Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-12

ESPECIAL TELEGRAMs TO THE DIsP ArcH.I
WASHINGTON, August 11.-One of the
| most interesting stories connected with re-
cent dismissals from the departments is that
of Mr.. Charles Kinkel, whose name has be.
come somewhat familiar over the whole
country through his plans for the erection
of a tower for the exhibition of 1892, which
shall be 1, 800 feet in height.
Mr.. Kinkel was appointed draughts-
man and architect of the Supervising Archi-
tect's Office very soon after the inaugura-
ton of Cleveland, and at the special request
of the President himself. He Is a hand
some German, about 60 years of age, of fine
education, and one of the most agreeable
and genial companions imaginable. A
revolutionist of the days of 1848, he was
imprisoned in Germany for IS months, but
he says little of that, though he has not
swerved from his intense Republicanism.
A BOON. COMPANION.
In the days when Cleveland was Sheriff
of Erie county Kinkel was a resident of
Buffalo and warm, personal friend of
Solomon Scheu, the Mayor of that time.
Cleveland and Kinkel were won't to meet
almost nightly at Scheu's residence, play
German games with cards, drink German
beer and eat German sausage and sauer-
kraut t
Kinkel was, however, too extreme in his Re-
publicanism to support Cleveland either for
Mayor, for Governor, or for President.
Previous to 1884 he had removed to New
York City, and in that year he was an en-
thusiastic supporter of Blaine. He was
largely instrumental in carving the elec-
ton Of Lew P. Morton for Congress, and
mas many letters from both Morton and
Blaine, thanking him for his valiant services
among the Germans.
After the election of Cleveland, and
through the solicitation of their mutual
friend Scheu. Cleveland offered Kinkel not
only a place in the Office of the supervising
architect, but actually the Office of super
vising architect. Kinkel consulted with
his Republican friends in regard to the mat
ter, and was advised to accept position, as
the Office was one which should be free from
politics. He refused to take the chief Office,
but called on Cleveland one morning and
informed him he would accept a position as
draughtsman, and at 8 o'clock that after
noon he was appointed. He Otter called at
the White House, and was always well
come guest.
. w ueu Iuc VI 1000 WAS dL ltS
height Kinkel was caught in the tolls of the
civil service law. He, being Republican,
was selected by cunning Democratic chiefs
of the office to handle funds collected in the
Office to further the election of Cleveland.
Simple-minded as he was, and
UNACcUsroMED TO TRICKERY,
while he would not solicitor collect even for
his old friend Cleveland, he thought it was
not criminal morally or legally, to forward
to the Democratic Committee envelopes con-
tanning money which were mysteriously left
on his desk, from anonymous contributors.
He admitted doing this to the Senate Com
mittee which investigated the office OF the
Supervising Architect last winter, and this,
with his complimentary appointment by
Cleveland, marked him for dismissal. though
he did not himself contribute cent, ,and did
not vote for the Democratic candidates
Knkel is still as stanch a Republican as
ever, and word from Vice President Nor
ton, whom he has so well served politically,
would probably accomplish his reinstate-
ment; but Kinkel is too proud 10 ask any
commendation where he feels that he has
beea wronged for doing what was in no way
dishonorable. He is content to pursue his
vocation as draughtsman for architects of
this city, and hopes to be the architect of
the tower of 1892. which will overtop the
Eiftl tower by 500 feet.