The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-01-16
Committee FQuOrs
N. d. Capitol Probe
Makes No Changes in ResoIu.
ton Carrying $500 to
Finance Investigation
EXECUTIVE SESSION HELD
Chairman George A. Bangs
Outlines Methods and Work
Of Building Group
The senate state affairs committee,

The senate state affairs committee,
after q hearing on the resolution to
investigate the capitol building COM
mission, Monday recommended the
proposal for passage. The resolution.
carrying an appropriation Of $500,
was not changed in committee.
The public hearing was turned into
an executive session after some mem.
bers charged that questioning of
George A. Bangs. Grand Forks, com.
mission chairman, indicated the hear.
Ing was being converted into an lin
vestigation."
The hearing, being conducted be-
fore the senate state affairs commit
tee, with members Of the house state
affairs committee present by invita-
ton, opened with Bangs explaining
the activities Of the commission.
For an hour and half, while the
hearing was conducted publicly, he
explained In detail the work OF the
commission and, on questioning, Wig
orously denied alleged ''rumors" men,
toned In the senate resolution.
Senator A. w. Fowler. FARGO. a
member Of the committee, referred to
the "rumors." bringing q quick retort
from Bangs III stories Of this charac>
ter are circulating, may I have the
privilege Of having them brought up
now"
Hamilton Warns Fowler
Sen. d. H. Hamilton, McHenry
county, committee chairman, claimed
Fowler sought to turn the hearing In
to IN investigation. Later. when other
members Of the house and senate com.
mittee shot questions at Bangs, fen
A. :. Bonner. Jr., Richland cou.,ty,
moved that the committee 60 into az.
ecutive session, the motion carrying
unanimously.
The three members Of the commits.
sion-Bangs, q. A. Fraser Of Fargo
and F. L. Conklin Of Bismarck-wers
present at the hearing. Others in
cluded Frank L. Anders, Fargo, COM
mission secretary: G. l.. Norris. vice
president Of Lundoff Bicknell Co.. gen.
eral contractors for the building: w
F Kurke. Fargo, resident architect,
and +. p. Long and H. B. Hackett of
the firm of Holabird and Root, as
sociate architects.
In opening the hearing. Hamilton
declared this Is not an Investigation. !"
but hearing to determine the merit
Of the resolution proposing an inves-
tigation.
Bangs opened with q preliminary
review Of the naming Of the commits
sion, the study Of plans, and other
details.
When Fowler interjected questions,
Hamilton warned again that the BUSH
ness before the committee was q hear
ing ana not an investigation.
Held ITO Meetings
Bangs declared the commission held
ITO formal meetings In the q months
Of its existence, the meetings running
from one to 10 days. The total cost,
he said, was $500. or an average of
about $50 . meeting, including mile
age and expenses.
The labor question and setting Of
minimum wage for workers. he con-
tinued, was carefully investigated.
While the attorney general informed
the commission 1t had no authority to
set minimum wage, Bangs said. the
commission asked the cooperation Of
the contractors in the matter Of fixing
. fair wage scale.
Fowler then inquired whether there
was any connection between the as
sociate architects, Holabird and Root,
and the general contractors. Lundoff-
Bicknell GO.
Bangs replied there was no connec-
ton g far 6 he knew and he entered
into details Of letting Of the contract.
Bangs said the commission tried by
every legal method, to award the gen.
eral contract to A. T. Moline, James,
town. who bid for the job. but that
after adding the three per cent pref.
erence to the Lundoff -Bicknell bid,
the jamestown man was still second
lowest bidder.
Lundoff .Bicknell's bid. Bangs said,
was tl,67Sy000. and after adding the
three per cent preference. the Moline
bid was between t35.O00 and $4,000
above the Lundoff -Bicknell bid.
After giving additional details Of the
awarding Of bids, Bangs said the COM
CONTINUED On Page 6even)