as pleasing to the
builders, and it seemed to strike a
popular chord in good many sections
of the state. The capitol deal is talked
about everywhere, and it will be one of
the issues next year, especially selecting
nominees for the legislature. The in
surgents are claiming that the capitol
lands should be sold only as there is de-
mand for them, and the funds invested.
They contend that there is no urgent
need of new building
In this connection charges are made
that the state paid too much for the
north wing. The contract for this work
was originally let to Butler Bros, for
$4,000, but extras were added which
brought the cost up about $4,000 high
er. The Fargo builders claim that the
prices paid for extras were excessive.
The work was done under direction of
the old capitol board consisting Of the
governor, auditor and treasurer, and
Frank White was governor at the time
He voted against the allowance of some
of these extras, but was outvcted by the
other two members. The contractors,
for instance, removed the old arches
from the center of the building, as they
had become badly cracked. New steel
supporters we're put in, and $500 was
paid for the job. The claim is made
that the work could have been done for
$4,000.
OTHER RUMoRs 70 BE RUN DOWN.
This entire subject will be gone into
by the insurgents investigator, to show
that the state paid too much for the
work, and that the same program was
to have been followed on the new build
/ ing. Rumors about the new water main
to the capitol will also be investigated.
1t is charged that this was not needed,
and that while it runs by lots owned by
the state and increases their value, it
also benefits lots on the same street
owned by Alex Mckenzie. The water
main extension to the state prison, and
the contract with the Bismarck Water
company, in which Mckenzie is interes-
ted, will also come in for inquiry.
Another report is that the state treas
urer has not always followed the law in
depositing state funds in the banks, that
favored banks have had more than their
legal allowance Of deposits, and that
banks not designated at all have been
given state funds.
1t would do no good, of course, for the
insurgents to make vague charges of
this kind unless they were backed by
proven facts. 1t is the facts that they
are going after, and the state will be
Immediately interested in the outcome
of the investigation. It is expected that
the administration and the officials will
give every assistance to the investiga-
tors, SO there will be no room to claim
that facts and records are being con-
cealed from the light of day
MAKE AN ISSUE OF ALEX.
The personality OF Alex Mckenzie is
always factor in every political divis-
ion in the state. The distinguished
"boss" promises to be more Of an issue
this time than ever. The insurgents
have always fought HIM on the general
ground Of opposition to boss rule, and
to dictation from man who spends
most of bis time outside the state, tho
ho votes and has property interests at
Bismarck. There has always been a
strong popular current of feeling against
Mckenzie dictation Of state conven-