The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-01-28
LEGISLATIVE BODY
SEEKS INFORMATION.
ON ESTIMATED COST
Also Inquire Into Connection Of
Grand Forks Man With
Capitol Commission
QUESTION ANDERs ON STAND
Says Bangs Was Only Member
Favoring Use Of Brick in
Big Building

Architectural fees Of $3.50 and
an expense account for architects Of
5000, together with the connection
of Aaron T. Jahr, Grand Forks, with
the capitol commission, were studied
closely Saturday as the North Da-
kota legislative investigating commit
tee continued its questioning Of
Frank L. Anders, secretary.
Start Of the third day Of the hear
Ing was held up while members of
the legislative committee conferred
nearly a half hour behind closed
doors. A short time before they had
requested from Anders his book OF
vouchers for the commission.
A. J. Gronna, attorney general, was
present for the second day, seated at
the side OF E. r. Sinkler, the commit.
tees counsel.
What I am trying to find out Is
what 1t Is going to cost North Dakota
for architects" Sinkler said as he be.
gan questioning.
Questioned about material suggest
ed In the original plans, Anders said
the plans called for stone but later
were changed to permit use Of brick
II necessary.
May Not Present BIN
Sinkler asked how much the change
cost and AnderS said that, though the
architects had said 1t would not cost
more than $4,000, q member Of the
architectural firm Of Holabird q
Root. Chicago, told him the company
probably would never present q bill
for the change.
Anders said that only Geo. L. Bangs,
Grand Forks, chairman of the COM
mission, was In favor Of brick for the
building.
Both sinkler and Sen. w. E.
Matthaei, investigating committee
member, sought explanations from
Anders Of the fees architects are to
get.
Anders said they would get 6 per
cent Of the general contract Of ST.
100000 or 100000 and ~ per cent
for the mechanical contract or $27.-
600, bringing the total to $l35, 900.
Anders emphasized the two fees were
separate and that the general archi-
tectural fee was to be 100000.
Sen. Matthaei examined Anders on
the connection Of Aaron T. Jahr with
the commission. Anders was asked If
Jahr was legal advisor" of the COM
mission and was requested to read
items from the commissions report
showing Jahr being paid various
amounts for legal work." From an
other later report he was asked to
read the listing Of the same items in
which Jahr was referred to Is q
clerk"
After reading the items Anders ex-
planned that since Jalar did not seem
to be doing much legal work. the
commission requested Anders to
change the listing from legal work.
to clerk
Matthaei asked Anders whether
Jahr was q duly licensed attorney,
and Anders said he did not know.
Uncertain About License
Anders. upon further questioning.
told the committee he had heard
Jahr did not hold q license to prac-
tice. Anders said It was impossible
for him to say whether Jahr was .
citizen Of the United States but he
had heard Jatr had lost his citizen
ship by serving with the Canadian
army.
Sen. Chas. q. Bangert took up the
i questioning and asked when Jahr was
~demoted" from the exalted" position
of legal advisor" Anders said about
October, 1882.
Bangert wanted to know II Jahr
was present when any contracts were
signed and Anders said he did not
recall that he was. Anders said Bangs
had drawn most Of the contracts.
AnderS was asked about the $3.50
per ton fee made on structural steel,
asking II it was an additional archi-
tectural fee. Anders said 1t was 4
usual fee charged by steel COM
panies for shop drawings and was
included always as q cost when steel
men submitted their bids.
When Bangert questioned Anders
closely on the prospectus Of archi-
tects and his comments on the archi-
tects who were being considered he
said he wondered" why Anders' COM
ments on Holabird & Root were 50
brief while others were more extern
sive.
Had Little lnforms4ion
Anders said he had never heard Of
Holabird & Root until then and natu-
rally could not say much about them
He said the quality Of samples Of work
submitted spoke for themselves.
Bangert asked Anders II he wa
sure that was the only reason for tlaia
and Anders replied yes.
Similar questions, reiterated By
Bangert, brought q reply from Anderl
that he was amazed" at such ques-
lions, explaining no had prepared the
prospectus without the conamissionl
:snowiexSe.
As the morning session i,eared tt
close, Bangert took up preliminary
examination regarding trips made By
the commission to Chicago. jackson
Miss, Baton Rouge. La. and other