The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-10
THE NEW BUILDINGS.
Proceedings of the Meeting of the
"Building Commission To-day.

HonerR on the New Public Buildings was nelu
| Esq, In the chair.
The roll Of members was called, and quorum
The Chairman stated that the meeting had
been called at the suggestion OF tne GSItact,re
OF the Committee on Plans an1 aan 10 state his
and called upon that gentleman w
object for suggesting the meeung. meeug.,r0.
Mr. Walter then read the sr tSs Erection Of
| Public Buildings. s."-Gentlemen;OU resHec fully
| tee on "Arcbitecture and Plahh h the civ Couri
ciis 10 snnend the ordinance providing iot the h
erection OF public buildings, yecon9 line of the
WI WOtus, , PI1n PeII1TS So ms 10 leave the Commission
free TO obtain plans anu o,s a5 anIageons to
ner as they may aeofn i"O'' IVA
the public lniiee,,onco lnieIoo now stands there Is no
,hfnsyrative left but to advertise for plans; The
sit'on,,miitse sito, are of opin on that this would not
be the best course TO pursue 10 insure satisIac-
Of iii nd reputation refuse as general rule,
10 fuInish design in competition for any public
sgorlr unIeEs thew are aSsured-First. That the
snceessful competitor VIII be appointed the
sTchitect of the building under the established
rates OF percentage Second, That unsuccessful
competitors who nave made designs worthy OF
notice will be paid for their labor, and their
the duty of deciding upon the merit of their
respective designs shall be contided TO such ms
know something OF their art.
however just and proper these conditions
may be, the committee are OF the opinion that
in the present case IT, would not be desirable to
We re pi acticable. Nor do they think It would
be advisable to Issue general advertisement
in the usual way without such guarantees
knowing, as they do, that such process would
exclude the best talent OF the profession.
After mature deliberation the committee
have come to the conclusion that the interests
of the city will be best promoted by selecting
an artist of acknowledged ability and reputa.
tion in his art, and employing him profession
ally to prepare designs drawings, and specif-
cations for the new buildings, under the direc-
tions of the Committee on Architecture and
Plans the said designs. when completed. to be
submitted to the Commission for approval. AS
soon as this is accomplished, proposals for
labor and materials may be advertised for, and
contracts awarded, as provided for in the ordl-
nance.
In order that the ttee may be free to
act In the matter of the plans they
may deem most to the interest Of the city,
they ask that the ordinance be amended as
before stated, and offer the following resolu .
tiop:-
Resolved That the Com nissioners for the erection
th city 81 10
sscs kns ont the M wSsSs 6G1I sGd @ in me SECOND
cost oJthe proposed buRdin0G"
The report was accepted and the resolution
unanimously carried.
One or two communications, plans, ETC., from
architects were received and referred.
Upon motion iG was ordered that the rules OF
adopted for the government of the meetings of
the Commission,
Colonel Page. with some preliminary re.
marks, disclaiming any intention to reflect
upon any member Of the Commission, then
offered the following resolution:-
ordinance 6xed independsnoe square as the site for
the public bnildinfs, and devolved upon this com.
The % said ordnanSo @ ~ il upon US to act as
ana s
Der, whatever hts prtvate opinion may be as to the
ss the sSSV eaneueH oois poson
gives him g power or influence NOS possessed by
A lively dc bate ensufd upon the offering of
the foregoing resolution. Colonel Page re-
tp6 hic of a ton N
the Commission he had not the most remote
intention OF rejecting upon any member OF the
cordial terms with them all, and was ouly
spurred on to offer 1t by his conviction that the
Comm issiOn had nothing at all TO do with the
question of Site
AS the resolution, by those not fully ac-
quainted with all the etails and circumstances
O. the "new public bu'ldlngs' movement, might
be construed TO bear on its face some reference
to the Chairman Of the Commission, VINO Is an
enemy to placing the proposed structures upon
isin proceedings had in Select Council on
Thursday last was offered by Mr.. Stokley from
twill be rememb bered that on the day men
toned Select Council indefinitely postponed
the bill passed through Common Council
changing the site Of the contemplated new
buildings from Independence Square to Penn
fef was In progress, Mr. StokleV sat quietly in
his chair, taking no part at all in the discus
Subseauently, however, when a motion re-
lating TO the same subject was made by one OF
the members, some words. uttered IN simple
| badinage passed betwe en- the Oha1rmanand the
| gentleman who made the motion. A reporter
| Of one OF the morning papers-a sheet in favor
| of erecting the buildings on Independence
| Souare-took down the words spoken Ia Joke as
part and parcel of the regular proceedings and
! they thus appeared in the paper,
| Mr.. Stokley alleges that this was done for the
| sole purpose of having "slap" at himself, and
| asserted his Intention If the offense were re
peated to exclude said reporter from his accus.
| tomed place Mr.. Stokley as a member OF
| that Com NJ ission said he would act with the
| moiority OF the Commission, but as member
| of Councils, would exercise his rights as 6
| me mber of Councils.
| HIS views were concurred In by the members
| of the Board present.
| Some further explanations from the members
| were then offered.
| After passing Colonel Pages resolution, the
Commission adjourned.
| A MISSING MAN.-Mr. Henry A. Hildebrand
/ OF Camden, N. j., has been missing since Feb
| ruary l, and his friends are in great distress
| concerning his whereabouts. He Is aged 2
| fan TIM, ,IsrIN