The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-19
JOlINSIIERMA IN NEW YORK
I'M fLTDfTTNG IUE TEDERiL TITLE
TO THE NEU POST OIIICE
Fighting John 7. Davenport Mt the Risk Of
AGorjing New Works Aldermen Pretcxt
for selling the Building for n city Hall.

for SELLING the Building for n city Hall.
"1Iavc you heard about our new City
Hall?" an Alderman inquired yesterday.
That's the building over there" the Alderman
continued. inclining his thumb toward Mullctt's
Post Onlcc. John sherman has given it to
us. Oh. you needn't look incrcdulous. It's
truc. You see It's just this way. Tho land on
which the Post ONCE stands was decided by the
city to the United States conditonay The
city consented to part with slice Of the park
for 100000 If the Government would ercct
thereon n building to be used exclusively for n
Post ONCE and the Federal courts. and
the decd express stpulates that II the
building, or any part OF II, Ia used
for other purposes the title shall be void
and the property shall revert to the city. The
language Of the contract is unmistakabc. and
there's no getting around II. Well. the first vio-
lation Of the deed was in putting the Secret Ser
vice officers of the Treasury into the new
building Then the Steamboat Inspectors were
given rooms by order Of John Sherman. Next
appeared Dick Mccormick with his Paris Ex-
hibition Commission. Then John Sherman
directed that rooms should be taken from the
United States Circuit Court Clerk and from the
United States Attorney for the Commissioner Of
Internal Revenue. Now. none OF these offices
over which John sherman exercises authority
belong TO the courts or to the Post Olllcc. and
putting them in there invalidatcs the title. All
the city has to do is to eject the present tenants
and occupy the building. Look up the deed
and see II It isn't ms tell YOU"
Postmnstcr James said that as custodian Of
the Post ONCE he had been directed hy John
sherman 10 give rooms from time to time 10
different officials. sherman had written him TO
assign part Of District Attorney WOodfords
and Circuit Clerk Davenport's rooms 10 the in
ternnl revenue officers Mr.. Davenport had re-
fused to vacAte his rooms. md the correspond
once had boon sent To- Mr. sherman.
al ~ -
Circuit Court who is also Chief Supervisor Of
ELECTIONS. said: Yes. it is true that have
Supervisor. or TO be driven into crampcd quar-,
ters MS Clerk. 10y John Shcrmans orders. !
6aVs 6a difccieG S t" that ali my my books ana records
shall he put under lock and key and LEFT unils-
thcm he can do but | absolutely refuse to
move out under orders.
3" | have been treated With the erossest dis
courtesy in this matter" Mr.. Daycnpor, added.
My rooms were fitted up expressly for my
business. and have records flui AWAY In them
that cost the Governments over sluOo0O. sher-
man pcremptprily assigns these rooms e. the
Commissioner Il Internal Revenue. and closes
his letter hy saying that Il there are any rooms
will not Object to my using them. Suisse
guently he wrote letter ns-i -isning one OF the
District Attorneys rooms to the revenue people,
and saying that II the District Attorney needed
more room he could take i from the rooms
consulted rs to whether the changes would put
me to nconvenien'c and sherman : treatment
the one inierence-that Ire was max per
sonal attack upon me. nud wanted to drive mo
out Of the building. | don't know any reason
for his hostility. unless il IL because lac ianccs
| am friend Of Mr.. Conkling. II he wants to
| fight ma am ready To- meet him. II will take
| bigger man than John Sherman 10 drive me out
d" What stops will you take to retain posses
sion OF your rooms -
" | have already got the case in shape to lay
before Congress and the whole matter will he
Investigated, Let mo show you the clause in
/ - itt IL r
this rNlr.-- cNuii'ipn. however. Tint tho lfrm-
i~.- uh0y' dos 'rih~d, and every art and llrr.l
| tunr'ui hul any iuldiu- ilAi uny J.. rrri"d.
! shall 40 ui times % hHrrut"r iru~ Hand occupied
rNtu. .iV.ly H-. and for. % POST O.l'r and court
| Huu-. inrtAr Uui'ol states of Au,ri.I. AMI for
| no I.fh,r rurluI-s Whatsoever. And ullu the
| furirDr condition that. II tie -aid PROMISES
si4tll 10 any iiIue or tln r"nsr T. D" used iNr
| tAs uurpn-. Hiov. limited ,r fer ri .'nr ono of
tiriu or ~ the sam" shall h' u-'i for any other
| purpose than thUs" nhove specified. the said
title, estate. and Interest therein shnll revert TO-
| and be 'lnyr-tcI IN. TIE said parties oi the
| first part and the said parties Of the first part
| SHALL tnrrrupon he ONE the absolute owners u
| thr said promises with the appuriouan' 'cs. and
| they may rrcuter anil 'upy them tine same as
| il these presents had not boon executed
" | don't pr pose To- inyalliatc the Govern
| ments title t. four millions oi property hy any
action Of mine. whatever John Shcrman may
See III 20 DO; Mr; Davenport continued. And
| that's WHY shan not iIuN".
Corporlt.ou Counsel Whitney SAIL that John
Shornun's breach # contract Ind not been Of;
no.nlly la.d before him. hpt thatt thedeo secmsd
ynry explicit, and he dit n.t know how Mr..
| sherman could legally place his on 'crs ~ the
ldillIn. Ia all the discussions AMI rrso,i iun-
property. the limiting Of the use of the hul. ding
To- psf ON an court bus mess was stipulated.
| On the part of the city would be- to serve wrlts
of cjrrtmnnt on all the occupants oi the Post Of
n,e building and take possession. don't know
what k;hi oi an nrmory u, ,W9n!d make. II
| would do very well Tor a CITY Hall