The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-16

crowded condition Of the building and
steps were taken to have II
The matter was referred TO
committee appointed by the Association.
and THOROUGH investigation was mad
and the following report was made
the Board Of Directors:
Your Committee on Public Policies.
which was referred the letter Of Hon.
Frank G. Caffey of February IL. 1902. ad-
dressed to l.. l.. Gilbert, Secretary. call
ing the attention Of the Association to
the crowded condition Of the United
States Court House and Postofi1ce Build
ing of this city. begs leave to report as
follows:
ION February Is, 1902, your Committee
visited the Government building-in body
and went through all of the apartments
to the various branches OF the
public service conducted there, and were
crowded. incomplete and Anticipated the
WERE.
First Floor.
Tho first floor Of SAID building IL oc-
rupied by the Postofilce Department, and
we attach to this report communication
addressed TO our Chairman by the Hon. z.
W. Buckley. Postmaster and Custodian
Of the building.
I'm order to meet the demands Of this
branch of the public service. and to In
sure the conduct OF the business In
rapid. accurate and satisfactory manner,
the present quarters of the postomce de-
partment should be at least double. There
Is not a single department on this moor
sufficiently spacious and properly arrang-
ed for the business now being done. 70
say nothing of the demapds OF the next
few years. We ask special attention to
the communication from Judge Buckley.
as he is more familiar than any one else.
with the needs of the postoffice DEPART
ment.
Second Floor.
"On the second floor are located the Of
fees Of the United States Marshal. Re-
ceiver OF Public Moneys, United States
Register. of the Land Of
flee and United States Weather Bureau.
We found all the offices on this floor
and In a congested condition
with the single exception of that Of the
Receiver Of Public Moneys. The rooms
large or spacious. and there is no room
to spare, but in the other offices. notably
the quarters assigned to the United States
Weather Bureau and the Register OF the
Land Office. there Ia not sufficient room
for the storage of valuable records that
protection against fire. Both these offices
are required to keep valuable records that
could not be replaced at any cost.
Third Floor.
1.-THE third floor Is occupie by the
Clerk Of the Circuit and District Courts,
Judge. District Attorney. Court and Jury
Room. The conditions on this floor are
simply depiorable. and we do not know
of any private individual or corporate en-
terprise. that would be Filling to have
its business conducted In the manner that
the officers OF the United States govern
ment are compelled to follow. on account
of the lack OF space for storage room,
and other proper equipments.
1.-The Judge, Of the District and Circuit
rfHfn e. T0 fv1t no
In which to hear arguments OF counsel.
prepare his opinions. or to conduct other
business Of his office.
THE Clerk has valuable record books
the loss Of which by fire, or otherwise,
would entail untold hardship on the citi-
zens of this district. piled on top Of book
cases. chairs and safes. and has not room
even for the storage OF his rec
ord books.
has no private consultation room and no
adequate accommodations for consulting
witnesses or the preparation OF his cases
FOR trial. The only consulting room he
has was partitioned on from tho Jury
room, and when jury Is In consultation.
can be heard from one
room to the other. which is obviously
contrary to all proper rules for such pro-
''The court room IL entirely Inadequate.
both in size and furnishings, and there
IAN go when under the rule. This com
Dels them to occupy the halls. corridors
and front steps OF the building. and when
,ourt is in session the crowd Is so great
Is to greatly retard the conduct or the
business of other departments.
'"The building as It stands. Is entirely
nut of date. and grossly Inadequate TO
he needs Of the public service in every
department. The sanitation and plumb
ng are all obsolete and facilities entirely
n - fEf
he building and the use Of the parties
attending United States Court.
Suggestions.
I'VE beg leave to suggest that the pres
mt condition Of affairs cannot be reme-
lied by adding new stories to the present
and the only thing TO be done
In the opinion of your Committee, Is TO
build an entirely separate building, south
Of the present one on the land now own
ed by the government. or extend the
present structure from the ground up. In
that direction.
I'VE remind you that by erecting
and up to date building. or
such additions to the present
structure the government would save it.
self quite a large sum of money now ex-
pended for quarters for the United States
Engineer Corps and recruiting offices and
could provide accommodations for the
Railway Mail Service. Internal Revenue
deputies and Postoffice Inspectors. such
,s are now ordinarily found at a first
lass postoffice building.
Your Committee begs leave to suggest
that a new building should be erected
or the accomm odation of all branches If
the public service. except the United
States Court and the officials connected
herewith. TO wit: United States Attorney,
|lerk and Commissioners, and leave the
present structure to be occupied by them
" that the Court. and all officially at
ached to It, should be moved into the
lew building. and leave the present one
'or other branches of the service. The
dea suggested being that the Court and
Court officials should be divorced. as far
ls possible from other branches of the
service. as Is done now in erecting new
government buildings"
Hon. c. w. Buckley. custodian of the
building. was requested by the commit
.ee to specify the changes in his opinion
and the following are his sug-
yestiOns:
Suggestions by Custodian.
"In compliance with your request. I
nave the honor to report what changes.
n my opinion the requirements of the
of this city.
1.-The first requisite Is the enlargement
VI the ground floor area of the present
building. without this there can be no
adequate provisions for the accommoda-
Hon and transaction OF a rapidly growing
public business. The postoffice in any
is visited daily by large
number of its patrons. 1t is more in
ouch with the whole people than any
other public department of the R0t rrn-
nent. More people have an interest in
Il than in any other. They have daily
ransa ctons with every division Of It,
and every division should be az Access
Iible as possible to the public, Nor can
he divisions be separated and located on
iifferent floors without great inconve-
hence TO the public and loss Of time on