The morning times., 1895-08-12
FLOORING WILL Be Laid
WOrkmen on the POst-office
to Run No More Risk.
ARCHITECT AIKEN'S POSITION
He Declares That He would Cheer
fully Have Provided Safeguards for
the Men III He Had known They
Desired 1t 10 Be Done-Superin-
tendent Kinsey's Statement.

The door is now open for the better
the new post-office building. This was
learned from a brief talk had last night
with Mr. w NJ Aiken, supervising archi-
tect OF the Treasury.
Mr.. Aikeu,s attention was directed 10
the statement made by Mr.. Kinsey, super
intendent OF the building, at the coroner's
inquest in the Beach case, that he bad
made an application or request to the
supervising architect that the flooring
be built up as the work progressed
Mr Aiken said that he did not know
that such q request had been made He
was appointed TO office in April last nd
consequently did not kno W of an application
that had been made prior 10 his assuming
charge. Had ii been made 10 him, however.
he would have given it consideration.
Mr. Aiken said that he had made several
visits TO the building but that he had not
noticed that the men were working in an
insecure manner, nor was it the universal
custom that the floors be put in below
the Een as the work was being completed.
Mr. Aiken was then asked If the men made
az application 10 him for Safeguarding their
positions from danger If he would give it
consideration, aud he said that he would
do so cheerfully.
MEN TO DECIDE.
1t DOW rests with the men what they
shall do in the premises. II appeared
to be the opinion Of the men who We're
talked to on the subject on Saturday that
they did not expect that the flooring should
be put IN at this late stage OF the building
but they thought that it would be good
1 idea TO protect the floor below them by
temporary flooring Of loose planks. If
this were done a fall OF only cue story would
be possible and death as a result would be
next TO impossible
The Information was received from SUpt
Kinsey, OF the new postoffice building,
thar he had made the request or suggestion
| for floors 10 the building as early as No
vember last az time when only three
( OF the stories had been built, and about
the proper tiRie for making the application,
l as il Is the custom TO have the floes
about two stories below the worknen.
Mr. Kinsey also said thai he regretted
that the name of Supervising Architect
4 A4kCA Ad0 DScu OISDBuL OGe Al t4lG bESaA-
nlony in the way that it was. SC as to leave
the Impression that the application for
| flooring had been made 10 MT. Aiken. Mr..
| Kinsey said that he would not have nadeany
| statement about has application, but he
was obliged 10 answer The questions of the
deputy coroner.
Mr.. Kinsey said that the Testimony was
| this:
III
the application"
Mr. Kinsey: TO the office OF the super
! YiSing architect" 3"
The Coroner: who is the supervising
Hrchitect?'
| Mr.. Kinsey: "Mr. william NJ. Aiken"
AITKEN NOT IN CHARGE.
Mr. Rinsey was not a asked nor did be vol
unteer to give the date at which he had
made the application, so that the plain in
ference from his evidence w6s that he had
made IL 10 Mr. Aiken. He, however, said
yesterday that the application was made
| last November, when Mr.. Aiken was not
in charge OF the office. The office az that
time was vacant, and the reply To his com
| nIunication was from t;Ie chief clerk acting
as supervising architect, and the reply was
| that the office did not deem it advisable
% put In the floors until the roof had
1 been put On
| In reporting the evidence OF Mr. Klnsey
| eheqBestions were omitted, aHditDeee ssariiy
read that Mr.. Kinsey had made the sug-
gestion TO the supervising architect, Mr..
William Aiken, etc.
| Mr.. Klnsey further stated that he be
| lieYed that If Mr.. Aiken had charge OF the
! ,fffce AT the time of his renYeSt if mig ht
| have been considered favorably.