The morning call., 1894-06-20
Bankhead Is Taking His
Time.
HOW HIS ZEAL COOLED,
That PoStoffice Lot Not So Bad
Now.
AN INVESTIGATION STAYED OFF.
In the Meantime the Treasury De-
partment Is Preparing TO Go
Ahead and Build.

WASHINGTON. June 19-The Treasury
Department officials, becoming tired OF
Bankhead'S procrastin alton, are going on
with their plans preparatory to beginning
the work Of excavating for the construc-
ton of the San Francisco public building.
BaDkhead is naturally an indolent South
eIner. but there are some persons here
who believe that he is willfully negligent
about pursuing the inquiry that he has
promised for many months. Whenever
approached on the subject the chairman
of the committee is strangely reticent
about giving out any information as to
his intentions. He invariably says that
be is unable to get quorum of his CON-
mittee together for the purpose of con-
sideIing his resolution.
The CALL correspondent has the word
of Mercer of Nebraska, another member
of that committee, that Chairman Bank
head has never mentioned the subject in
committee, neither has Mercer individ-
ually ever heard much about the matter.
He, as well as other members of the COM
mittee, appear to be almost wholly igno-
rannt as TO the facts In the case, for the
reason that Mr. Bankhead has never
taken any pains to inform them. 1t seems
strange, indeed, that Mercer should be
entirely ignorant about the matter, for
he is one of the subcommittee ap-
pointed by Bankhead to consider the
report on the resolution. Mr.. Bankhead
is, then, either grossly careless and indif-
ferent about the matter. OF else he is will
fully negligent. 10 either case he has only
succeeded in postponing action of some
kind or another, for while he has never
pushed his resolution of investigation of
the lots purchase. he has not been willing
for the supervising architect to use the
money left after the purchase of the site,
S18S.0O0. to begin the construction of the
building. 1t is altogether improbable
that this session of Congress will take any
kind of action on the Bankhead resolu-
ton. and therefore IL may be safely as
sumed that the building will be COM
menced and completed on the Seventh and
Mission streets lot. It is certain that the
Treasury Department is going ahead as If
Mr.. Bankhead did not exist. and IL this
session of Congress adjourns without
taking any action the work of excavation
will probably have been completed before
the next session begins. in December.
Bankhesd admits that the work once pro-
crossed this far, the building will of course
be pushed to completion on that lot.
1t will be remembered that several
months since THE CALL printed an inter-
view with Mr.. Bankhead, in which that
gentleman made broad statements to the
effect that his investigation would show
that the Seventh and Mission streets lot
was worthless; that IL would not support
a building of such magnitude as it was
pro posed to erect; that the Commissioners
who made the selection could not have
done so conscientiously in the face of the
reports of experts whose opinions were
well known before the purchase was con-
summated. Mr.. Ba2khead limited darby
at Southern Pacific Railroad connivance,
and intimated that collision might be
proven and that perhaps criminal prosecu-
ton might follow.
1t was not long until Colonel John P.
Irish came on here from San Francisco.
The politicians said that he had come to
see about his appointment as Naval Off.
Ger, but 1t was observed and commented
upon that he seemed to be very much in
terested in the outcome of the postoffiee
matter. Now it has been intimated
great many times that the Southern Pa
clfc Railroad was much in favor OF the
Seventh and NISSAN streets site. 1t was
believed that Mr.. Stanford had taken
pains to make his own preference for this
location known to the Federal officials
here; and il was said. too, that c. 2.
Huntington had his lobbyist, Boyd, at
work here in favor of this selection. At
any rate Boyd has and yet takes lively
interest In the matter. He has kept tabs
pretty closely on the matter.
Several weeks ago a reporter met Mr..
Boyd at the capitol, who called him aside
to give him the information that the
Treasury Department had decided to go
ahead with the preparation of the plans
for the building. Mr.. Boyd. before com
municatiDg this bit of news. first exactei
a promise from the reporter that he would
not say anything about this to the CORE
spondent of THE CALL.
Possibly some other member of the
House Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds can be induced by the San Fran
cisco people opposed to this site to nsti-
tute an Investigation, or the inquiry
might be started at the other end of the
capitol. Senator Vest is the chairman Of
49, ,g,Eoa