The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-08
JOBBERY HINTED.
Scandal About a Capitol
Building.
SOUABBLE OVER THE PLANS.
Governor MCGraw'S Removal of
Commissioner MCReavy.
)UABBLE OVER THE PLANS.
AN EXPERTS PECULIAR CHOICE.
In the Heat of Passion Washington's
Chief Executive Removes the
Man Who Opposed Him.

TACOMA. Wash, Feb. THE entire
State was surprised this morning to read
that Governor McGraw had removed John
McRsavy as a member of the State Capitol
Commission for alleged dishonorable con-
duct. as McReavy was known as one of
the most honorable of the men who have
ever been in public life in this State. Nc
Reavy makes a plain statement which
tends to cOTrObOrate the Tumors that have
been afl0at for two weeks past, that part
of the Capitol Commission, including the
Governor. are bound to just one set of
plans and no other shall be chosen. Con-
sequently talk Of ''johbery" and another
gigantic public steap' is rife, and much
feeling is manifested against the Governor
The commission Is composed of the Gov
ernor, the State Auditor and three others
appointed by the Governor, two Demo-
Gratis and one Republican. McReavy is
one of the Democrats. On December 5
last, 1913 competitive plans for million
dollar State Capitol building were sub
mitted. Later, Professor Ware, an expert
from the Columbia College of New York,
was called here 10 examine the plans and
make report. He spent three DAYS going
over nearly 200 plans, selecting what he
considered the six best, and left, every
body thinking he went through the big Job
pretty suddenly. Two of his selections
we're the plans of Ernest Flagg of New
York and William Kenyon of MINNEAPOLIS.
When each member of the commission
chose one plan, McGraw and Edmund
Rice, the other Democratic Commissioner,
selected these plans, and a little later
Joined in the support OF Flagg's plans.
Three other Commissioners made selec-
tiOns from outside of Wares recommends
tions. Then there was a deadlock. Nc
Graw and Rice would not bulge from
Wares selection, and none OF the other
three would join them.
Mere avy says the Governor threatened
TO remove him If be did not come over.
telling him that his appOintees must vote
for his selection. McReavy refused. saw
ing he had given a bond for the faithful
use of his Judgment and he weald not be
driven. Then, he says, the Governor got
mad. swore, and said he didn't care a -
whether the Capitol was built al Olympia
or not.
Yesterday afternoon McGra sent a
friend to McReavy, seeking to compromise
the differences by the Governor apologiz-
ing to the commission for the insulting
language used toward the appointed Com
missioners and then all agreeing to open
up and examine four other plans recon-
mended by Ware, which are yet un-
opened. McReavy agreed to this or any
other fair proposition. Two hours later
he received notice of his removal for "mis-
conduct in Office"
The Governor has absolutely refused to
assign any other reason. In the order of
removal the Governor appointed Judge
Thomas Burke to fill the vacancy, but the
latter had declined. The Governors
friends say he could take such hasty action
| only in the heat of anger. They greatly
| deplore it. thinking he has weakened his
supposed candidacy for the United States
Senatorshp. Those ON the other side
talk about jobbery and say it looks
peculiar, to say the least, that the Cover
| nor and one of his appointees are making
| such fight for the acceptance of plans
drawn by New York architect, who is
understood to be protege or pupil of
Expert Ware, who made them their first
| choice. A description of the plans has
never been made public, but McReayy
says the New York plaus are for the build
ing of two stories with no elevator, while
the call for the plans specially provides
that the plans must be for a three-story
building with an elevator. Many think
the building of the Capitol will now be put
off for years and Olympia is afraid of
loosing the million dollar building.