The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-05
THE CHARGES.


THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS COMMISSION.
Yesterday, at the meeting of the Public
Buildings Commission, the committee autho-
rized to investigate as to the truth of certain
charges made by the Ecening Bulletin thus
reported
PHILADELPHIA, April 4.-To the Commits
sioners for the Erection of Public Buildings:
The special committee appointed at the last
meeting of the commissioners, under the re-
solution, of which a copy is annexed, to in
vestigate the charges made in the EUentng
Bulletin with respect to one of the commits
sioners, respectfully report that the Boening
Bulletin, in their issue of March 8-the day
after the appointment of the committee-hav-
ing named Mr.. John Rice as the commissioner
referred to in the article of February 2S,
which article declares the charge therein con-
tanned to be made, $50 far as careful investi-
cation has verified the statement, upon good
and sufficient ground, the committee called
upon the proprietors of the Bulletin to ascer-
tain the facts upon which the charge was
made. The committee annex to this report
all the correspondence which passed on the
subject between themselves and the Bulletin,
except a note from Mr.. Francis Wells, one of
the editors, dated March %, 1871, addressed
to Mr.. Wetherill, and marked personal"
although the note to which it purports to be
reply was from the committee.
They annex also the minutes made of the
several interviews had by the committee with
various persons whose names were suggested
to them. The commissioners can Judge from
these documents whether or not the efforts
of the committee to discharge the duty en-
trusted to them were met with that frankness
and straightforward reception, on the part of
the Bulletin, which there was a right to ex-
pect, after the voluntary and almost defiant
challenge on the part of that paper to have
the investigation made.
The name of the individual" or proposed
agent" alleged in the article in the Bulletin
of February %, to have been approached by
a commissioner to purchase votes of members
of Select Council, was denied to the commit
tee, though mentioned by Mr. Wells in an in
terview sought by him with Mr.. Cuyler, one
of its members, On the 18th of March, the
| day prior to Mr. Wells note to the committee,
repeating in effect his refusal to give them
the name of the party referred to. The COM
mittee have seen Mr.. Thomas W. Price, MIR.
James McManes. and Mr.. William H. Kemble,
1 the only individuals whose names were sug-
gested to them as able to give information,
| or as any way likely to know anything about
the matter. 1t will be seen from the minutes
of the interviews of the committee with these
gentlemen that they declined to give any in
formation, except Mr.. Price, who merely re-
peated what he had communicated to the Bul-
|
posed agent, whom, however, he declined to
name.
1t further appears that the alleged fact of
such proposal having been made rests
solely on the allegations of the supposed
agent himself, as reported by others, since
no one was suggested or referred to as having
been present and overheard it. AS Mr.. Wells
not usually done in the presence
of others. The supposed agent" is reported
by others as considering the matter as Sc
rious, which puts him Gf the fact be SOY in
the more than equiyocal position of un-
blushingly acknowledging that he himself
first suggested the purchase of votes by in
quiring how much was given for them. II
this be his account of the matter (and all the
information the committee could get WAS al
second -hand), it cannot be regarded as en-
titled to much weight.
1t is further to be observed that all infor-
nation as to the source from which the BuL
letiR derived the ground for the assertion II
the issue of the 8th of March, that Mr.. Rice
was the commissioner referred to, has beer
studiously concealed from the committee
Mr.. Rices name was not mentioned by any
one of the parties to whom your committe,
was referred; but, on the contrary, they EN-
phatically denied having mentioned the nam'
of any commissioner.
There is no evidence whatever upon which
the committee can report that there is an,
truth in the charge made. If such evideno,
existed, it was in the power of the Bulletin
according to their own account, to give it, o
to indicate whether it could be had
The committee think that no comment i
needed The facts attending their efforts t.
investigate the charge are their own bes
comment.
The committee respectfully ask to be dis
charged from the further consideration o
the subject. Respectfully submitted,
j.. p. WETHERILL,
SAMUEL O. PERKINS.