The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-03-24
Is
Saved State
on Capitol
Construction to Be Resumed
Saturday-Texture of
Stone Is Found
Satisfactory.
O h son Is Criticised
Special Dispatch TO The Omaha Bee.

special D1spatcn 10 Inc Omana nee.
Lincoln. March 29.-Laying Of
stone for Nebraska's new s6,0o0,O00
statehouse will be resumed tomorrow
morning.
This stone, which prior to charges
made by George L. Johnson, former
state engineer, sold for - cents a
cubic foot will be sold in the future
at an average of 60 cents n cubic I
foot The difference in price for stone
paid for to date will be subtracted
from the quarryman's next pay check
The reduction in price will aggregate
S45. 600 for taxpayers Of Nebraska
An agreement to this effect was
signed today by Governor Charles w.
Bryan, State Engineer Roy Cochran.
Walter w. Head, w. l.. Hardy. w.
II. Thompson. members Of the present
state capitol commission. and former
governor Samuel r. Mckelyie and
Johnson, former state engineer. mem
bers of the old capitol commission;
Architect Bertram Goodhue. mem
bers of the II. J. Struble Stone COM
pany of Bedford. Ind, and Prof
Clark f. Mickey of the state univer-
sity. The commission found that the
stone used was satisfactory in quality
and the same grades and textures in
the wall at this time Will be used in
the future.
Newspaper Men Present.
The result of the Mickey test was
reported TO the commission this
morning, and before he read his. ind
jnys. newspaper men were invited to
be present for the first time since
the series of meetings began. Mickey
declared the stone was suitable ior
the statehouse and was much strong
e. in texture than was necessary, due I
fc the fact the statehouse would be f
steel building and the weight OF /
the building would not rest upon the +
stone.
Following the Mickey report mem F
hers OF tho commission became in +
volved in an argument as to whether F
this stone was that contemplated by
them and provided for in the con-
tract The various members asserted
different grades were necessary IN
order to escape dull, monotonous
appearance.
Johnson did not deny this state
ment. He stressed the fact that il this
vvere true the prices OF the three
grades used Is As. 30 and % cents a
cubic foot and the state was paying
- cents a cubic foot for each OF the
three grades.
Head Questions Johnson.
Head accused Johnson OF taking ad- +
vantage of the presence Of newspaper F
rnon to make a bad impression before I
tho public. Johnson denied II.
Now. Mr.. Johnson, I want TO ask /
YOU IL in all of your arguments with |
the architect the commission has not /
backed YOU to the last ditch?' Head
asked.
Haven't we forced the architect to
follow your ideas?'
you have, absolutely. until now
Johnson replied.
But. here, gentlemen. IS the point
served as a member of this eomHis-
sion for months without pay and rep
resented you while the architect Is
drawing $4,000 a year. lie should
have been the one and not me, who
discovered these errors which have
been rectified and which has saved the
state money"
Thompson Enters Fray.
w H. Thompson asked johnson il
three different grades OF stone had
not been presented to the commission
prior to awarding the contract and
whether this stone wasn't accepted as
E<,, a11 In t1t
These samples were presented, but
iLey were not presented officially
Johnson said.
Another question fired at Johnson
vas why he did not make his charges
earlier.
''You gentlemen will remember.
that when this work started, ] told
you / felt confident to keep check /
on every phase of the work, except |
ing the stone work. as ] never con-
structed building in which stone was
used" johnson replied.
after became suspicious that we
were getting lower grade Of stone
than We were paying for. | felt /
my lack OF exact knowledge. So, |
obtained Prof. Mickey and made a
thorough investigation before making |
a decision"
Other Criticisms.
Other criticisms aimed at johnson
wore to the effect that he made his
charges public before all members OF
the commission had been apprised OF
them.
The joint legislative investigation |
committee Will hold a meeting tomor-
row morning. Architect Goodhue and
johnson are to be present through |
the meeting. while other members OF
The commission have been notified |
that they may be wanted at any time.
Text OF FINDINGS.
The commissioners findings in full |
follow:
Firsi-Jhat the contracts entered I
(Tr . to Page Two, Column Three.)