The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-09-24

''Go on" the mayor aid In q low
tone.
When Gordon was through. the may.
or was contemplatively silent.
you've come to the wrong place.
Mr.. Gordon. can't do anything %
Tommy Randall. What sou want to do
10 to lay q complaint before the city
building department. The whole busi-
ness Is under their Jurisdiction and
properly should come before them. I
regret exceedingly to hear what you
say about the tenements had no idea
matters We're 10 bad. or course the
housing problem Is vexed question In
all large centers Of population, and all
reformers. l believe. are agreed that no
problem presents 10 many
"Do you claim. Mr.. Mayor" Gordon
interrupted, but his blood always boiled
up In him when a man lied to him.
that you do not know about the tcnc-
ment house conditions In Waterside
district? Has Miss Andrews told 1t so
badly that you have forgotten IT."
The mayors face was dark. He
raised his eyes to Gordon. but lowered
them again.
You have come to the wrong place
TO prefer your complaint, sir. Go to the
city building department Is that all
| your errandT
ut Is" replied Gordon, and lie rose
turned his back on his honor the mayor
and without another word walked out
Of the office. Gordon had such supreme
contempt for n deliberate liar that he
uscd to say II choked him to breathe
the same air with him in the same
room.
At the noon meal he told the story OF
his interview with the mayor.
Miss Andrews looked at him quietly.
! Tho same old story. And now
Now for the city building depart
mcnt"
the state board of health. then the state
factory and tenement house inspectors.
/ then
She spoke with her usual deliberate
/ patience and Gordon colored.
Il know | am simply following a
better person than myself. but
| But you are man." she said wistful.
ly. You may succeed with some OF
them"
! John Gordon looked doubtful But in
the afternoon he went down 70 the city
hall again, and after long and vcxa-
tious delay he managed to ,,ct a hear
| ing with one OF the officers of the city
building department. The superintend-
ent was in Europe. But deputy lis
tened to him with an air Of polite resig.
nation, as If he were losing valuable
time.
When Gordon wac through, he said
"Oh, Mr.. Gordon, that's altogether
outside our jurisdiction. You'll have to
carry your complaint up before the
state board Of health. can furnish
you with the necessary blanks on which
10 make complaint. Are you a regular
tenement house Inspector"
YES"
Then possibly you will be required
to file your complaint with the factory
and tener mt house inspectors COM
mission. Sometimes the complaints are
made out to one body. sometimes to an.
other"
They have complaints. then do
they" asked John Gordon ironically.
"Oh, yes, yes" the deputy replied
hurricdly. Sorry We can't do anything
/ But the whole affair is outside our de-
partment. Glad TO have met you. Good
day, Mr.. Gordon"
/ Gordon went right over 10 the room
of the state board Of health.
/ After the usual delay he was ushered
into the Office Of nervous little man
who said. without turning from his
desk at which he was writing:
Be so kind as 10 state your business
and IL brief as time il precious"
; $50 is human life said Gordon. wbe
had refused the chair at which the
officer had nodded when his visitor en-
tered
The man at the desk jumped as if be
! had been uloXpectedly hit on cle back.
Then he II - around and looked at
| Gordon.
What did you say
! You said time was prs1ous. and ]
said, 50 is human life Both state
ments are true, but ! think mine Is
more important"
"AA- yes; possibly. possibly. VIII yU
state your Fr7aILd? ?"
Gordon begiA. but he hadLsaot soue
far. when the man III the desk inter.
] rupted
Are you a tenement bouse inspec<
orr
Il am."
Regularly quslitiedr
/ Il am"
Then you ought 10 carry this com.
plaint 10 the board Of state factory and
tenement j. Spcction"
What comes after them.' asked
! Gordul
"Whatr
What is the next publ Lody -
/ which ! shah be referred afNs the fac.
4,