The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-14
ARCHITECT MILBURN
DENIES CHARGES
In South Carolina Capitol Investi-
eating Committees Report.

In South Carolina Capitol Investi-
eating Committees Report.
Columbia, S. c., Feb. II, 19O4-To the
People of South Carolina: On my re-
turn home from business trip in Ten
nessee and North Carolina, find the
newspapers filled with a very sensa-
tional report from the Investigating
Committee, criticising the Capitol Com
mission, the architect and the con-
tractor for the work done on. the State
House. want to enter a denial of
the charges, and to denounce the re-
port as being unjust and as misrepre-
senting the facts.
1 have no objection to any committee
investigating or criticising my work,
but what l do object to is being ac-
cused of being a party to anything
that is not honorable, honest, upright
open and above board. labored hard
for two years, trying to get the best
possible results for the state with the
small appropriation, which I realized
was insufficient. / expect to shoW\to
the people that they received the value
of every dollar expended, and that not
one cent was wasted. / had heavy ex-
penses in my Office, but think out of
the fees paid me 1 realized $4,000
which amount I will donate to any
charitable institution in the state, if
this, or any other committee, will
prove that have been party to any
fraudulent proceedings whatever.
expect to give the committee full
opportunity to prove their infamous
charges.
have been engaged in public work
Tor eighteen years, and have erected
creditable buildings in all of the
southeastern States, varying in num-
Der from thirty-five to fifty-five build
ings each year, and this is the first
time that my name has ever been mem
toned in connection with any irregu-
lar proceedings. 1 was supported
throughout by the entire Capitol Com
mission, with the single exception of
Col. j. Q. Marshall, who told me the
nrst time l ever met him, and before
ne saw my plans and specifications,
that he felt under obligations to sup
port another architect, which he did
with all his power and influence.
When at first Col. Marshall found OBJ
Jections to the work, he did not come
to me and discuss the matter, as it is
customary for commissioners to do in
such cases, and say, why cannot we
90 this or that" or els this practical?"
or, Il do not believe you are doing the
WORK right" No. The first thlng
knew, he appeared before the Capitol
Commission with a long typewriter
document, with copies ready for the
newspapers. Does not this look some
what on the order of grand stand
play?
The Capitol Commission was COM
posed of the best men the state could
produce, and my experience with them
warrants me in saying that these men
are not lacking in either intelligence
or integrity. But, If the report of the
investigating Committee is accepted,
II puts them, as well as myself, in a
very unfavorable light.
II is pity that honest, honorable
men like these, should be accused or
such Infamous charges; and l, for one,
propose TO fight it out and prove to the
people that there is such a thing left
as honor.
have just received a copy of the re-
port Of the committee criticising the
work, and as the charges are rather
broad | want to consider the same
carefully, and will answer it in detail
as soon as possible.
Franz p Milburn