Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-17
THE NEW POST OFFICE.
Gossip ms to Who Will He the Super
intendent of the Building.

The provision in the sundry civil appro-
priation bill. now before the House OF Rep-
resentatives, that the army or navy en-
gineer officer holding the office OF superin-
tendent of the State, War and Navy De-
partment building shall also act as super
intendent OF the Washington city post Of
flee, when CD completed was a fruitful
source OF gossip in the uptown departments
today. Generally speaking, the proposed
legislation is accepted as compliment to
the manner in which the present superin-
tendent of the State, War and Navy De-
partment building has performed his du-
ties 1t is no reflection on the officers who
look after the other government buildings
in this city to say that the compliment Is
properly bestowed, 1t being generally con-
ceded that the beautiful building occupied
by the diplomatic, military and naval
branches of<ths service is well kept In
every respect.
The office of superintendent of that build
ing was created by provision OF the leg
islative, executive ard judicial approprta-
ton bill approved March 3. 1888. The ap-
pointmert was vested In the President, and
was limited to an officer of the engineer
corps of the army and navy. There have
been but two incumbents, and both were
attached to the naval service. The first
was Chief Engineer II. l.. Snyder, who
served until his death, in 1887. Chief En-
gineer Thorn Williamson was appointed to
the vacancy In that year, and he has serv-
ed continuously ever since.
Inasmuch, however, as he will go on the
retired LIST in August next, and as there is
no possibility Of the completion of the post
office building Ey that time, there is no
likelihood Of his succeeding to the added
responsibility Of the officer having his pres
ert detail The only way in which Chief
Engineer Williamson can be placed in
charge of the Washington post Office build
ing, after it's completion. Is by special act
of Congress to that effect. Secretary Car
Isle and Acting Supervising Architect
Kemper have assured Congress that the
stone and ironwork of the building will be
the terms of the contract, but they are al
most alone in their belief on that point.
Assuming the passage of the sundry civil
appropriation bill In Its present shape, the
superintendency Of the new post office
building will devolve upon the successor
of Chief Engineer Williamson, to be desig-
mated by the President, on or before the
retirement of that officer in August next
One thing already settled in this matter is
that the War Department proposes to as
sert its rights in regard to this detail, under
the law assigning 1t to IAN engineer officer
of the army or navy" 1nasmuch as the
navy has had it already for the entire
twelve years of its existence, it Is believed
that there will be no dispute to this claim.
Chief Engineer Williamson's successor. who
will eventually be eX officio superintendent
of the Washington city post Office building,
will be an officer of the engineer corps of
the army. There are so many contingencies
as to what may happen between now and
further with regard to the new superin-
tendent