The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-02-23
Capitol Commission Answers
the Public Examiner.
DO NOT LIKE HIS CRITICISM
Claim 1t Is Not the Part of That
Official to Act As Detec-
tive and Spy.

st. Paul, Feb. l5-The five surviving
members of the state capitol commission
gave out statement today in reply to
the public examiners report on their af-
fairs. 1t takes up the principal criti-
cisms in detail and answers them. As
to the charge that they collected pay in
excess of time spent at meetings, they
insist that the law does not so limit
them, and that they only collected for
time spent in discharge of their duties.
The commissioners deny the right of
the examiner to criticise their Judgment
and say that most of the acts criticised
resulted in a saving to the state.
The chief complaint of the commits
sioners is that they were not asked to
explain their acts before the report was
made up. I'VE do not believe" they
say, ''that it is any part of the exam
iner's duty to presume fraud and dis
honesty"
1--WE have no fault to find" the reply
continues, that the examination has
w
of money placed in our hands to spend
on behalf of the state and are glad to
render an account of our stewardship
We have, in no wise, worried over the
result, for the reason that we knew what
you and the public did not know-that
we had honestly used this money and
that no stain could justly attach to our
characters.
But looking over the findings of the
examiner. and noting his few words of
praise. and his many and quite severe
condemnatiOns of many of our acts, 1T
comes to us as an agreeable surprise to
read your pleasant conclusions thereon.
You, evidently, feel relieved that no
fraud has been found and do not hest
tate to say So"
They feel aggrieyed, just the same,
at the treatment received. Private cor
respondence was examined and ''such de-
tective methods used as no man of prop
er spirit would submit to without pro-
test"
The statement is addressed to the
governor, and signed by f. E.. Corliss,
John De Laittre, George A. Du Tort,
Charming Seabury and Edgar Weaver.
1t takes up the examiners charges in
detail. Mr.. Seabury bought only two
lots for the site at private sale, it is
claimed. and all other land was con-
demned in the courts. The auctioneer's
from the buildings is admitted, with the
statement that the claim was turned
over to the attorney general. Fees col
lected by the auctioneer from contract
Ors are declared to have been customary
and not matter for the boards inter
ference.
In regard to Claiming Seabury's bill
the statement says:
Sessions were only a convenience to
the board The duty of the commission
was to spend as much time attending to
the business of building the capitol as
in its judgment, was necessary. Mr.
Seabury spent only such time as the
board deemed necessary, and the state
saved many thousand dollars, by his la
bors, more than he has been paid for
Thousands of details were attended to
by one member residing in the city quite
as well as if attended to by the whole
board The first three years of our work
we had no office room for a secretary.
We saved more than $4,000 year by
arranging with Mr.. Seabury to keep our
records and accounts and attend to our
official correspondence. The board has
never had a stenographer."
In regard to the fireproofing contract
it is contended that $4,294 was saved to
the state by rejecting the first low bid
As to the purchase of coal, it is claimed
that the matter was turned over to Mr.
Seabury because of the strike and the
resultant coal famine. He bought where
he could get guarantee of delivery.
The six marble columns rejected were
simply mot the exact color to please
our architect" They were accepted
with a credit to the board of 81 800. AS
to letting contracts for decorations
without bids, the court sustained the
board in that action. Other criticisms
are handled as follows:
Market prices exceeded for extras
This may appear to be true in certain
cases. but the class of work required
and secured must be considered. Work
of an ordinary character cannot be com
pared with this, which is to be closely
inspected by the worlds experts, and nc
criticisms have yet been made by them
Unit prices were secured generally, and
=. I'll oontraotS WHARF nocsihle Where