Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-22
WASHINGTON. NEWS NOTES.
Reforms in the Office of the Supervising
Architect.

WASHINGTON. September H.-The Re
publican Congressional Committee to-day
decided the contest for nomination from
the Seventh South Carolina District be-
tween Messrs. Ellery NJ. Brayton ans
johnson in favor of the former. Mr.. Bray
ton is d white Republican, formerly Col
lector of Internal Revenue, and chairman
of the State Republican Committee.
The statement is made at the Treasury
Department that 1t viii be a month or
six weeks before Secretary Carlisle fills
the vacancy caused by the enforced re-
signation Of Supervising Architect
O'Rourke and that when he does make
the appointment the new architect VIII
go into a thoroughly reorganized ofilce
with the scientific and technical branches
of the work segregated from the purely
administrative branches. This will be n
departure long contemplated by Secretary
Carlisle, as the principal source OF trouble
in the architects office during the former
and the present administration has been
the clash between the scientific and the
non-scientific branches of the Office The
architects duties in the future viii be
confined as much as possible to the purely
scientific and technical branches OF the
work, such as engineering, drafting. con-
struction, and repair work, while the
administrative branches of the office.
such as the awarding of contracts, the
accounts, and clerical work, will be under
the supervision Of the Secretary OF the
Treasury. Secretary Carlisle will devote
much OF the time intervening between
now and the appointment of the new
architect in perfecting the reorganization
ha of ba nj
of which is given above.
Another reform Of great importance that
Secretary Carlisle contemplates making
in this office Is In the matter OF .spe-
cifications for public buildings. Hereto
fore the practice has obtained Of permit
ting bidders TO designate what kind of
stone they propose to use, and TO give
their figures accordingly. Then the fight
would BE- carried before the-Secretary OF
the Treasury as to the selection OF the
material for the building and the bidder
proposing the cheapest stone would.
everything else being equal. be awarded
the contract. Secretary Carlisle will now
first decide whether public building
shall be constructed OF granite, lime
stone marble, or any other material and
If So of what kind, and then the bids will
be called for. for material.
Secretary Gresham has summarily de-
rQCliSheu tne SCntlne recently maze puD-
lie to make the Bureau of American
Republics self-supporting by the insertion
of paid advertising in its publications.
Adyertising-Agen Wilson. l.. New York,
who had been appointed the canvasser
OF the bureau. was last night notified by
wire TO cease his operations. and Director
Furbish. OF the bureau. was ordered to
recall his circulars and cancel his con-
tracts at once. 1t is declared at the
State Department that the project was
undertaken In the absence OF. and with
ont the knowledge Of the Secretary. while
the Secretary was on his vacation. AS
soon as the Secretary heard the nature
of the plan, he called Mr.. Furblsh In.
and directed him TO suspend operations
at once In regard to the solicitation OF
advertisements for the bureaus publica-
tions. and to cancel all the contracts he |
had made.
The practice of selling the bureau hand |
books. instead of furnishing them for |
eratuitous distribution. which formed part |
of the new regime Is not included In the |
vacating order, and II Is pre- |
sumed will be continued. There have been |
very strong protests filed against the |
practice. however. by members OF Con- |
cress. who have been put to considerable |
personsi axpense IN narchasins bureau