The morning call., 1892-02-05
POSTOFFICE SITE.
No Decision Probably for Some
Time.
The Washington officials Hold Another
Meeting.
4 Further Hitch In The PrOC6edngs-TitIs
10 JGSSi0-Str6et ROadWay-San Fran
ciScO'S Consent Necessary.
Special to THE MORNING CALc

WASHINGTON. Feb. 4-The cOmmissioa
to select Postofice site at San Francisco
met at 1O:3O o'clock this morning at the
Office of Secretary Foster. Besides the lat-
ter, Postmaster-General Wanamaker and
Attorney General Miller were present. Ex-
Judge Harvey Brown Of San Francisco has
been waiting and hoping for weeks that
this commission could be got together fOr
the purpose Of considering this POstOffce-
site matter, and he had begun to get very
impatient. He thought the matter was set
tied several weeks ago, and announced that
he would start for San Francisco. "Only
few days yet" said he, "and will be bowl
ing toward the Golden Gate" But tie
Judges case is a good deal like Mark
Twain's Southerner, who lust took littls
run up to Washington" to get claim ad-
justed. Mark Twain's man was in dread
full hurry, and rushed up the Treasury De-
partment steps, not allowing himself time
to greet some old acquaintances, because"
as he said. "he wanted to get through his
little matter of business concerning his
claim against the Government, and get back
home to look after some urgent farm work"
FATE OF A CLAIM AGENT.
That mau staid and staid, and as time
wore on grew anxious and almost dis
cGuraged with the hope long deferred. This
man removed from boarding house to board
ing-h0use till at last the poor man, who az
first had struck the town driving a spanking
team up to the finest tavern In the city.
found himself reduced to the sorest extrem-
tiles and boarding with "Very respectable
negro family" and so on till he had nothing
left and must needs walk home. Ex-Judge
Harvey w. Browns case Is in some re-
spects similar and in other respects dissimi-
lar to Mark TWain's man. The genial ex-
Judge will not suffer as long as the Southern
Pacific's strong iron box Is at his back. The
eX-Judge is still boarding at Wizards first
class hotel, and he does not anticipate hav-
ing to walk home to San Francisco as long
as he can travel on a pass through the cOuu-
try Of the aforesaid railroad.
MEETING OF THE COMMISSION.
Secretary Foster has not been well for 4
good many weeks, and has been recuperat-
ing in his Ohio home. But he arrived here
q few days ago, and eX-Judge Brown soon
had an interview with him and arranged
for a hearing before the POstOttice COmmis-
sion, consisting Of Secretary Foster, Post
master General Wanamaker and Attorney
General Miller. at 10 80 o clock this morning.
At that hour, besides the three named, Judge
Cr0unSe, Assistant Secretary OF the Treas
ury, was present. Senator Stanford showed
up and staid a little while.
ANOTHER COMPLICATION.
1t transp;red at the meeting tha. new
complication had arisen concerning the San
Francisco PoStoffice site. No sooner had
the .MOgan matter been satisfactorily set
tied than more trouble arose over another
small piece of land which is included in the
parcel of land bonded by l.. G. Harvey and
offered the Government for S1,O40,OOO. The
parcel of land about which the controversy
has now arisen is at the end Of Jessie
street AS is well known, this street abuts
on the proposed POstOffice site and forms a
cul de sac, or blind street. About fifty feet
of this street, which Is forty feet wide, laps
over or extends into the Harvey property.
The parties on each side Of this street. wha
own the fifty feet on either side Of Jessie
street have agreed with Harvey TO dispose
of their property, ami it is cOu:ended that
this cession extends TO the middle of Jessie
street.
THE CTTY'S RIGHTS.
Ex-Judge Brown appeared before the
committee this morning and argued that the
conveyance Of these parties along Jessie
street owning the fifty feet on each side
carried with it the land 70 the middle OF
Jessie street. Attorney General Miller,
however, takes different view of the mat
San Francisco will have to give a release 10
the fifty feet on the end Of Jessie street.
The commission made no decision this
morning.
THE DECISION POSTPONED.
Judge Crounse said TO the CALL CORE
spOudent to-day in answer 10 the question,
when viii the matter likely be de-
cided ?" "Oh. 1 can't say; it may be con-
siderable time yet" Mr. Crounse inti-
mated that the agents Of the Treasury De
partment were now at work Investigating
the charges made that there was fraud and
colusOn on the part of Irish, Bryan. Masteu
and others, aud that the property Is oulv
worth about One-half Of the price offered
Harvey, viz, S1,o490o0. Mr. Crounse re-
marked incidentally: The people out
there are awful slow about formulating
their charges Of fraud
MAY BE RECONsIDERED.
At this time everything seems TO be in
doubt Mr.. CTOunSe's intimatiOn would
seem to indicate that the San Francisco
people must come forward with some proof
or the site chosen would be retained and
paid for. This is the natural inference 20
be drawn from his remark. On the other
hand if Attorney General Miller insists, and
he does, that the city Of San Francisco must
release to the Government that fifty feet on
the end of Jessie street before the Govern
ment can secure perfect title TO the whole
plat offered by Harvey, II would seem that
the Government cannot accept the proposed
site without San FTancScO'S consent TO re-
lease the end of Jessie street Win the city
do it? That is the question. Meanwhile
ex-Judge Brown is boarding at Willard'S.
While no conclusion was reached at tO-dayS
conference OF the commission on the san
Francisco POStOthce site the commission is
disposed to heed the protests against thG
MisSinn-Street site and reconsider It's former