Kansas City journal., 1898-01-11
DAVID c. BANGS REMOVED.
RELIEVED FROM DUTY FOR NEG
LECTING HIS WORK.
Filed mt Washington by n
Special Agent After an Investi-
satiOn-BanGs Declares
1t In Plot.


superintendent of construction of the new
postoffice building, was yesterday morn
ing notified of his dismissal from the em-
ploy of the government. There was no
explanation of the dismissal, but it is
understood it was based on complaints
made by Superintendent Gum that Mr..
Bangs was not attentive to his duties. These
were supplemented by the report of MIR.
Zuchreigel, a special agent, who was sent
here several weeks since to investigate
the case. Mr.. Bangs claims his dismissal
Is entirely irregular and will contest 1t be-
fore the civil service commission and force,
II possible, showing of the charges that
We're made against him. 1t is believed,
however, that Mr.. Bangs is out to stay
out.
He was not entirely surprised at the
letter of dismissal, he says. A few weeks
since he found the letter that Zuchreigel
had sent in against him, and the state
ment on it made by Mr.. Gum, and made
very angry over his dismissal and blames
superintendent Gum for causing it on
charges which he claims are very fiimsy.
Mr.. Bangs was transferred to this posi-.
tton when John Sullivan was relieved of
the office for booming Bryan too much
and his work too little. He was formerly
employed in the department at Washing
ton and has seen several years Of gov
crEment service.
since coming here he has taken very
prominent part in amateur theatrlcals and
dramatic art in the old Y. NJ. c. A. build
ing. He was one of the actors at the
Auditorium before it was burned and was
on the stage when Inspector Zuchreigel
saw him: He found numerous programmes
In the city that had MIR. Bangs billed as
an an attraction and it occurred to him that
MIR. Bangs was being taxed GENEROUSLY in
entertaining the public.
Last October complaint was filed at
washington that Mr.. Bangs was derelict
IN his duty and In November Mr.. Zuchrei-
gel came here to investigate the charges.
On december IL Bangs was informed that
the department had creditable information
that he was allowing other matters to take
precedence over his work. He wrote a re-
morning: The report that unseated him
was made by Mr.. Zuchreigel and the copy
sent to Mr.. Gum and copied by Mr.. Bangs
is as follows:
- The superintendent is an able architect and dis
charges the duties of his office entirely satisfactorily
but he Is not supported in his Office he should be-
His clerk is both incompetent and inattentive to his
duties Late on the night of my arrival in the
city AIR. Bangs called at my hotel and embarrassed
me not little by his loud talk in the presence Of
strangers about his qualification the appoint
he had promptly mailed a letter OF congratulation
winding up by Offering to do my typewriting in the
morning. The next morning he in the super
intendents Office. but remained only a short while
and never saw him again that day. Upon inquiry
! was informed that ! could find him on the stage
In certain third rate theater either as an actor
in matinee or rehearsal for the nights perform
ance; /! visited the said theater one night and
Iound MS real name announced the programme
and himself acting in the play. The next morning
ne ne had obtained permission from the superintend-
whole day OF It. and the following morning OBJ
served him closely at his desk After typewritng a
of his pocket play and soon wrapt up in this
study OF his part to be performed by him on the
ing certain plans wanted to and also trying to
get them properly assorted and arranged but he was
the Office and did not return that day.
The superintendent is not informed in regard to
this letter. C. ZUCHREIGEL.
Inspector OF Public Buildings
In discussing his case last evening Mr..
ice and declared that his removal % s Without deou
charges was an. outrage. He said that
Inspector Zuchreigel. who made the repor.
f1ected in his report the feelings Of Mr..
Gunn. As to the statement that he was
of the falsity of that charge. He had been
in departmental work at Washington since
1854 before coming here and had been ex-
asked for the transfer to this place because
he knew 1T was soft snap and the
e, duties nominal; f.. F.. said he was twice in
and also in the revenue department and
twice In the office of the supervising archi-
tect. He says the man who signed the let
ter of dismissal to him is his enemy be-
cause he had borrowed money and Mr..
Bangs had insisted on 1t being repaid.
On the charge, that he attended to other
outside matters he says he is no more open
to that charge than is Mr.. Gum. He says
he always got permission to be away while
permission. and that he is now sacrificed
to entrench Mr.. Gum. He said he had done
all of the work In the Office and had even
drawn up specifications in the government
office here for Mr.. Gunn's private con-
tracts and had only just finished the specl-
fications for the improvements of the Prog
reSs Club house.
Mr.. Bangs is gold Democrat who went
into the departmental service from the Dis
trict Of Columbia. but now claims Missouri
as his residence.