Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-10
CRIMINAL ECONOMY,


To the Editor of The Evening Star.
The appalling catastrophe at the medical
bureau building yesterday morning was, with
out doubt. the most fatal that ever happened
in this city and in many respects was more of
. tragedy than an accident, when all the causes
which led to it are fairly considered. Granting
that the excavation made under one Of the walls
Of the building may have precipitated the dis
aster its insecurity has been well known for
years and so pronounced by some Of the gov
eminent engineers, but by reason Of the false,
we'll criminal, economy of Congress, no
heed has been taken to the repeated warnings
of the same. This is q terrible commentary on
the efficiency of those responsible for it and the
lesson it teaches comes with the most sickeniag
emphasis to this community. While there viii be
no differences OF opinion as to this fact the ques
tons which suggest themselves. are. viii it have
in the city3 viii it lead to any
change in the class Of buildings used for the
public service2 Instead Of renting buildings
owned by private parties will it adopt a new
policy and build its own SO secure that no more
such disasters will ever occur again? Why, the
rental now paid for the use of private build
ings In this city for the public service would
easily pay the interest on all the money neces-
sary to erect enough substantial ones to last
the government for fifty or a hundred years,
and this money could easily be raised on q
loan as low as 2 per cent. and thus meet the
objections Of some of our penuy-vise states
men for entering upon 80 large a public ex-
penditure.
Let us hope that, sad and heart-rending as
this terrible calamity has proved, that the cry
of the widows aud orphans il has added to this
community will have its effect on our next
Congress and that the President will make it
subject Of his next message, urging upon It the
absolute necessity for some immediate change
lives OF our government employees.
And, a. an earnest OF this, that he urge in the
most positive terms the erection Of a newpublic
printing ouldihg, ana tnst' TOO, at once: Here
st.nJno n,erace sor n .I.st tan 49, - 80.
and that every chief thereof. in his annual re-
port to Congress. has called its attention to,
and yet, on the plea OF economy as well as the
ri$air! Oh ,eea esAse specoA'o.s, tne necessity
Tor new building mas been ieft TO run along,
when IN the ngnt OF Yesterday mornings dis
aster Is disgrace 70 the government as wen as
the age. Inc very tnougnt OF IKE oisaster In
Inc Puohe pruning ouiiding is horrible, aud
there 10 plenty OF authority Tor asserting that
collapse Is likely TO happen there any
Gay. iursher assert tnAs |" wouia JUSTIFY
q COMMITTEES OF our citizens TO VISIT this
building and Judge whether 1 nave IN any way
overstateo its insecurity. Ana iet me aod
iursner 'n"' suca com"isse VIII 'oiuh.eer
on so humane mission that fair proportion
OF 1t be made up OF ladies, to whom should be
intrusted the duty OF investigating the COM
forts and especially the sanitary condition OF
the building How some OF these poor women
employees are crowded in rooms with scarcely
ventilation enough to breathe In. Here is field
for Christian women to enter. and appeal to
those OF this District to take hold OF, and am
satisfied there are plenty such ladies here, who
will gladly do so II allowed the opportunity.
Who will take hold? ID. c. FoRNEY.
Washington As . Place OF Residence.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
In your issue of the It'll instant your cor
resnondent CIV ~ vsrv iustlv states tina
;-Ir...--.. v...,-. q.
Anou0ee"' ""''"s'on '.'5 o"o,' " peop.0
OF wealth and culture 10 make IL their
choice as place of residence. will merely
sunulement his iudicious remarks bv stating
thst II ia NOT dine alone 70 the ,mootbness ~
onr streets that thew ara free from the rum-
hing. desfening din and noise Of other cities.
INIT r ia aI,o oWing In the total absence in onr
beautiful canital Of anv large Observation-Disclosures
eats blisbments necessitatin9 heavy trausnor,
tst;on Of material and n,odncts over onr
streets We have only a few small foundries.
sbons &c tosunn,v the local demand within onr