The morning times., 1895-11-01

The grand Jury yesterday made a repors
before Judge Cole in criminal court
DIVISION No. condemning the great DEATH
trap at the corner of North Capitol and
streets, known as the Government
PRINTING Office building
-. Acting on tue Recommendation of Ju,fge
Coie on tue uay he charged the Jury a and hay-
iIg Their attention directed TO the builuIng
5yo 9y Inc ie,. Tunes, the Jurors several days
ago visited the building and took with
thein competent experts to examine the
place. Iney yesterday directed the at
tehtion OF Congress to the wretched sta te
responsibility that rests on every member
80 long as the old structure is used.
The full report is as follows:
IN general terms, We find the north Oh
ID street building not fitted for its present
uses; built forty years ago, under very
different conditions than those now ex-
istlng, its occupancy should have ceased
some years since.
a discriminating supervision has, it
Is true, strengtneieu the upper floors by
the addition of what appear to be temp
pordry wooden supports, placed in position
ltWeive or fnteen years ago, some OF which
are III anu others out OF condition.
REPAIRS INADEQUATE.
The discerning present management
OF the building, no doubt, stimulated By
pubic rumor concerning the architectural
aha engineering conditions, has caused for
tue purposes OF what we consider to be
- PANSNbt sc14Gty Ol luDse housed the
premises the shirting OF machinerv and
hedvy material so as to distribute it more
evenly over the various floors, not originally
fsnlehued, as we have reason to believe
hold. --O
A ne W management of the buiIdfng-a
sinau carelessness even on the part of
those at present in charge, a little lack az
oversight in the storage of natsrials in
use here, which are OF the weehtiest sort,
anu h tne weak points which we now feel
70 ue guarded as far as possible, will be
-td4eu 70 over weight, and a condition which
many rear may become reality.
Al, 10 Wndt We nave said We believe 10 be
tne eohdltlons existing in the II street
Duhdlng, we desire to add that we know
our tehow citizens employed there are en-
titled to proper light and decent yentiIa-
iohEooth or which are now Of the poorest.
An inspection made under such Conditions
as grand jury only can make is far from
satisfactory to each one of US.
And while we do say that subject to
: Ine condltIons stated, the Fl street building
at the moment is safe for temporary use VET
at the same time We are constra med 10
tnlnS that professional examination and
,noaougn history or It's present status VIII
determine 1t TO be other wise.
LIABILITY OF CONGRESS-.
This grand jury, therefore, is ~ of tho
opinion tnat the government of the United
states should provide the best and safest
faculties for those engaged as It's servants
ooth men and women, in the duties incuul-
bent upon those employed in its Govern ment
Printing Office; and t2dl we recommend
mat Congress, without delay, appoint
proper commission OF expert professional
men 10 examine absolutely and with GER
tainty into the architectural stability of the
United states Government Printing Office.
l3dl And it is our opinion that disregard
ON the part OF Congress to the conditions
existing at the Government Printing Office
VIII entail responsibility which no one
OF US would desire to assume, and liability
which the government of the United Statcx
cannot afford to ignore"