Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-18
O'ROURKE'S RESIGNATION
He Charges That There is q Conspiracy
Among the Employees.
The Reasons Which Led to Secretary
Carlisle's Action - His Successor
Not Yet Determined Upon.

Secretary Carlisle has been dissatisfied
with the administration Of affairs In the
ofiice Of the supervising architect of the
treasury for some time past. and brought
matters to q climax late yesterday after
room by calling for the immediate resigna-
ton of the supervising architect. Mr.. Jere-
miah ORourke. The letter making the
demand was delivered personally to Mr..
O'Rourke about 1 o'clock. as he was clos
Ing up the business Of the day.
Mr.. O'Rourke succeeded Mr.. Edbrooke as
supervising architect early in the present
administration. He was appointed by Sec
retary Carlisle at the solicitation OF Sena-
tors Smith and Mcpherson and other men,
bers Of the New Jersey congressional dele
CATION. He is a native of Ireland, but has
been resident of New Jersey for many
years. His administration Of the office has
been unfortunate in that he managed to
have trouble with nearly all of the officials
OF the department with whom he came In
contact He had certain ideas about the
importance Of his office, and chafed against
the supervision of his acts by his official
superiors. 1t is said he held himself above
the law and that he has caused considerable
trouble by his arbitrary actions In the mat
ter of the award of contracts. Secretary
that he must keep within the strict letter
of the law, but to no apparent effect, and
mis- recommendations have frequently been
ignored as impracticable. He was on bad
terms with nearly all the chiefs of divis-
ion in his office. and was not on speak
ing terms with some of them. The matter
of appointments was also a subject Of fric-
ton between the Secretary and the archi-
tect.
Charges of Conspiracy.
O'Rourke's resignation at once. but the lat
ter today wrote q letter requesting the
privilege Of personal explanation. recalling
the Secretary's promise made on one oc-
casion that he would give him An oppcr-
tunity to reply to any charges filed against
him. Mr.. ORourke also set up the claim
that he had been the victim of a conspiracy
among his subordinates. The Secretary re-
piled that no specific charges had been
filed; that his action was based upon the re-
suit OF general observation Of the office
covering long period Of time and the de-
plorable condition Of affairs in the office, but
that If Mr.. ORourke could establish the
existence Of a conspiracy he would be glad
to hear at once in writing the evidence of
such a state of affairs
Inc charges of conspiracy are not be-
lieved at the department.. Mr.. Carlisle has
gwen no consideration yet to the question
or Mr. ORourke's successor but it is said
ne Is determined to get an architect who
stands high in his profession The salary
Is i,JOO.
Mr.. O'Rourl<e Talks.
Il shall resign cheerfully," said Mr..
ORourke to Star reporter this afternoon.
but l may be permitted to express the
opinion that the Office loses more by my
leaving It than I do. I have written MY
resignation, but shall remain in charge un-
I'll 1t Is accepted. I have the greatest ad-
miration for Secretary Carlisle and will
do nothing 10 put him in a dilemma have
nothing to say for publication at present,
but may have after l leave the service"