The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-01-18

made by joint legislative committee
yesterday. :" we conclude that this
insurance was handled in an unbusi-
nesslike manner . and evidence shows
that the primary transactions relating
to insurance were carried on by Mr..
Mitchell, and that in the main the gov
ernor consented TO these transactions
and that the attorney general was in the
minority
Capitol Repairs.
6. Repairs TO stained glass and dome
of the capitol building.
II appears from the evidence that
K. E. Won thinner, resident Of the
state of Idaho, entered into contract
with the state board of examiners .or
certain repairs TO the stained glass.
at meetinp of tie board two members
were present. Governor Coonev and
Secretary Mitchell after full dis
cussion Won thinner presented con-
tract which he had drawn. submitted
to two. members of the board, who
signed it-for Montana. !. this contract
contemplated an expenditure IN excess
of $500, and at the same time these
officials were fully advised they had no
legal right to contract in excess of $500
without calling for bids. This contract
YVES never submitted the attorney gem
erals office.
- Within few davs after Won
thinner hepan work Secretary Mitch
4ek superintendent of public buildings
and grounds. ennloved Won thinner 10
repair the capitol dome No further
contract appears to have been executed
and apnarentlv with the consent Of
the majority of the board. his work
upon the dome was agreed TO on the
same basis as to compensation and cost
as outlined in the stained glass con-
tract.
"Uron the return Of ATTORNEY Cen
eral Nagle il appears that he immed-
ately gave orders to ston this work.
-clairline Il was Illegal Much confusion
resulted thereafter. the work being
started and STONED at various intervals.
Finally the work came to an end by
reason of an opinion TO the state audit
or's office advising that the Won Zim-
mer claim for materials was illegal and
must not be paid There can be no
question as to the illegally of the
contracts for the glass and the dome.
- We find that Won thinner has
been carried on the payroll as foreman
at S1.50 an hour. while the contract
specifies SIPS for all men. Nearly al of
the men working for him we're paid at
SIPS an hour but to hold their Jobs
the men were forced to indorse their
checks to Won thinner, who cashed
them, returning any amount he wished
In many instances he deducted as much
as rs cents per hour
Other points in this connection were.
I'VE find the prices charged BY Won
thinner to the state have been in
creased from 100 to 200 per cent over
actual cost. The evidence shows at
least $1,000 difference between the in
voices furnished and the items and
nrices set forth N the claim Further,
it appears Won thinner while an en-
nlova Of the state, was selling supplies
to the state
] We find men were emoloved bv
Won thinner at a cost to the state Of
SIPS IN hour on such simple duties IS
washing windows. 2 duty which could
have been well performed by the pres
ent ianitor force
Paid Nearly $4,000.
THE amount already paid by the
state on the Won thinner transaction
is almost $4,000
The action Of the governor and Of
the secretary Of state in signing the
Won thinner contract and in permit
ting him to work on the capitol dome
and in approving his claim are subject
to the strongest criticism. They
consented 10 the expenditure of almost
$1,000 and it is impossible to ascertain
what benefit accrued to the state, but
the information furnished the commit
tee is to the effect that the whole job
is being done over by the eva"