The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-07-09
Former Member of
State Bod y Scores
Chairman Sauvain

Chairman SauVain
Continued from page one)
pay two different firms for the same
services as a result.
Two other major points raised by
Church were that Sauvain, as chair
man prevented the board from carry
ing out the mandate of the legislature
with regard to constructing a new
power plant at Grafton and that he
has prevented action looking toward
use of the remodeled north wing of
the old capitol building, much Of
which is standing idle.
Will Ask for Reply
Church's statement Is set forth in
full in this issue of The Tribune, in
line with this newspapers policy Of
printing the unbiased truth on all
matters OF a controversial or political
nature.
Sauvain was out of the city Thurs
day. AS soon a. he returns he will
be asked for a statement on the mat
ter and equal space will be offered
by The Tribune that he may set forth
his position on the points raised by
Church in his statement.
Text of Statement
Mr.. Church'S statement follows:
In view of the fact that I have
just retired from the board Of ad-
ministration and am again a tax
paying private citizen, I feel l W it
to the public to call attention to Ger
tain recent developments within the
board which I do not feel are for the
best interests of the public and for
which I want, here and now, to dis
claim responsibility.
MY six years on the board were
generally pleasant and hence I feel
all the more obligated to direct the
public attention to these recent hap
penings which. I am convinced, are
against the public interest.
The most important function OF
the board of administration, to my
way of thinking. is to execute the
expressed will of the legislature with
regard to the expenditure of public
funds appropriated by that body.
Following that thought. I have been
impressed Will JilTet dClS vi Vic ltS-
islature, recently adjourned.
First, in the building line, it had
been agreed by the budget board and
accepted by the legislature that only
grave emergency situations justified
any appropriations for public build
ings or improvements in the several
state institutions. AS far as the board
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to me it's first duty was to give seri-
Gus consideration to the following APP
preparations:
Accepted as Emergencies
Il. An appropriation was made to
build p new power plant at the insti-
tuition for the feeble minded at Graf
ton. This had been accepted as an
emergency by the budget board and
the legislature, which appropriated
$l50,000 for the purpose.
80. Necessary additions to the
power plant equipment at the agri-
cultural college at Fargo. due to the
recent addition of the physical edu-
cation building and dormitory. For
this the legislature appropriated $50
900 with the understanding that this
amount would be spent to take care
of the emergency situation developed
there this year.
80. An emergency appropriation of
$4,000 was made and the board di-
rected to Immediately repair the
north wing of the old capitol build
ing to house all the offices possible
there and thus relieve the state from
rent in downtown structures. t.
Now here are the facts as to the
actions the board has taken with re-
gard to these three appropriations:
Taken Up in April /
when the matter of making pre-
liminary plans to get the Grafton and
agricultural college jobs under way
was taken up by the board early in
April. Chairman Sauvain asked for a
of proceedings so that he might
the attorney general regard
ing the matter. Following this he
reported to the board that the attor-
ney general advised that only where
emergency clearly existed should
the board be entitled to proceed in
the matter Of plans before July 1.
this opinion. the board de-
clded to Immediately proceed with
plans for the agricultural
power plant job and. in regu-
lar cession, voted to have plans and
Specifications drawn by the Fuel
Engineering company of st.
Paul. MINI, which company. along
with the Ignite Combustion En-
cheering company of Bismarck, has
pioneered the field of efficient lig-
mite combustion in the northwest.
I'm view OF the fact that the pro-
ductiol of Ignite coal is one of the
major industries Of state, the old
board did constantly aim to encour-
age every effort to improve the meth
DDS Of its use.
These plans were accordingly
drawn and accepted by the engineer
ing authorities at the agricultural
and recommendation was
made by President Shepherd that
bids be asked for as early in June as
possible so that the plant might sure
ly be ready for use by October l.
Raises Technical Question
when Chairman Sauvain raised
the technical question that contracts
might not be entered into before July
|, it was agreed by the board and
made a matter of public record that
advertising should be made that bids
be returnable July 2. 1881. This is
the record and the only record up to
July /, although now it develops that
about June Is, Chairman Sauvain,
without referring the matter to the
board. directed Secretary Warmer to
have the date for the receiving of bids
changed from July 2 to July IA. and
also to change the text or body of
he advertising material.
ION the Grafton situation, al
Senator Murphy of Walsh
had declared before the ap-
)ropriations committees that the
of the new power plant was
IN emergency, and the engineers OF
he institution begged for it's early
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