Birmingham age-herald., 1894-09-19
Tho Resignation of Supervising
 Architect 0'Rourke,
WHICH HAS BEEN ASKED FOR,
Now Being Prepared-Some- thing Interesting May Come
 Out of It-Other Notes.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1s.- Supervising Architect O'Rourke occupied his desk this
 morning in the treasury department as
 usual, as if his resignation had not been asked for. Officials and others on business came and went, and between these vlslts O'RourKe filled in his time in drafting his letter of resignation. -5s
 "Of course, will resign," said
 O'Rourke, ''if not today, within few
 days. Until l do I have nothing 10 say"
 The matter created a sensation in the
 treasury department and was lively topic
 conversation. It was not, however, sur
 prise to those who are in the confidence or
 high officials, but came as bomb to the
 clerks in the bureau, who did not known
 the strained relations between the architect
 and his immediate subordinate officials.
 These disturbed relations began six months
 ago, and at that time 1t was expected that
 the event that happened yesterday would
 occur.
 MT. Kemper, the chief clerk, wrote
 letter to Secretary Carlisle at o'clock yes
 terday afternoon, In which he stated that
 the relations existing between himself and
 the architect had come to such point that
 he would either have to protect himself
 personally against what he considered ln-
 suits or else to sever his connection With
 the office in case Architect O'Rourke was
 to remain.
 Prior to this friction had occurred be-
 tween the contract clerk, Judge Fleming,
 and the supervising architect. This mat
 ter had been brought to the attention of
 Secretary Carlisle. Upon receiving the
 0 clock yesterday demanded the imme- idiate resignation of MT. O'Rourke. This
 morning Secretary Carlisle received a let ter from Architect O Rourke, n which he
 states that he had received the demand Tor
 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 position, he would be given an oppor- tunity to meet these charges before any ac- ton was taken by the head Of the depart ment. This, he alleges, has not been done. Mir. O'Rourkes further states that he has known for several months that consp1r- acy existed in his own office to bring about his downfall, and depouncee the conspiracy l in strong language. Secretary Carlisle replied within a few minutes after receiving this letter this morning that for many months he had known that the architects office was in a | demorsiized condition, but he had hoped order would be brought out of the apparent chaos. Instead of improvement, how ever, the office has been going from bad to | worse, until he felt impelled to take the | action he had, which had not been done, | however, without much hesitation and a | careful consideration of all the circum- | stances leading to it.
 Secretary Carlisle asked MT. O Rourke if l he had any evidence of conspiracy exist ing. in his office or in the department l against himself, to submit that evidence to l him and he would investigate it and mete out punishment to the guilty parties. l This letter was delivered to MT. o Rourke 1 at about Il o'clock today and MT. O. Rourke l then began the preparation of his letter of | resignation, in which he detailed, it is | said, the facts of alleged conspiracy against 1 him, giving names and dates. Thus the matter stands.
 Documentary evidence in the shape of an intercepted letter now in the desk of 1 Secretary Carlisle, it is said, cuts an inn portant figure in the case and may develop l into an official scandal.
 THE GOVERNMENTS REPRESENTATIVES. | The following board of managers on be- l half of the government to the Atlanta Cot l ton States and International exposition 1 have been designated for the different de- l partments:
 Charles W. Dabney, Jr., chairman; in- l terior, R. W. Clarke; postoffice, Kerr l Craig justice, Frank Strong; state, Ed
 ward 1. Renyck; war;, Capt. Thomas M. | Barry; treasury, Charles E. kemper; nsh l commission, Tarleton H. Bean; Smith | sonian institution, Prof. G. Browi Goode. 1 Navy department not yet designated. l PROMINENT SPEAKERS TO GO TO RALEIGH. 1 Tomorrow night the Atlanta special 1 train. leaving here at 8 o'clock, will carry | several prominent democratic speakers, 1 who are scheduled to take part in the pro- | ceedings on the occasion of the state con- yention of democratic clubs at Raleigh, l MO-, September 20.
 The orators from Washington will be | Charles H. Mansur, assistant comptroller l of the treasury; Secretary Hoke Smith, l Chauncey F. Black, president, and Law | renee Gradner, secretary of the National Ransom and Jarvis, Representative Oates, | and MT. Josephus Daniels, chief clerk of l ;c+o