Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-21
'ROTARIANS HAVE
LIVELY DEBATE ON
SCHOOL ARCHITECT
Resolution Endorsing Advisory
Committees Report Sent to
Public Affairs Committee

Selection of an architect to design the
new high schools under the $3.50, 900
loan adopted last Fall was the subject
of lively debate before the Rotary
Club, of Harrisburg. last evening at a
meeting in Roshon's photograph studio
in Market Square, with the result that
the whole matter was referred to the
public affairs committee of the club,
made up of Edwin S. Herman, Andrew
Il. Buchanan, Frank b. Musser, ]. Will
liam Bowman and G. NJ. Steinmetz,
chairman.
The subject came up when Joseph
p. Yungel called the attention of the
club to the deadlock in the school
board over the choice of an architect.
He said in view of the part the Rotary
Club had taken in getting voters to
approve the loan he thought some ac-
tion should be taken endorsing the re-
port of the Citizens Advisory Commit
tee.
The subject was discussed pro and
con, Augustus Wildman, a builder who
said he would not be Il bidder for the
work, urged the selection of local
architect, saying that he believed in
Keeping the dollars at home and be-
cause he felt sure there was plenty of
talent in Harrisburg, to design the
buildings.
DIR. BuIIitt's Remarks
The Rev. DR.. James Bullitt supported
the report of the advisory committee.
He said the school board formerly did
not have a very good name and that
the restored confidence of the people
would be shattered if the advisory
committees report were turned down.
He thought the club ought to pass a
resolution of endorsement for the rea- =
son that 1t had advocated the passage
| of the loan on the ground that the eX-
penditure of the money would be super
vised by committee of business men
and that the school board is not acting
| in good faith when 1t declines to sup
port the special committees recommen-
dations.
Arthur ID. Bacon, member of the
school board, next presented the spe-
cial committees side OF the case, going
fully into details covered by the re-
port submitted to the board and defend
ing the selection of Mr.. Ittner on the
ground that he is the best architect pro-
durable.
DIR. kecnc Explains
| DR.. G. e. L. Keene, one of the five
directors who voted against the report
of the special committee, gave his rea-
sons, saying that the special committee
had not played fairly with the board
that President Stamm had Kept the re.
port secret until the time of meeting
that he favored keeping the architects
commissions in Harrisburg by giving
the work to a capable local man, that
Mr.. Ittner had reduced his commission
from to per cent under pressure
and that the special committee had not
been unanimous in the selection of the
st. Louis man.
DR.. Keene became personal in his
remarks nd said that he had not beer
able to get his views into the news.
papers. He was told by a representa-.
tive of the Telegraph in the club that
the columns of this newspaper are al
ways open an dreminded that he haG
made no request for publication.
| Mr.. Bacon then replied, saying that
an effort had been made to take poll.
tics out of the school board but thai
the rejection of the special committees
report would be ground for belief that
the attempt had failed.
After more discussion the resolution
of endorsement was referred to the
public affairs committee.