The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-02-22
LIST SEVEN items
FOR CONSIDERATION
OF n. D. LAWMAKERS
Would Use Brick For Structure
II it Can Be Permitted In.
der Contract
80 'FINDIN GS' OFFERED
First Is Opinion That Only
State Architects Should
Have Been Employed

Oe'eu Recommendations Tor con-
sideration of the legislature were
made by the North Dakota legislative
investigating committee in regard to
the capitol commission In the find
ings announced Wednesday.
The recommendations include
l-Transfer of work of capitol
commissioners to board of admins
tration.
2-1mmediate audit Of activities of
commission If such transfer Is made.
3-Cancellation of outstanding an
ticipation warrants II contract can
be made with Bank of North Dakota
to purchase certificates when and If
needed.
Appointment of a disinterested
and competent superintendent Of con-
struction.
5-Payment Of acquisitions for
money be made only when accom-
panied by certificate from auditor Of
board and no payments of money I'M
less materials are in building.
6-1mmediate filing OF unit prices
by general contractor.
Use of brick for building II SUBJ
contract for stone has not progressed
too far and can be cancelled without
loss to state.
Expect Minority Report
E. r. Sinkler, counsel for the COM
mittee, said If minority report Is
considered, minority members Of the
committee have until Monday to pre-
pare it. He indicated one would be
submitted to the legislature.
The report said the general con-
tract for the construction Of the cap
itol should have been let to E. A.
Moline, jamestown, instead of to the
Lundoff- Bicknell company of Chicago.
The report, filed with the legislature
Just before noon, was signed by Sen.
Charles G. Bangert, Rep. H. T. Pc
terson. Rep. M. T. Lillehaugen, and
w. j. Flanagan.
Sen. w. E. Matthaei. chairman of
the investigating committee. C. N.
Brunsdale and Rep. ]. D. Holthusen,
did not sign the report.
Thirty findings Of fact" are Inc
cluded in the lengthy report. They
include:
/. North Dakota architects ex.
clusively should have been employed.
2. Bids should have been rejected
when capitol commissioners learned
alterations were contemplated and
necessary.
3. The board was not justified In
letting the contract to Lundoff- Bick-
nell and then permitting changes In
plans and specifications.
4. The condition requiring unit
prices was violated.
S. The bid Of J. w. Darragh for
plumbing was illegally accepted as 1t
was not accompanied by statutory
bond
6. The hiring of Aaron T. Jahr, Of
flee man for Geo. L. Bangs, was not
within the power Of commission and
so far as this record discloses he
never performed any services for the
commission
Z. The issuance of $500 900 OF Ger
tificates Of indebtedness was unneces-
sary and contrary to the law.
8. The board failed to permit the
contractor to furnish his own bond.
thereby causing loss to the state
and apparently this loss was taken
to enable the commission to control
the placing Of the bonds and insur-
ance with three favored companies"
Claim Labor Ignored
9. Little North Dakota labor has
been employed on the project, con-
trary to law. 80 far as this record
shows, only the Waterman and the
son Of the president of the commits
sioners are North Dakota residents"
10. The board has permitted pay
ments for materials when not on the
grounds, contrary to the intent of
the law and In effect" this results
in the state financing the contrac-
tors"
IL. Outside Of sand and grave:
dug out Of the hillside" no North
Dakota material Is being used In tho
building. ~
IL. The work was begun at an IN
opportune time when 1t must have
been apparent to everyone that much
Of the construction work would have
to be carried on under adverse
weather conditions, recessitatiug ex.
ira expense Of about 20 per cent"
Is. Expense Of capitol commission
ers was heavy with many junketing
trips taken
II. System Of allowing expenses
was careless, without proper receipts
required.
Is. Apparently from the organi-
cation Of the commission" with MEM
bers In three different towns 1t was
an institution on wheels" resulting
in delays.
Is. The expense Of the commiasion
and its work was Increased by 1t "be-
ing on wheels"
II. The commission should have
published . financial statement in
1892, Is required by law.
10. Exorbitant and 'unlawful' ex-
pense claims were filed by employer
Of Lundoff- Bicknell. general eon-
tractors.
10. Employees and agents OF Lun-
doff- Bicknell have presented 'paddod
expense accounts."
20. Exorbitant expense accounts
were presented By the contractors.
Al. Importance Of the fcreeuaun
is illustrated says the fiudinGs
when you consider the fact TT
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