Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-28

struction in Harrisburg in the past
In all my long career as school
architect in st. Louis and in cities
only has no refiection-not even the
slightest-been cast upon my repu-
tation as an architect and a gentle
man, but / have never before been
corruptly approached. And never
/ before have l found-indeed, / did
not think it could exist-a situation
obviously so appallingly corrupt as
| that heretofore existing in your city
"Mr. McIlhenny in his interview
| in the Patriot is reported as saying
that Mr.. Petre and Mr.. Stewart told
him that | told them that / could
not divide my commission with him
(McIlhenny) because Mr.. Stamm
had requested that he Uttner) dror
one per cent. from his fee charges OF
six per cent, so that he would be Oh
the level with his charges as the
other architects and the Patriot
would not have the chance then to
say that the lowest bidder was not
given the contract
II told neither Mr.. Petre nor Mr.
Stewart any such thing. The only
grain of truth in this statement Is
that l did say to you that my charge
would be five per cent. if / got all the
work and six per cent. if l got part
of it.
WILLIAM E. ITTNER."
State of Pennsylvania, County OF
Dauphin, S.:
ION this 27th day of April, A. d.
1917, personally appeared before me,
William b.. Ittner, who being by me
duly sworn according to law, did de-
pose and say that the facts set forth
in the foregoing statement are cor
rect and true to the best OF his
knowledge and belief.
CHARLES A. FORNWALD,
Notary Public.
[Seal1
my commission expires March 8,
1919"
Mr.. Petre's Statement
Mr. Petre's affidavit is as follows:
state of Illinois.
County of Cook, ss:
81, l.. ID. Petre, being first duly
sworn on oath, state that l am the
sales manager of the American Seat
ing Company and have held that posi-
ton several years. Prior to Febru-
ary 22nd. 1917. had never met Mr..
George w. McIlhenny, nor had any
relations with him, direct or other
wise, although ! understood that Mr..
Stewart, our Philadelphia agent, was
personally well acquainted with him.
ION February 22nd 1917, I was in
Harrisburg, together with Mr.. Stew
art, who was also there at that time,
and met Mr.. McIlhenny at place
which / was informed was the Social
Club. This meeting took place early
in the afternoon in a small office room
on the second floor. There were pres
ent at that meeting Mr.. McIlhenny,
Mr.. Stewart and myself. There was
no one else in the room. We were
together about one and one-half
hours, and during that time no one
else entered the room.
For about one-half hour our con-
versation was general, relating prin-
cipally to matters affecting the school
furniture business. Finally ] told
Mr.. McIlhenny that l would like to
know the reason of his opposition to
the appointment of Mr.. Ittner as ar
chitect in connection with the erec-
ton of the proposed new school build
ings in Harrisburg: that l had known
support of Mr.. Ittner, he said now,
school architect of more than usual
ability and in fact of national repu-
tation in that line.
"Mr. McIlhenny told me that he had
no objection to Mr.. Ittner. Mr.. Nc
Ilhenny went on to tell me something
of his past political activity in Har-
risburg; of his interest in promoting
education and the welfare of the
schools; that the report that he was
opposing Mr.. timers selection was
without any foundation in fact; that
he had ceased his political activity
and had nothing to do with the cleo
ton of the present Board; that his
supposed opposition was nothing but
newspaper talk.
MIR. Mcnhenny then proceeded to
discuss the vote of the members of
the Board at it's recent meeting re-
iecting resolution recommending
the appointment of Mr.. Ittner, the
vote opposing such recommendation
consisting of four of the members of
the former Board, who had been re-
elected, and one newly elected mem
Der, DR.. Keene, whom he described as
reform member. In this connec-
tion Mr.. McIlhenny remarked as to
how well these members had gotten
together in their support of the OPP
posing candidate for the position, Mr..
Lloyd, without even a suggestion from
him.
Denies obligations
81 then inquired of Mr.. McIlhenny
whether, inasmuch as he had no OBJ
iections to Mr.. Ittner, he could take
any steps in his behalf, or whether
he was prevented doing so by being
under any obligations to Mr.. Lloyd.
He said that he was under no obli-
cations whatever to Mr.. Lloyd.
"Mr. McIlhenny then branched out
and discussed the conditions sur.
rounding the erection of school build
ings during what he said was his
active political interest in Board mat
ters. He told how he had always
made and held the confidence of his
friends in politics by seeing that they
were taken care of in the way of
on contracts; that he
always looked after the collection and
of the commissions eA-
pected. and referred to particular
instance in one connection, as he said,
with the last school building erected
in Harrisburg, in which one contract
or was slow in making his contribu-
tion until he (McIlhenny) had called
the architects attention to 1t. when
the commission was Immediately paid
what Would Ittner DOf
referring again to his possible
Mr.. Petre, that is the history of the
wav these matters have been handled
and he inquired what l thought Mr.
Ittner would be willing to do. I said
l did not know.
"Mr. McIlhenny went-on to discuss
a certain site for one of the buildings,
known as the Hill site of the East
side He said that he considered
this property as best adapted of any