The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-19
o'RoURKE's RESIGNATION.
Alleged Decentralization and Friction
in the Architects omces.

in the Architects Offices.
Washington, Sept. is. - Supervising
Architect O'Rourke occupied his desk
this morning in the treasury department
as usual. as if his resignation had not
been asked. Officials and others on bust
ness came and went, and between these
visits O'Rourke filed in his time in
drafting his letter of resignation. "Of
course will resign" said he; IF not to-
day. within few days. Until do have
nothing 10 say"
The matter created a sensation in the
treasury. department and was a lively
topic of conversation. 1t was not how
ever. surprise to those who are in the
confidence of high officials, but came as a
bomb 10 the clerks in the bureau, who did
not know the strained relations between
the architect and his immediate subordi-
nate officials. These disturbed relations
began six months ago, and at that time it
was expected that the event that happened
Yesterday would then occur MIR. KEN
per, the chief clerk, wrote letter to
Secretary Carlisle at three o'clock yes
terday afternoon, in which he stated that
the relations existing between himself
and the architect had come TO such a
point that he would either have to pro-
tect himself personally against what he
considered insults, or else to sever his
connection with the ONCE in case Arch
itect O'Rourke was to remain.
Prior to this friction had occurred be-
tween the contract clerk, Judge Elem
ming, and the supervising architect
This matter had been brought to the at
tention Of Secretary Carlisle Upon re-
ceiVing the letter of Mr.. Kemper, Seere-
tary Carlisle, at o'clock yesterday. de-
manded the immediate resignation of Mr.
isle received d letter from Architect
O'Rourke, in which he states that
he had received the demand made
for his resignation with "amazement' -
He recalled the statement, which
he said the secretary had made to him
early in his administration that should
any charges be made against him, as was
not unusual in one occupying that posi-
ton, he would be given an opportunity to
meet those charges before any action was
taken by the head of the department
This he alleges had not been DONE Mr..
O'Rourke further states that he has
known for several months that a conspir-
acy existed in his own Office to bring
about his downfall, and denounces the
conspiracy in strong language.
Secretary Carlisle replied within few
minutes after receiving this letter this
morning that for many months he had
known that the architects Offices were in
a demoralized condition, but he had hoped
order would be brought out of the appa-
rent chaos Instead of improvement,
however the Office had been going from
bed to worse, until he felt impelled to
take the action he had, which had not
been done, however, without much hest
tation and careful consideration of the
circumstances leading up TO it. Secretary
Carlisle asked Mr.. O'Rourke if he had
any evidence Of conspiracy existing in his
office or in the department, against him
self. to submit it to him, and he would in
yestigate it, and mete out punishment to
the guilty party or parties.
This letter was delivered to Mr.
O'Rourke at about IL O'Clock to-day, and
Mr.. O'Rourke then began the preparation
Of his letter Of resignation, in which he will
detail, it is said, the facts of the alleged
conspiracy against him, giving names and
dates. Thus the matter stands. Docu-
mentary evidence in the shape of an in
tercepted letter now in the desk of Secre-
tary Carlisle, il is said, cuts an important
figure in the case, and may develop into
an official scandal.
GOVERNMENT EXPOSITION REPRESENTA-
TIvEs.
The following board of managers, on
behalf Of the government to the Atlanta
cotton states exposition, have been desig-
mated for the different departments:
Agriculture-Charles w. Dabney, Jr.,
chairman.
Interior-R. w. Clarke
POstotfice Kerr Craig.
Justice-F'rank Strong.
State-Edward l. Renick.
Wdr-Capt Thomas H. Barry.
Treasury-Charles E. Kemper.
Fish ommission-Tarleton H. Bean
Smithsonian Institution-Prof. G.
Brown Goode.
Navy-Not yet designated.
Tomorrow night the Atlanta special
train, leaving here at 8 o'clock, will carry
several prominent democratic speakers,
who are scheduled to take part in the
proceedings of the occasion of the state
convention of democratic clubs at Raleigh,
n c., Sept. 20.
The orators from Washington will be
Charles H. Mansur, assistant controller
OF the treasury; Secretary Hoke Smith,
Chauncy Black, president, and Lawrence
Gardner, secretary of the National Asso-
citation of Democratic Clubs Senators
Ransom and Jarvis, Representative
Oates and Mr.. Josephus Daniels, chief
clerk of the interior department.
the mail from Gray Gables received at
the white house this morning contained
1orty-Seven commissions of newly APP
pointed officers, among them twenty-one
postmasters in New York state.
Secretary Carlisle is overwhelmed with
letters from senators, congressman and
others asking for the reinstatement of
treasury clerks who have been dismissed
within the past few days. So far as
known not one of these discharged has
been reinstated.
Messrs. Baker and Herriatt of the
Ireasurer's office, occupying important
positions, and whose designations were
asked for last week, have complied with
Secretary Carlisle's request and handed
In their designations