The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1905-03-24
WOULD REPAIR WEST WING.
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE RES
oMMENDs REBUILDING.
THERE is NO FRAUD OR GRAFT


the Committee Discretion to Build
as They Did, and Admit Work is as
We'll Done as Could be.
The report on the Norfolk hospital
for the insane has at last been made
by Populist Jones and his committee
of investigators. He recommends
that the old west wing be repaired at
this time, and It is thought the appro.
priation bill will pass this week.
The report:
"Your committee begs leave to re-
port as follows:
"First-'rhat the legislature OF 1908
passed the following act: "A bill for
an act to appropriate the sum of $780,
900 for the purpose of repairing and
rebuilding the hospital for the insane
of Nebraska at Norfolk as a tireproof
building.
"'Be it enacted by the legislature OF
the state of Nebraska:
"'Section THAT there is hereby
appropriated out of any money in the
treasury of the state of Nebraska, not
otherwise appropriated, the sum of
100000, or so much thereof as may
be necessary for the purpose of re-
pairing and rebuilding the damaged
and destroyed portions of the hospi-
tai for the insane of Nebraska, locat-
ed at Norfolk, to be expended under
the direction of the board of public
lands and buildings; provided, the
same shall be made flreproof build
! ings.
Sec. 2--It shall be the duty of the
board of public lands and buildings,
Immediately upon any part of said
funds becoming available for that pur-
pose, to proceed to repair and rebuild
such portions of said hospital for the
insane of Nebraska, at Norfolk, as
were damaged or destroyed by fire,
making the same freproof buildings
"'Sec. 3-An emergency existing
this act shall take effect and be in
force from and after its passage. APP
proved April 3, 1909
"Second-The board of public lands
and buildings appointed committee
to investigate the asylum systems,
which committee, after investigating,
reported in favor of the cottage sys-
tem which system was adopted by
said board.
"Third--The board built three cot
tages at an estimated cost of from
$4,000 to 100000 each and an admin
istration building at an estimated cost
of from S35, 000 and 1000.
Fourth - While your committee
was not able to find the bids or any
record of the same under which the
contract was let, 1t finds that these
buildings were let to the Capital City
Brick and Pipe company as one con.
tract for the sum of $96,975
"Fifth-The said contract provides
that said company should furnish all
labor, tools and material for the build
ing of the administration building and
three cottages, including heating,
plumbing and electric light wiring.
Said company agreed to pay So per
200 for all brick and 40 cents per
cubic foot for all range stone found
on the premises and accepted and
used in the new buildings. Also that
said company should forfeit $25 per
day for every day said building was
mot completed after October /, 1904.
"SiXth-That no part of what is
known as the west wing was repaired,
the walls of which are yet in good con
dition.
"Seventh-Said west wing could
have been repaired so as to accommo.
date approximately 100 patients at an
expense of not to exceed 100000. In
the opinion of the committee, it
would have been eXpedient, practical
repaired this wing, and the same
should now be repaired.
"Eighth-At the time the contract
was made the state owned kitchen
boiler house and engine room, all con
nected by tunnels and pipes. through
which the food. water, heat and light
were conducted. with the basement Of
the prior buildings. Had the boarC
repaired the west wing and rebuilt
upon the old site these facilities coulC
have been used with little added ex
pense. On the other hand. by th'
=, plans adopted. the necessity of con
? Meeting the tunnels with the new
: buildings and the installation OF sep
arate heating plants and the dimir
T ished capacity Of the buildings ha
I added greatly to the expenses OF tn
state.
Misunderstanding the discretion o
the board to build as they have. an
granting that the buildings are a
good as could be furnished for tn
money as claimed by it, it is the opir
ion of your committee that the eI
( cessive amount used in the construC
d tion OF the administration buildin
NJ nrnapantatinn n