Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-26
COL. SWORDS VISIT.
The Entire Interior of the POStOffice
Will be RemOdeled.
CONCESSIONS TO M'KEAN ANDOUAY
The Wiry IoWan Will Report to Architect
Windrim on Monday.
A COMPROMISE TO ELECT ALLISON

ing him to wait upon Postmaster-eleet Nc
Kean, of Pittsburg, and accord every
facility to him in the matter of new fur
nishings and appointments for the post
office. The two gentlemen met and got
down to business, and started in at the post
Office.
Colonel Swords is tall, grsy-haired, al
though only As years of age, and has large
mustache of deep brown and flashing blue
eyes. He bears marked resemblance to
Ex-Governor Foraker. He was appointed
Chief of the Department of Federal Office
Furnishings in May last, since which time
he has fitted up % Federal buildings. With
out the slightest connection with the Post
office Department, Colonel Swords has to
deal with the furniture of all Federal
buildings, and is therefore familiar with
the interior of most of the large postofices in
the country.
The terribly crowded condition of the
present office, over which he was showed by
Messrs. Mexican and Collins, struck him
very forcibly. After the inspection had
been concluded and the items to bsfur-
nished noted down by Mr.. Collins, Colonel
Swords was afforded an opportunity to view
the county Court House, and from thence
accompanied MIR. Mexican to the Govern
mept building, where Architect Malone ex-
planned things and produced voluminous
statistics. The noted lowan left at 8o'clock
for Washington, having previously dined
at the Duquesne Club with Postmaster Nc
Kean, Hon. Walter Lyon and G. 81. Mckee,
ESQ.
Colonel Swords submitted to a lengthy in
terView with DISPATCH representative.
He said: "Our appropriation for the fiscal
year ending in June is running low, and in
most cases where a new building is going up
we bid the officials endure the ills of
crsmped quarters and back number furni-
ture until change takes place.
THEIR wEIGHTY ARGUMENTS.
"But in the Pittsburg Postofice. Senator
Quay and Mr.. Mexican presented such
weightY reasons for securing every accessory
and facility for the better transaction of the
public business that Secretary Window felt
justified in straining point The accommo-
dations are so inadequate that the best of
furniture and fittings is positive necessity.
"The Registry Division, the Money Order
Division, the Office of the Superintendent of
Mails, and the Postmaster room will be en-
tirely reftted with the best we have in
stock. The entire postofice will be cleansed,
and repairs, alterations, chandeliers and
anything else needed will be Immediately
supplied. This includes desks. carpets,
counters, etc., and several new letter
racks, any of which can be transferred to
the new building. Mr.. Mexican made a
very favorable impression in Washington
and his efforts to improve the service here
will be aided in every possible May. The
rough list which Messrs. Mexican and Col
lins have furnished me contains about 70
items, and nv rough calculations are that
about 81, 900 will be expended in the reft-
ting process. Understand me, Mr.. Win
Gom's instructions were to give Mr.. Mexican
anything he wanted. As it is, we will put
into this Office all its size enables it to con-
tain or demand. AS to the other Federal
Offices here the limited amount at our COM
mand will not enable Us to do anything
until the change to the new building is ac-
complished. When that time arrives can
guarantee Pirtsburg the best at our COM
Inand. 80
II visited the Government building and
Mr.. Malone met me with the astonishing
statement that it would take him three
years to complete it under favorable circum-
stances. This does not seem in accord with
the work done on Government buildings
elsewhere and will hardly do. Mr.. Malone
gave me some carefully prepared statistics,
but 1 agree with Mr.. Mexican that the
building should be occupied by the Govern
ment-at least on the lower foor-by next
fail. have promised Mr.. Mexican that
will wait on Mr.. Windrim next Monday,
and urge speed in the premises. 1 have not
the least connection with the Postofice De-
partment, but my opinion NAV have some
weight with Mr.. Windrim owing to my
familiarity with new Federal buildings and
those just being completed. Your new
postmaster impresses me as being hustler,
and 1 can understand from what have
seen how great the necessity is for new
quarters at the earliest possible moment"
AGAINST CIVIL SERVICE.
"What do you think of the current
troubles of the Civil Service Commission,
Colonel Swords?"
''The Civil Service Commission has my
permission to work out its own salvation, if
it can. 1 will tell you what the civil service
scheme is doing as practical result of its
adoption. 1t is running hundreds of bright
Young men and women In eVerv community.
They devote their time to the examinations,
and get on the list of eligibles, and then
wait, wait, wait for the coveted position,
living perhaps on relatives or friends, set
of Micawbers with nothing turning up.
''You have just come from Des Moines,
Ia. What are Senator William Allison's
chances of reelection in view of the legis-
lative deadlock"
"I have been to Iowa on leave of absence,
and have paid great deal Of attention to
Senator Allison's canvass. The situation is
briefly this: By precedent the member of
the House,from Polk county calls the House
together; the Democrats refuse to answer,
and there can be no organization. The Re-
publican members of the House are mostly
new, who promise we'll, but as the Demo |
Gratis number good many legislative veter- !
ans, the Republican side of the House is
inferior in the exercise of parliamentary
tactics This is unfortunate, but it |
cannot be helped. We offered |
q compromise to the Democrats on Wednes- |
day night, Just before 1 came away. |
We offered them the Speaker, we to have
the Clerk. IF that offer was accepted it
meant the organization of the House and |
the election Of Mr.. Allison by five or six |
votes on joint session. But they refused, |
hoping to tire the Republicans out. and |
secure both Speaker and Senator. They
can never secure enough votes to elect any |
one else, and no matter how prolonged the
contest may be it is certain to result in Sem