THE NEW STATE HOUSE.
Mr. WILLARD called up his resolution submitted on Tuesday, the 6th inst., as follows:
Resolved, That the Committee on Public Buildings and State Library be and are hereby instructed to inquire into the present condition of the new State House, and examine thoroughly the needs of the commissioners and contractors of said building, and report to this House, either by bill or otherwise; and said Committee is hereby duly empowered and authorized to send for all necessary papers and persons to accomplish a full and complete investigation of said matters.
Mr. WILLARD moved the adoption of this resolution and said that since the resolution was offered the Lieutenant Governor has assigned to this Committee all that part of the Governor's message referring to the new State House, thus making the Committee partially responsible for the Senate's action on that subject. The Committee unanimously think it should have an opportunity to make a full examination of the facts in the case. There is no question of more importance before this body than the new State House matter.
Mr. SPANN remembered the Senator from Lawrence [Mr. Willard] opposed a resolution some time since for a special Committee on this subject, and could not understand the zeal of that Senator now in this matter.
Mr. BROWN favored the contractors being held strictly to the performance of their contract, and did not think the Senate would vote them $800,000 bonus-he would not vote a single dollar. The Senate not being full this morning he moved a postponement of this matter till Monday at 2 o'clock.
Mr. YANCEY thought the resolution should meet with respectful consideration. The contractors want to steal some $750,000, as he understood it (to use plain English), and the State House Commissioners' report shows about that deficiency.
Mr. WILLARD could see no force in the remark that the Senate is not full at this time, and as this matter has now been delayed for some two weeks he counseled action at once.
Mr. FOULKE favored the resolution. The Senate is probably as full now as it will be next Monday. It is the duty of that Committee to take into consideration the subjects contained in the Governor's message, where it is given to be understood that the contractors are about to give up their contract. The State House had better remain as it is for twenty years than for it to go out that the contractors shall not be held to their contract.
Mr BROWN withdrew his motion to postpone.
The resolution was adopted.
The Senate took a recess until 2 o'clock.
