Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-28

1t does not need the testimony of Lieut..
Sewell of the United States engineers in
charge of the work of constructing the ad-
ditiGn to the Government Printing Office,
to demonstrate to the official and unofficial
world the absolute necessity for COM
plete demolition of the old frame now used
as ar official printing house before it falls of
its own weight. But his evidence in the
case of Foreman McVaugh, tried in the
Police Court yesterday for an alleged vio-
lation Of the eight-hour law, Is even more
startling than any one could have imdg-
ined: 1t corroborated all that The Star has
ever averred. 1t should be reproduced in
its entirety and given wide circulation,
especially among the national legislators,
who will then have more light on the ne
cessities of the case than ever. He says
that the walls We're poorly built in the be-
ginning, and that the constant Earring of
the ma chinery has caused the bricks and
mortar to separate, so that the shell is
ready at any moment to crumble and
crush hundreds of men and women be-
Meath it. Then, too, he says the timbers
have become impregnated with grease
from the inks and oils used about the
work, and are higtiy. infiammable. A ter
rible disaster, worse. even. than the fall
nent at every moment the building is oc-
Cupied for it's present use. In fact, there
Is apparently no use to which 1t could with
safety be put. The fact that there has
been no accident at the printing office
since its erection is no guarantee of it's
continued stability. With the walls in the
condition described by Lieut.. Sewell-who
had occasion to examine them in making
preparations for the new part-they may
disintegratc without any warning what
ever. They would be unsafe enough for
use as storage place for heavy material.
But subject, as they are, to almost con-
slant strain from the weight and jar of
machinery, the chances for a collapse are
terribly increased, and there is every cause
for the gravest apprehension. No brain
can today imagine the horror of such
disaster If it should occur while the build
ing Is occupied by the hundreds of COM
positors, pressmen, bookbinders, stereo-
typers. women helpers and press-feeders,
messengers, laborers, clerks and artisans
of many kinds. II the danger were con-
fined to small section of the plant it
would be sad enough, but with the entire
II street wing in this flimsy condition the
possibilities for casualty are increased to
frightful degree Judge Miller's advice to
the DAStIiCt AttOfHey u take the case 10
the Grand Jury for immediate investigA-
ton should be. acted upon at once. The in
quiry will be but form, as the facts in
relation to the character of the building
are we'll known today. What is wanted is
a decisive action by an authoritative body
that will prevent the further use of the
dangerous parts of the old building. That
will, OF course be a great inconvenience to
the government, and might result in
temporary stoppage of the greater part of
the work of printing for time. But it
would be one of the surest means of
fastening action by Congress on this much
neglected subject With the plant for the
printing of campaign material reduced FAR
beyond its usual capacity there would be
more than the requisite speed probably
given to some measure intended to replace
the II street shell with fine modern
building. Let the Grand Jury act without
any hesitation or delay.