The times., 1898-09-21

The plans for the removal of the cleri-
cal force and office furniture from the old
pcstoffice building in G Street to the new
city postoffice were again changed yes
terday. II is now probable that the re-
moval of the office will not occur until
some time next month.
The local postofice officials are prepared
to move at once, but the Supervising
Architect OF the Treasury. who has made
promise after promise regarding the date
when the removal could be made, has
again postponed the transfer. owing to
the fact that the new building. he says
is not yet ready tor occupancy.
incidental to these annoying postpone
ments to which the local postoffice men
are being subjected there is a lively fight
in progress between Superintendent Stew
art, OF the new building and officials of
the Union building, the location of the
present postoflice.
MIR. Stewart and his workmen claim
that the new building is not yet ready for
occupancy, for the reason that a great
deal of work must be done on the upper
stories, especially in those parts immedi-
ately over the rotunda in the middle of
the structure before clerical force can
Dc NOV Ell liilo the pldSe
They claim that particles of brick,
lathings and Scantlinss are constantly
falling from the upper part of the build
ing to the floor below, and that it would
be dangerous to life and limb for clerks
and citizens to be engaged in the transac-
ton Of business there.
This stuff is constantly falling below,
said one of the workmen TO local post
office official yesterday. Perhaps, you
don't believe it," he continued with a sar-
castle smile IF you come into the build
ing and walk across the floor maybe We
may be able to drop a brick or TWO from
the upper stories JUST 10 show you that
you are not the whole thing
Mr. Stewart has evidently declared wal
on the local officials who are attempting
to push the work on the building. His
purpose according 70 the officials. is to
delay the completion of the new building
as long as possible and every time he Is
questioned regarding the progress of the
work he gives an eyasive reply.
Mr. Kemper. the executive officer of the
supervising architects office. said yester-
day that ne expected the building would
! be ready for occupancy by the middle OF
| October.
There is considerable work to be done
yet on the building" said Mr.. kemper
/
| yet 10 be completed. and there is alsC
considerable plumbing to be done. II viii
take several weeks yet. and, perhaps. i
may be some days later than Octobel
| 10. before the building is completed
When acquainted with Mr.. Kemper
! statement the local postoffice men becap
! indignant.
Yes declared one of these gentle
| men, that is the same old story We hav
-. 49, H.
| first II was: We will be ready for yo1
by April l. When April l came aroun
We were put off again. Wait until Sep
tember 10, the Treasury people woul
, say, and so on. 1t has been nothing bu
delay, delay and delay.
81 can't see why the Treasury Depart
ment don't fix a definite date They NEE
us with smile and tell us they ar
anxious to put us into the new building
We get the glad hand. but the result
amount TO nothing. We are ready [
move al any time. OF course 1t will re
quire some time before we can remov
the whole force, but we are prepared [
| begin at once"
The superintendent of the Treasury ha
already moved a quantity of furnitur
into the new building, which has bee
stored at convenient points along tn
corridors. Even the electric lights hav
| been put in, but there remains some mys
terious work to be done in remote poi
tions Of the building.
Assistant Secretary Vanderlip is prt
| pared TO move the small force of Treas
ury clerks which yet remains in the ne7
building completing the clerical work @
the recent bond issue. This force is yer
small, a majority of the clerks retaine
in the service having already been trans
ferred to temporary desks in the corrt
| doris of the Treasury Building
The official conduct of Mr. Stewart a
| the superintendent of construction of tn
new building is now under investigation
| by the Treasury Department.
Charges against Mr.. Stewart were pre-
| ferred some time ago by Joseph F. Hur
die, sub-cOntractor engaged on the post
office, and others. Mr.. Stewart wa
| chaged with utter incompetency. TIL
matter was taken up by Solicitor O'Con
nell of the Treasury, who has been in
vestigating the subject. He is expecte,
TO render a decision to Assistant Secre
tary Spaulding in a few days.