The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1893-06-16
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsHINaToN, JUNE ), 1898.

lftke Congi ess of the United States were
liable to criminal indictment it wolld have lC
| star.d trial on the charge Of murder i'll the tirs
degree for having killed the % employees OF
the Surgeon Generals office who lost lheil
lives by the falling of the floors of Ford's Old
theatre, where Lincoln was ass assinated
which occurred last Friday, a catastrophe which
can never be forgotten by any who were al
the time in Washington, and which still is the
| leading topic of conversation wherever one
| goes. In addition to the % men KILLED out
| right there were is injured, a number of whom
may die, and many OF whom will be perma-
| nen,ly crippled. Congress cannot claim in
| eXtenuation that it did not know the condi-
| ton Ut this building, beca.s its condition had
| been repeatedly called to its attention, and it
actually appropriated money some six or
eight years ago 10 erect new building to con
tain the Army Medical Museum and library
which had been in this building. Just think
for moment what damning evidence is Civ
en- by this action. Congress erects another
| building because this isn't safe enough for the
museum and library with their comparatively
few attendants to remain in, and then allow
500 clerks to be crowded into the unsafe build
ing Had private employer been guilty of
this crime he could have been legally execu-
ted for murder; but Congress-well, the fam
lilies of the dead and crippled, who are now
being aided by private contributions can
spend the remainder of their lives in asking
Congress to recOmpsnse them for their LOST
bread-winners. MeanUhile there are halt
dozen buildings in Washington containing
many times the number Of Government en-
plOyes who were in the collapsed building
that are known to be equally dangerous, a
mOng them the Government Printing Office,
with its nearly 5000 employees; the Patent
Office, the annex 10 the Post Office depart
ment and the Winder building, where large
branch of the War department is quartered.
An attempt is being made by ali army court
of inquiry to locate the personal responsibility
for the disaster at this old death trap If there
be any. and a corOner's jury is also at work
with the same end in view. 1t is said the di
rect cause of the acciI was an excavacalion
whl> b was being made. for the purpose of put
ing in new boilers. This may be true, but
even if it is that furnishes no excuse for Con
gress for having allowed building which
was officially condemned twenty seven years
ago to be occupied by 800 Government en-
ployes. Il consequence of the accident there
is a feeling of excitement among those EN-
ployed in the other buildings that are known
to be unsafe. Secretary Smith is trying to
allay this excitement in the Patent Office by
having all the heavy stuff stored on the upper
floors of that building transferred to the ground
floor.
President Cleveland was one of the first
contributors to the fund that is being raised
for the help of the families of the clerks that
were killed and wounded; he also directed
that all the flags on the public buildings De
half masted for the dead clerks, an honor new
er before paid to any except high officials OF
ex-officials.
The humber Of app. intments during the
past week was unusually large, particularly
in the consular service, but the new Govern
ment printer has not been. named, although 1t
is daily expected that he will be.
There are indications that Secretary Carl
isle has in view a complete reorganization OF
the immense clerical force of the Treasury de
partment. He has addressed a circular letter
TO all of the heads of bureaus directing them
to prepare and send 10 him not later than the
18th inst. a list OF all employees under them,
show age, number of years employed, those
who entered the service under the civil SER
vice Law of 1898; those who have wives, hus-
bands, brothers, sisters, soma, daughters OF
other relatives employed in any bra neh of the
Government; those employed as clerks or 9th
erwise, with compensat on exceeding $S4O,
year, who are doing work that properly be-
longs to messengers, assistant messengers and
laborers, and those VIII are doing clerical
work but are on the rolls as messengers or
laborers. This has raised c0mmotlon ~
he department., aid no wonder, fT the inf0r-
nation, if correctly given, and tn IS M
doubt about that, is bound to lead u grand
shake-up aid large number OF dismissals.
In taking this step Secretary Carlisle has sci
another good example for the heads OF all the
other departments. A grand shake-np al
round will be beneficial to the county as well
as to the democratic party.