The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1893-06-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
rom cur regular correspo ndent.

WASHINGTON, June IL, 1893.
If the congress Of the United States we're
liable to criminal Indictment it would have
to stand trial on the charge Of murder in
the first degree for having killed the %
employees Of the surgeon general Office who
lost their lives by the falling of the floors
of Ford's old theatre. where Lincoln was
assassinatej, which occurred last Friday.
a catastrophe which can never be forgotten
by any who were at the time in " Washing
ton, and which still is the leading topic of
conversation wherever one goes In ad-
dition to the % men killed outright there
were 6S injured, number of who IN may
die, and many o. whom will be permanent
y crippled. Congress cannot claim in ex-
tenuation that it did not know the eondi-
tion of this building. because It's condition
had been repeatedly called 10 IFS attention,
and il actually appropriated money some
six or eight years ago TO erect new build
ing TO cortaln the Army 81, dical Mu'eun
AMI library which bad teen in this build
ing. Just think for moment what
damage ng evidence Is given by this action.
Congress erects another building because
this isn't safe enough fer the museum and
Ii brary with tbeir comparatively few at
tendants 10 remain In. and then allows 500
clerks to he crowded into the unsafe build
ing. Had a private employer been guilty
of this crime be could have been legally
executed for murder: but congress-geil,
the families Of the dead and crippled, who
are now being aided By private ccntribn-
tions. can spend the remainder of their
lives in asking congress TO recomT ense them
for their lost bread winners. Meanwhile
there are half dozen buildings in Wash
ington containing many times the number
OF government employees who were in the
collapsed building that are known 10 be
equally dangerous, among them the gov
eminent printing Office. with its nearly
300 employees; the patent Office, the annex
to The possofhce department and the .fin-
der building, where large branch Of the
war department is g8ariered.
An attempt il beng made by an army
curt of inquiry to lccate the personal
responsibility for the disaster al this old
death trap, if there be any. and coroner
jury Is also at work with the sane e7d in
view. /, II said the direct cause of the
a1ideni Was an excavation which was be
ing made for the purpose 0: putting in new
b1iierz. This may be true. bat even if il
il. thai furnishes no excuse for congress for
having allowed a building which was
osscially condemned twenty y-seyen years
ago to.be occupied by go government EN-
ployes In Consequence Ct Tie accident
there is feelinr CT excitement among
those employed in the other buildings that |
ara known TO be unsafe. Secretary Smith !
is trying TO aiIsy this exeitement in the
pension o;itce by having all the heavy stuff |
stored On The upper floors Of that building |
transferred 10 the ground ko0r.
President Cleveland was one Of the frs. |
contributors to the fund that IS bair rais-
edifor the help Of the families Of The clerks |
that were wounded and killed: be also
directed tha. ali flags on the public build
ings bs half mas ed fer the dead claks. sn
honor that has never before been Paid 10
an5 e1cep; high o.sicials o. ex officials
There are indicstions that Secretary
CAr'isle has in view complete reorganiEA-
iicn Of the Gle, heal force Of The treasury
department; He has addressed circular
le.ter..to all The heads of bureaus directing
them to send 70 him not later than the 25t.i
inst. list Of al the employees under them,
showing age. number Of years employed.
those who entered the service under the
civil service law Of 1883. those who have
wives, husbands brothers. sisters sons.
daughters or other relatives employed in
aus branch OF TIE government; those em
pioyed as clerks or herwise with CON-
pensatiOn exceeding $50. year. who are
doing work that properly belongs to mes
sengers. .assss;snt messengers and labor
ers. This has raised commosion in the
department. and no wonder. for the infer
nation. il correctly given. and there Is no
doubt about that. is bound 10 lead to a
grand shake mp and large number of
dssmissals Ia taking tbls step Secretary
Carlisle has set another good example for
the heads Of ali the oihar depars nnents.