The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-04-05
Architect
Replies to
J o h II son
Goodhue Denies Negligence at
Investigation Conducted by
Joint Legislative
Committee.
Aged Contractor Called
BY PAUL GREER.
Special Dispatch to The Omaha Bee.

Lincoln, April 4.--Bertram G. Good
hue, designer of the new capitol. be
gan his reply 10 the charges of
George L. johnson. former stats
engineer. late today.
LAS ] have conceived. and still con
ceiye. my duties as your architect.
he said" these have been and always
are TO obtain for you as fine build
ing as il lies within me 10 produce.
to give Of course due regard TO this
effecting Of economies where ever
possible. but not TO specify or to per
nit the introduction and installation
Of rankly inferior material becaus.
such might be a little cheaper. J.
in this | have misconeeived my duties
as an architect. then my 'grosa
negligence or gross incompetence
lies in my ever having accepted tbs
designing of the building at all.
Before taking up each charss
separately and my categorical replies
thereto" the architect said TO tbs
Joint legislative investigating com
mittee." 1 should like TO ask you 10
EDUEI4fI lllt Ut1AA4RAA al
reputable architect. am placed. The
sum of these charges. as expressed
by Mr.. johnson. is that | have been
and am guilty Of gross negligence
or gross incompetency. / propose 70
show you gentlemen, that ! am moth
ing of the sort. and that these phrases
cannot be found TO apply in any
single case.
Admits Mistakes Made.
s or course. l am not asking you 10
believe that there have been no mis-
takes, for of course there have-ard
will be more Of them. No building op-
Grafton of the magnitude Of this one
can possible be carried through with
out mistakes. However. nothing thar
BY any possibility could be regarded
as a mistake can be found under the
list of 70 charges brought TO your
attention by Mr.. Johnson-and Moth
ing can be regarded as evidence ef
gross negligence or gross ineompe-
+ tency.
Time for adjournment came befors
Mr.. Goodhue had gone far into the
details OF the controversy. Al several
points in his testimony. he was cross
examined by Senator John 8iltse,
chairman of the investigating commits
tee. and BY Mr.. Johnson
Preceding him in the witness chair
had been James Webber. a retired
stone contractor. now 81 years OLD
and more than SO years in the business
Of masonry. Through him. Mr.. John
i IN renrta-1 that
not a stone in the new capitol wall =
properly laid. The joints, he ccntended,
are too early in a perpendicular line.
and IL the building settles, cracks VIII
/ appear. The cement seams are too wide
MIR. webber declared, and the ran
and frost will eat them out within D
years.
Heavy Mortar Used.
Mr JohnSon.s explanation OF the
heavy use Of mortar was that the COR
tractor had not cut the ends OF tie
blocks true and needed the wids
seams to allow him 10 fit in the stone.
This. Mr.. Webber said. would save
the contractor considerable expense
in cutting the stone. Il = prohabls
that the committee Will make PEI
sonal examination OF the stone. TIE
venerable witness endorsed Mr.. John
sons view that the wrought iron
anchors which are used 10 secure the
stone facing 20 the br.okwork be
hind VIII rust out in time He advised
the committee 10 contrast the capitol
work with that in the Burr block n
Lincoln, which he himself construct
ed. and the postoffiee.
"As a mechanic. l am ashamed 81
trudnto Page Two. Column fiye.)