The Washington times., 1894-07-25
TELL CONGRESS THEIR FEAR
Several thousand G. p. O. EMPLOYEES
Join in a Petition.
H STREET WING is A MENACE
structurally Weak and Overloaded by Mate
rial, Machinery and Workmen-Fire
Would Find the Tinder-like Material an
Easy Prey-Dangers Foreshadowed.

1t is an unusual occurrence for Q body OF
nearly 5000 government employees to join in
an humble petition to Congress that u build
ing be provided for them to work in. the con-
dition of which shall not be a menace to their
lives
The employees Of the Government Printing
Office fearful that unlessthey expressed their
appreciation Of the danger to which they are
subjected in their present building Congress
would adjourn without any action on the
selection of a site and appropriation Of funds
for the construction Of proper building, ven-
tured to make such a protest yesterday.
Senator Ransom presented the petition just
before the Senate adjourned for the Demo-
cratic caucus yesterday afternoon and had it
read The document was very substantial
one, containing besides the petition itself
about fifty pages of manuscript signatures.
The petition Is as follows:
To the honorable members OF the United
States Senate:
GENTLEMEN: The undersigned, a commit
tee appointed by the several departments of
labor in the Government Printing Office to
petition Congress for relief from the danger
now so apparent by use OF the II street wing
VI tuc OlLCe Respectfully
ITS STRUCTURAL WEAKNESS.
First That said H street wing is menace
to human life by reason of its structural weak
ness, its excessive overlooking by material.
machinery, and employees.
Second. That said street wing is men,
ace to human life, by reason OF its tinder-like
material, indicating that an accident by fire
would cause destruction-a holocaust OF life
and property.
Third. That said H-street wing is menace
to human life. by reason OF the constant jar
and jolt Of working machinery, the heavy
pounding vacilation caused by the necessary
work. thus slowly, but surely, foreshadowing
disaster.
Fourth. The said H-street wing is menace
to human life. by reason Of the age and decay
OF the structure, that is permeated with dry
rot in timber and crack and fissure in walls,
as is manifested by braces. clamps and other
appliances intended to hold the building to-
gether.
Therefore. the undersigned committee, as
enjoined by the employees Of the Government
Printing Office, supplemented by individual
petition OF said employees, pray for relief from
the foreshadowed danger; that the same NAV
be Immediately made possible by the appro-
priation of the necessary means to secure a
location for and construction Of a new Gov
ernment Prinnng Offlce. and the construction
OF an annex or addition to the present struc-
ture 10 relieve possible danger to life and de-
struction of property.
PROVISIONS FOR The ANNEX.
1t is therefore prayed that provisions for
the annex or addition to the present structure
will be authorized in the present sundry civil
bill, by amendment thereto, should it be
deemed impossible to meet the full desire of
your petitioners.
CHARLES L. SPENCER, Chairman of COM
mittee.
5. II. BELL.
W.C.VAN METRE.
ii. J. GILBERT.
T.. BURKHoLDER.