Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-05-02

no architect, to the best of my
knowledge, reminded any contractor
that there was a commission due
me.
Further. if Mr.. Petre made sug-
sesuons to Mr.. Ittner with refer
ence to a commission of one-fifth h
being paid, it was entirely a creation
of his own and not with my
| knowledge.
ITO all of the foregoing l most
emphatically affirm.
&c. w. M'ILHENNY.
Sworn and subscribed to before
me the End day of May, 1917.
GEO. \. HONERTER,
Alderman.
MY commission expires 1st Mon
day in January, 1922"
Mr.. McIlhenny's affidavit is ac-
companied by the following state
ment:
ITO The Citizens of Harrisburg:
My reply to the lengthy har-
angue found in the newspapers of
Harrisburg last Saturday, Sunday
and Monday will be short and to the
point. 1 herewith submit sworn affi-
davits from myself and from such
contractors as / have been able to
interview. Mr.. Sollenberger. build
er of the Hamilton and Technical
High School buildings, is dead. l
never knew him, except by introduce
ton while he was building the Tech
nical High School Mr.. John Emery,
of Philadelphia, builder of the
Shimmell building. cannot be locat-
ed. Mr.. William Roebuck, builder
of the Vernon building, is in Pitts
burgh. But if Sollenberger was
living, and Emery and Roebuck in
Harrisburg, L feel sure that I could
have affidavits similar to the ones
submitted herewith
II wish to endorse my first inter-
view as true and correct in every
particular, and what / have to add
now will be more in the form of
questions. Before asking these
questions let me say, first. that there
is no odium surrounding the Har-
risburg schools, that there has been
no 'sordid conditions or any other
Irregularities in thu selection or
architects, builders or contractors.
The subject has always been open
and above board, the board select
ing the best plan submitted and
giving the contract to the lowest
responsible bidder.
Defends SCHOOLS
"I have been before the Harris
burg schools for twenty-five years
anu llelNC NilNllCu Ailf SNlObIS BION.
have every reason to be proud of
the result. To-day you have the best
school buildings, taken as a wholeS
in the state. Your diplomas are
recognized by more colleges than
any other city in the state, PhiIadel-
phia excepted. Your salaries to
teachers are the highest in the state.
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh except
ed, and Pittsburgh only by a close
margin. These matters have all been
accomplished before Mr.. Stamm be-
came president OF the school board
and / desire to inform the public
that it is during his administration
(of bossism) that all this controversy
has occurred. Never in twenty years
has there been such stuff and bluff
put before the Harrisburg people.
"The directors went ahead and
did things, and lee me remind you
too, for much less money than the
present board is.
During all the past twenty years
and more l have been an agent for
supplies, furniture ana books. While
the merchant was selling silk, the
banker taking your money, the
printer arranging your articles to suit
himself, and the doctor 'peddling
his pills 1 was selling school sup
plies, books and furniture. OF course
l did not publish it, but simply went
on selling. The books, desks and