Evening star., 1897-05-19
Influences at Work to Keep 1t in the
Union Building.
PREVAILING GOSSIP ON TEE SUBJECT
Facts About the So-CaIIed Records
Of the Post Office Department.
A P PR EHEN SION FELT

City post office officials and employees, and
a great many other people besides are
seriously considering the question whether
the city post Office will ever occupy the
structure erected especially for it and now
nearing completion on the square bounded
by Pennsylvania avenue c street, 11th
street and 18th street. 1t is impossible to
secure any direct expression from the Off
cials regarding the gossip which is now 80
general and widespread on the subject, but
there is nevertheless a pronounced feeling
that the city post Office may remain in it's
present quarters on G street indefinitely
There is a powerful combination of influ-
ences on foot to bring about this result
1t has been working toward the end de-
scribed for a long time. Congressional ac-
tion has been obtain I'd and the new build
ing on Pennsylvania avenue, which was
secured after twenty years struggle for
a city post Office, has been already devoted
to many different purp oses, with the ulti-
mate object, 1t is said of crowding out the
Washington city post Office and compelling
1t to retain Its present quarters at an an
nual rental Of $4,000 per year.
This rental of two floors and a cellar has
been always regarded as extravagant. The
location of the Union building, many peo-
pie say, and the character of sts conStruc-
ton do not excuse anything like such a
sum Tor Its occupancy, even entirely, and
extra rent is paid for the third and fourth
floors, which are used by the Interior De-
partment for the storage and display of
patent models. and for the fifth and sixth
floors, which are used for branch Offices of
the government printing Office.
The Union Building.
The building which is known as the Union
building is owned by stock company, of
which. 1t is said, ex-senator Donald Cam
nrN rf
the stock.
1t is situated among livery stables, small
houses devoted to various humble pur-
modest businesses, and its central location
is the only thing that in any important
degree commends it.
The new city post Office is amply COM
modious to accommodate the city pest
Office on the first floor with the use of a few
of the mezzanine rooms on the z street
side, and the city post Office could move
in at half days notice ii the floor was
could be done in one night. without retard-
ing the business of the Office.
Some Useless Records.
Great stress has been laid upon the ne
cessity of room for the storage of the rec
ords of the general Post Office Department,
which, 1t is intended, shall also occupy the
new building glance at these so-called
records, which now occupy the cellar and
many Of the corridors Of the present Post
Office Department, will show how non-sen-
sical srch a claim is. The majority of the
documents comprising these records are
obsolete and worthless for every purpose
under the sun except for their sale as old
junk
There are tons upon tons of rejected
bids accumulated through quarter Of
century relating to contracts long since
carried out and forgotten. There are tons
of records showing the daily attendance
of clerks and similar unimportdnt mat
tiers. A commission of Intelligent men, If
appointed by the Postmaster General,
would undoubtedly condemn as useless
nineteen-twentieths Of the records which
are alleged to be Of such precious value
that they must be transferred to the new
building, and take up valuable room.
conservative estimate would develop
that sufficient money could be gotten from
the sale of the obsolete records as waste
paper to pay for the cost Of moving the
general post office to the new building.
Influence Said to BE at Work.
1t is broadly limited that the parties in
terested in the Union building have ex-
erted influences to delay work on the build
ing until it should have been so devoted
to purposes foreign to the original inten-
tion which inspired its construction that its
purpose will be wiped out and no space
left fer the city post office.
General Apprehension.
At any rate, there is a feeling of general
apprehension at the city post Office Ask a
clerk or any letter carrier when the post
Office will be moved and derisive smile
will be the reply. A Star reporter inter-
rogated two score officials and employees
today on the subject. There was a general
indisposition to speak about the matter,
but not a man denied, impersonaily, and
when assured Of no publicity, that he had
been informed of influences being at work
to keep the city post office on G street.
1t can be authoritatively stated that the
city post Office Is ready to move at any
time, as soon as the lock boxes are placed
in position In the new building. The OFF,
cials have beeen informed that the quarters
ness until November. Three months ago
June 30 was named as the time. City post
office people are ready to wager that tie
moving time will never be reached at all.
The present lease under which the city
post office holds the tenancy Of the cellar
and two lower floors of the Union building
IL for two years, and expires October 1,
1897. There is a clause in the lease which
permits the vacating Of the premises any
time within thirty days after the compile
tion of the new city post Office. There Is
also clause which permits the government
be be virtually a monthly tenant after the
expiration of the lease. Consequently, there
is nothing In the way Of the removal of the
city post Office when the home erected for
1t Is ready, except the influences which are
said to be arrayed against any removal at
all. There will be future DEVELOPMENTS. II
is said, even more interesting than those
which are already public property.
JUDGE MONTGOMERY RETIREs.
One Of the Member. ~ th.