The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-09-19
FROM The NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Treasury Clerks Anxious for
Reinstatement.
Secretary Carlisle Is Over whslmed With
Letters From Senators, Congressmen
aud Others Asking to have Employees
Reinstated-The Middle In tho Super
visipg Architects Omce-It May De-
veiop Into an Omcial Scandal.

velop Into an Onoial Scandal
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1S.-Secre tary
Carlisle is overwhelmed with the letters
from Senators, Congressman and others,
asking for the reinstatement OF Treas
ury clerks who have been dismissed
within the past few days. So far as
known, not one of those discharged has
been reinstated. Messrs. Baker and
Herriatt, Of the treasurer's office, occu-
designations were asked for las. week,
have complied with Secretary Carlisle's
request and handed in their resigna-
tions.
Supervising Architect O'Rourke occu-
pied his desk this morning in the Treas.
ury Department as usual as IL his resig-
nation had not been asked. Officials
and others on business came and vent
and between these visits O'Rourke filled
in his time in drafting his letter OF res
ignstion. "Of course 1 will resign"
said O'Rourke. "If not to-day, within
few days. Until do 1 have nothing
to say"
The matter created sensation in the
tICbouNJ OOP0EtnOhG duQ Wd6 d LIVELY
topic of conversation. It was not, how
ever, a surprise to those who are in the
confidence Of high officials, but it came
as a bomb to the clerks In the bureau,
who did not know the strained relations
between the architect and his i'm
mediate subordinate officials. The dis
turbed relations began six months ago,
and at that time it was expected that
the event that happened yesterday
would then occur.
Mr.. Kemper, clerk, wrote letter
to Secretary Carlisle at 3 o'clock yes.
terday afternoon, in which he stated
that the relations between himself and
tho architect had come to such point
that he would either have to protect
himself personally against what he
considered insults or else to sever his
connection with the Office IL Architect
O'Rourke was to remain Prior to this
friction had occurred between contract
clerk. Judge Fleming. and tho super
vising architect This matter has been
brought to the attention of Secretary
Carlisle. Upon receiving tho letter Of
Mr.. Kemper, Secretary Carlisle at 4
O'Clock yesterday demanded tho i'm
mediate resignation of MIR. CRourke
This morning Secretary Carlisle re-
ceived letter from Mr.. O'Rourke, in
which he states that he had received the
demand for his resignation with "amaze
ment." 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 occupy
ing that position, he would be given an
opportunity to meet those charges be-
fore any action was taken by the head
| of the department. This, he alleges,
had not been done. Mr.. O'Rourke fur
| ther states that he has known for SOW
eral months that conspiracy existed in
his own office to bring about his down
| fall, and denounces the conspiracy in
strong language.
Secretary Carlisle replied within few
minutes after receiving this letter this
morning, that for many months he had
known that the architects office was in
demoralized condition, but no had
hoped order would be brought out Of the
apparent chaos. Instead of improve
ment, however, the office had been go
ing from bad to worse, until he felt i'm :
PEELED to take the action he had, which
much hesitation and careful consider.
alton of all the circumstances leading
up to it,
Secretary Carlisle told Mr. O'Rourke
that If he had any evidence OF CON
spiracy existing in his office or in the
department against himself to submit
that evidence to him, and he would in.
vestigate it and mete out punishment
to the guilty party or parties,
This letter was delivered to Mr..
O'Rourke at about IL o'clock to-day,
and Mr.. O'Rourke then began the prep.
aration OF his letter OF resignation, in
which he will detail, it is said, tho facts
OF the alleged conspiracy, giving names
and dates. Thus the matter stands.
Documentary evidence in the shape of
an intercepted letter now in tho desk of
Secretary Carlisle. it is said, cuts an
important figure in the case and may
develope into an official scandal.