The Detroit times., 1913-12-01
Objects to the Activity Of Archi-
tect Malcomson, Declaring the
Latter is Really Under
Fire Himself
TWO INVESTIGATORS
DISQUALIFIED, HE SAYS
Declares Their Relations With
Board Make Them Ineligible
as Unbiased Judges

Members OF the school board who
have been lighting for the most thor
ougn sort OF an investigation posi-
pie IN connection with the charges OF
fraud and irregularities In the con.
strucuon OF the new Northwestern
high school profess to see In the be-
ginning OF the probe. which was start.
ed with conference between tho
real estate committee and the special
committee Of experts, Friday after
noon. plan Of action which would
amount to q "whitewash" OF the whole
affair.
Two men who are on that com.
mittee OF investigators" said lnspec-
tor Condor to The Times, Saturday.
would not. In the same relative 20.
sition, be allowed to sit ON q 500
Judgment IN court of justice. Should
they then be allowed to pass upon
this matter. which is q vital one to
the patrons of our public schools and
TO the welfare OF our school system Z
Il have nothing against these men
personally or their ability or honesty.
me question Is not % mucn, shall
we conduct an inquiry that Is fair to
the contractors, to the inspectors OF
buildings and everybody concerned, az
It Ii whether we shall do It In a way
that will leave not q shadow OF q
doubt In the mind of any patron OF
the school.
Il cannot by any means understand
the attitude Of the real estate com.
mittee that II should put damper
upon the inquiry or pass rule to
shut out charges made orally or In
whatsoever way may be chosen by
individual complaina is. Il seems to
me that the affair should be conduct
ed az a court with the same publicity
and thoroughness.
Another peculiar thing about the
meeting. Friday afternoon. was that
william q. Malcomson. architect for
the school board. was there making
suggestions and In effect directing the
plap>of campaign. Now II this, thing
Is done right. 1t Is In a way an inves-
figafion OF Malcomseh- OF the efficiency
Of his supervision and inspection.
Is 1t logical that q man shortid be
called upon to direct an Investigation
OF his own ehiciency?"
THE actions Of the real estate com.
mittee show that Its members feel
that they are acting on the defensive:
that somehow they are being called In
question by the probe and are, there
fore. forced to defend themselves, but
there IL no excuse for It. Everyone
10 willing to concede that they have
done their best.
Il am vitality interested In the in.
vestigation because 1t ID In my ward
that large portion of the patrons of
the school will be found.
They are people Of the best cul-
ture and intelligence. people who be-
long to literary. scientific and civlc
organizations. who are wide-awake
and progressive with determination
to have nothing put over on them and
they are demanding Of me that this
inquiry be wholly above board.
ITO come back to the question of
whether the action taken thus far
gives promise OF such Z procedure.
let us look at the relations of w. r.
Ellington. . member Of the investi-
eating committee, with the board. A.
said before, It IL not q question Of
his ability or integrity. Tho point Is
that he IL one Of the leading members
Of q nrm which IL just completing
two buildings for the school board
He has been thrown into contact with,
the architect, Mr.. Malcolmson, with
the members Of the real estate COM
mittee Of the board and with the in
spectors who have watched the erec.
ton Of those buildings. His relations
with them are naturally friendly. IL
he one then who can cit In JUDGMENT
with assurance that his verdict will
be above Suspicion"
Mr.. Condor also declared that F. II.
Goddard, another member Of the In.
vestigating committee, had done work
for the school board several years
ago,
The probe Of alleged fraud in the
building Of the new North western
high school was begun, Friday after.
noon, with conference between the
real estate committee Of the school
board and the special committee Of
experts selected to conduct the In.
vestigati0n. A ruling that all charges
must be submitted In writing before
Is o'clock, Wednesday afternoon, was
the cause Of . bitter argument.
Inspector Condor said that he
could not reduce al he wanted to
cay to writing because OF his ignor.
ance OF technical architectural terms.
HE declared, however, that rhe chin
ney built for the building by Con-
tractor Otto Misch looked like "a
|horseradish CRATER" Inspector May
bee questioned the right of the real
estate committee to act with the com.
mittee Of experts, saying that II was
usurping the duties Of the full board.
Out Of defernce to the wishes Of the
inspectors, the investigating commit
tee agreed toy hold m open, meeting
IN the high school building for the
hearing Of all testimony anyone may
wish to offer.