The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-02-16
CHAIRMAN MATYHAEI
CONDEMNS BARRING
BANGS AND CONKLlN
Majority Of Committee, How.
ever, Holds Commissio ners
Ignored Rules
CLOSE COMES SUDDENLY
Quick Termination Of Proceed
ings Is Surprise to Crowd
in Court Room
CLOSE COMES SUDDENLY
by the Associated Press,


Investigation Of the commission
erecting the new state capitol closed
abruptly Thursday morning without
calling George A. Bangs, Grand
Forks, chairman. or Fred L. Conlklin.
Bismarck, commission member, to
the stand.
A few hours later Senator w. +.
Matthaei, author Of the resolution
which inspired the investigation and
chairman Of the probe committee, is
sued statement In which he said he
had vigorously opposed" the action
OF other members Of the committee
in not permitting Bangs and Conklin
to take the stand.
In q spirit Of fair play and de-
cency," he said, they should have
been given the privilege to explain
or rebut any testimony In the pro-
cedure, and the action by the COM
mittee In denying them the right was
not In accordance with my position"
Matthaei said Sen. G. Norman
Brunsdale, ]. d. Holthusen and HIM
self, as members Of the committee,
were 'overridden by the other menu
bers."
The investigation closed with al
brief announcement by E. r. Sinkler,
counsel for the legislators, that
Bangs. Conklin and their attorney,
George Thorp, Fargo. had failed to
comply with the rules of the commit
tee that would have placed them on]
the stand and the committee had de-
cided that further public hearinssI
were unnecessary.
The close came Just three weeks
after the investigation was begun:
The first hearing was Jan. rs.
Bangs. and Conklin were In the
courtroom when the announcement
was made. Bangs said he would |
probably have q public statement to
make I'm q short time"
Chairman w. E. Matthaei Of the
investigators said the findings Of the
committee were being prepared for
submission to the legislature. Sink |
ler's announcement followed IN hours |
executive session.
Surprise TO Crowd
The courtroom in the Burleigh
county courthouse where the hear
ings have been held was crowded and |
it was several minutes after the IN
vestigators left their table before they |
realized the hearings had been con- |
cluded.
sinkler said that the rules Of the
committee demanded that all ques-
tons of the commission had to be
submitted to the committee In writ
ing.
Thorp charged this method Of pro-
cedure was unfair" and objected to
censorship" Of the statements or
questions submitted, adding further |
that unless Bangs and Conklin could
be placed on the stand without such
restrictions, they would not ask for
the privilege.
The investigation was the result Of
a resolution adopted by the legislature
for q probe Of the work Of the CAPT.
tol commission.
A $500 appropriation was made
for the work Of the committee and
Sinkler. Minot attorney, was named
counsel for the group.
Included among those who have
been called to the stand were Frank
L. Anders, secretary OF the capitol
commission; w. F. Kurke, Fargo, and
Joseph Bell DeRemer. Grand Forks,
architects for the building: G. N.
Norris, Evanston, H.. vice president
OF the Lundoff- Bicknell Construction
company. general contractors; John
Davis, superintendent Of construction:
Continued on Page Two)