Evening star., 1896-04-01
City Post offes Contractors Respoa-
sible fpr@oafolding.
3ORREsPONDEHg 7oN TEE SUBJECT
The eovernmenfiHa Taken Every
Precaution Possible.
Ho W 1T STA ND s

The recent accident to Mr.. Beach has
again called attention TO the entirely made
quate protection afforded the workmen en-
gagged on the Washington city post office
building Assistant Secretary Curtis. who
| has supervision of all public buildings un-
| der the Treasury Department, and Super
vising Architect Aiken, said to a Star re-
porter today that the government had
taken all the means in its power to protect
the workn,en on the Washington post office
building from accident
They had no actual control over the con-
tractors In the matter of scaffolding, but
had repeatedly called their attention to the
necessity for additional safeguards.
Liability of the Contractors.
Both officials thought that the contrac-
tors were liable to criminal prosecution
for accidents resulting from improper scat
folding and lack Of safeguards, and were
of opinion that the responsible parties
should be indicted by the grand jury.
Mr.. Curtis said that the government
would not dispute the right of the local
building inspector to see that the local
building regulations for the protection of
Workmen We're strictly enforced in the case
of the federal post office.
The official correspondence on this sub
ject shows that In January last Mr.. Au-
thur Keep, secretary Of the Federation Of
Labor, wrote the Secretary of the Treas
ury requesting that the consideration of
the department be given to the proper pro-
lection and safeguards for workmen en-
gagged in the construction of the post office
building in this city.
Acting Secretary Wike responded under
date of January %, saying that 1.-The de-
by the supervising architect of this depart
ment established correspondence with Mr..
John w. Kinsey, superintendent of con-
struction, in August last, on this subject.
yU{ In thn ao,,tf bat 1ot NF
20. the superintendent Of construction
forwarded to the Office Of the super
yiz,ng sddra.s.a architect ,, communication m
rharp e Rond the n fer tne
erection of the structural metal work
the building named, intimating that they
would provide the necessary temporary
floors and scaffoldings, etc, having the de-
sired end in view. The supervising archi-
tect will again bring the matter to the at
tention of the superintendent of construc-
tion requesting to be advised as to whether
the action then promised has been taken,
and if necessary, further considerat ton will
be given hereto"
Precautions Taken.
On the same date the supervising arch-
tect called upon the superintendent of con-
structfon 70. an immediate report 'as to
whether the contractors took the action
which they intimated would be taken"
The superintendent, John w. Kinsey, re-
piled to the supervising architect, under
date of january n. as follows:
I'm reply TO. your letter Of the 2jth in
slant, relative TO copy of comn1nni-
cation from Messrs. Tharp & Bond,
contractors for the structural iron work
above the sixth floor Of the build
ing, under my charge, had addressed
to me. in response to my demand that they
provide additional scaffolding, etc, for the
proper protection of workmen engaged On
the work. l have to say that at the time
a
office Messrs. Tharp & Bond purchased and
put up 1850 feet of two-inch plank on the
building; in addition to. what they then had
and until the brick contractor finished the
brick work there was abundance Of
scaffolding on the building
Il have advised Mr.. Tharp and his fore
man, Mr.. Widrig. to arrange with Mr..
Cowsill. the BRICK contractor, for the use
OF his scaffoding, but it appears no agree
nfent could be reached between them. and
Mr. Cowsill then moved his. scaffolding
down to the seventh floor of the build
irg. where he has 1t stored. -"'''''''r''"'
Beyond this no further action has been
taken Dy Messrs. Tharp and Bond in the
matter. With the removal of the brick
contractors scaffolds from the eighth
floor,'.-I do not consider the scaffolding
sufficient for rapid prosecution of the
work nor for the safety Of tho men en-
gagged On the same"
Better ScnToldinx Demanded.
January 80. following. Supervising Archi-
tect Aiken instructed Superintendent Kim
sey as follows:
"Your letter Of the 9th instant is re-
ceived, and in view Of your statement that
the scaffolding is insufficient and unsafe
and that the work can not be prosecuted in
the best manner, you are hereby directed
to take such action as may be necessary to
compel the contractors for metal work to
furnish the necessary scaffolding, safe
guards, &C., for. the protection of the work
men. indicated by that provision Of the
SPECIFICATION which requires that the 'scaf-
folding must be safe and suitable for the
purpose
This ended the official correspondence
and it was presumed by the treasury off,
cals that the matter had been satisfac-
torily settled. Tharp & Bond failed few
days ago, and their contract is being exc
cuted by their receiver, Mr.. James Mat
thawc of Naxu Vork