The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-07-11
fOuRTH.ED|T|ON


fhliemma Chandler writes the fol-
lowing letter 1explaiuing Ills position
In the Armory Building matter
SIR: MIR. Dohl, building inspector of
tho city, published letter In the Sun
day Star on July 9th. He says that
the letter published in the Morning
News and Every Evening, and signed
by Messrs. Philemma Chandler, A. S.
Reed. William Phillips and Edwin Tai
ley, was drafted by Il. l.. Rico. and
signed by the gentlemen named. This
statement Is false SO far MS Mr.. Reed
and myself are concerned.
We were requested by u. j.. Rice to-
go and examine Troop b Armory asl
experts. We examined the building
thoroughly and found tho building in
good condition, with the exception of
two wall cracks OF no moment, We
went from the armory to Mr.. Reeds
Office. lie penned tho letter express
Ing our Judgment and we signed IL.
took the letter to Mr.. Rice's office
and handed IL to him In tho presefice,
OF some gentlemen. Mr.. Rice knew
no more about what we had reported,
than, MIR. Dohl did. How tho other
gentlemen got their names on our lett
ter do not know. They had no BUSH
moss there without having made am
examination.
MIR. Dohl also says:
''As to Mr.. Chandler Ga gentleman
for whom have nothing but the kind
est feeling). his opposition to me Is
we'll understood. --...
In reply to this say:
God help me from such feeling
friend to your face, hut will do all the
harm one can when not present"
Then, again. he says:
tlIn nf N, nnnnnantG NvhAni
| was elected to the office | now oc.
cupy, and he hns tried since that time
to hurt me In every way"
This Is not so. Mr.. Dohl goes on: II
am careful in all my work anu have
tried to make the contractors live up
10 tho law. l do not propose to have
accidents occur to buildings during
my term OF Office II can help it,
as happened to some OF my predeces.
sors."
1suppose that in all OF this para
graph he intends to strike at me.
First. deny that / have tried to
hurt him In any way since lie was
elected. but have spoken favorably
OF him when others condemned him.
Second. He says: Il am careful in
my work and have tried to make the
contractors live up to the law" Does
he try to hit at me as one of them, for
he told me he was satisfied with my
work. He Is only after those who do
poor work, He knows that do solid
work, for he has never, to my knowl-
edge, been about where my work was
but twice since he has been in office,
although l have built some large
buildlngs-several houses and remod-
cling.
Third. He says: II do not propose
to have accidents occur to buildings
during my term of Office il / can help
II, as happened to some OF my pro-
decessors." Now, suppose he thinks
he Is striking at mo on account of the
building falling over Third street
bridge when l was In Office. Now, /
sny, as it will hurt 10 person. that 1t
was not my fault that the building
fell. 1t was because one OF the own
ers, who had charge OF the building,
disobeyed my positive order, and can
prove 1t II 1t was necessary. Mr.. Dam
lei Dohl was the only enc OF my COM
petitors who wac uumanly enough to
use it against me. to my knowledge.
in our canvass fol- Office.
Now. Mr.. Dohl, why did You neglect
to SEQ that the foundation wall at Sec
ond and Shipley streets was not pro-
perly built and tied, and allowed IL to
100 "hNil viz 5VHOllh JOiOlS WI o
Just put on? | understand that two
other walls have fallen under your
administration, but have not lnvesti-
gated. Please look after new build
ings and do not lose SO much time
looking after chimneys to condemn.
Do not then break your neck to report
the same to tho papers, fifteen min
utes after.
Nov think Mr.. Dohl, when you OK
planned what olive you had, and the
interest you had in tho Wilmington
Iurngemelnde and had stopped there.
IL would have been all right. But to
condemn gentlemen who were invited
rs experts. to examine Troop b Armory
and report their honest convictions.
was, to say the least. ungentlemanly
and uucalled for. When the office of
building inspector was first created it
was very unpopular with the builders
and the public generally. and tho law
crude.
As the first building inspector had
TO move cautiously IL was very
different when Mr.. Dohl was elected.
The builders and tho public then both
wanted a good, active, practical man
for the Office, and | do Think, irresDec.
tive of hIysoif, that City Council
ought TO have elected an experienced
carpenter and builder-a nun who
knew all about buildings.
PHu.ENIAtA CHANDLER,
Wilmington, July 10, 1893.