The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-03-01
Turn on the Light.

II is in every respect proper that the
charges deliberately brought by the
Pennsylvania Methodist against Cap
tain Delaney, superintendent of public
buildings and grounds, and other
prominent state officials should receive
a thorough and impartial investigation,
and to this end the bringing of criminal
libel suits against Rev. DR.. Swallow,
the editor of that journal is to be COM
mended. If he have proof for his pa
pers assertions, not only will the suit
against him fall to the ground but he
will have won credit for unmasking a
great public abuse. If his charges be
not capable of establishment in open
court, he will merit the extreme penalty
of the law provided for wanton defa-
nation of character.
The most direct charge made by DIR.
Swallow, i'll his capacity as the editor
of the Methodist, against Captain De-
laney is that he has guilty knowl
edge that lin the purchase of material
and labor, for making additions. alter
ations, repairs and refurnshing the
capitol buildings, and cellars and
grounds, also for the executive mansion
and now for Grace church, the state
has lost many thousands of dollars as
the result OF an unfair system of COM
petitiNe bidding. In other words, that
the cost to the state has been two,
three, four, and as high as eight times
in some instances as much as it should
have been, and that not all of this
money went to the persons furnishing
the materials and labor" Further.
more the Methodist afirms:
That the act of 1895 by which the gov
ernor, auditor general, and state treasurer
constitute the board of commissioners of
public grounds and buildings having con-
troll of repairs, alterations and improve
ments, and expenses incurred, including
furnishing and refurnishing, is corrupting
in its tendencies, perniCious in its results,
and has already cost the state at least
100000 more than the same improvements
etc, etc, should have cost under some
other system of management.
That the remonStrances which, two
years ago, poured into the governors
hands from the patriotic orders of the
state, against the appointment of the
present incumbent of the Office created by
the above act of superintendent of public
grounds and buildings were well founded
as the sequel proves
That the burning of the capitol building
by which the state lost over 81 900, 900
worth of valuable property, If at all ac-
cidental was also in a sense incidental
That the possibilities of fire had been
for some time discussed by employees of
the state, and that 1t was a logical Sc
quence of having exhausted excuses for
eXpending public money. And further
that there is convincing evidence of Grim
inal carelessness and neglect on the part
of the state house custodians, and, pre-
sumptive evidence of criminal intent.
These and other charges are made by
the Methodist daringly and with an
open challenge for a legal test of their
journal rests these accusations on the
shoulders Of an unnamed resident of
Harrisburg "who is responsible for
what he says" and who, according to
the Methodist, will suffer the severest
penalties of the law rather than sum-
mon his witnesses before any commit
tee or court of inquiry which is the
creature of a body whose vote is con-
trolled by one man, and he an intense
ly interested party" but the RESPONSE
bility for the publication of such
charges rests plainly upon Dr. Swal-
low as he doubtless foresaw when he
gave assent to the articles appearance
and he should welcome an opportunity
to defend himself and to prove his
charges in the Dauphin county court