The Washington times., 1903-04-26
Retiring Officer Surprised
by His Friends.
PRESENTATION is INFORMAL
Several Delegations Call on the Super
intendent of Public Buildings
and Grounds.

Col, T. 4. Bingham, Superintendent OF
| Public Buildings and Grounds, who will
reIinqUish the duties of that Office next
Thursday, was taken by surprise by two
delegations yesterday afternoon and
/ presented with several valuable gifts as
/ souvenirs of his service here. which be
gan March c. 1891 When President
| Roosevelt sent to Colonel Bingham sew
/ eral weeks ago a letter expressing his
regret at the latter's departure, and
| Secretary Root forwarded similar let
| ter from himself, they started a series
of presentations which has included
number OF individual tokens Of esteem.
/ in addition to the noteworthy instances
| yesterday.
| Shortly after Colonel Bingham re-
turned from lunch yesterday afternoon
/ the members of the office staff in the
! Office of the Superintendent of Public
/ Buildings and Grounds and the foremen
/ of the various divisions of park work
! fled into his office. Capt. George H.
/ Brown, who for more than forty years
! has been in charge of the propagating
| gardens, presented Colonel Bingham
with a handsome gold watch and chain
as evidence Of the appreciation felt by
the office STAFF and foremen for their
| chief
| Captain Brown spoke in fattering
I terms OF Colonel Bingham's work in
/ Washington. His remarks were Of es-
peciaI Importance in view OF the fact
( that he has served under Babcock, Ca
sey. Ernst. and John NJ Wilson previous
/ to Colonel Binghams advent into the
same Office. and knows how the work OF
! the Office has grown under each incum-
! bent He dwelt upon the magnitude OF
/ the work under Colonel Bingham di-
rectiou in the last year and voiced the
deep regret Of the Office staff that the
colonel was about TO take his departure
to another field OF work.
Colonel Bingham Responds, !
! Colonel Bingham responded briefly,
but with evident appreciation OF the gen
crosby and kindly feelings of the mer,
who, in the various positions under
him, have aided in carrying on the Gov
( eminent work Of that office. He then
shook hands with the dopors, who were
as follows:
E. F. Concklin. George II. Brown,
| John Stewart. F D. owen. F. F. Gillen.
A. E. Kennedy, F. G. Eiker. John E
! Fenwick, William L. Browning, Lewis
RiggIes. Alfred D. Ener. and the fol-
lowing foremen of the several divisions
| of the local park work: A. McHale, S
! Simmons. Charles Henlock, A. D. Broad
foot. and John E. Rafferty,.
The inscription on the watch reads
as follows:
.'Is97-Presented to Col Theodore a.
Bingham. United States Army, April 30,
1903. by the Office employees and fore
men of Public Buildings and Grounds,
Washington-1903.
A Second Delegation.
Colonel Bingham had hardly resumed
the disposition of public business when
lanother delegation, representing the
park watchmen. put in an appearance
with several huge packages. When the
cases were opened, there were disclosed
an ornate mantle clock OF bronze, fin
ifshed in gold leaf, with onyx base, and
a pair of candelabra OF four lights each,
of similar design, and bearing red silk
shades.
Thomas O'NeilI, sergeant of the force
of park watchmen, presented these gifts
to Colonel Bingham in laudatory
speech. in which he said:
In view Of the severance OF our OFF,
ciaI relations. In behalf of the park
w4tchmen we ask you to accept this
token of our esteem and affection.
We thank you, colonel, for the kind
ness and consideration We have always
received at your hands We thank you
for lettering our condition and for using
your influence before Congress in our
behalf, and in always unfolding US in
/ the proper discharge of our duties.
THE best wishes of every one Of US
will 90 with you. colonel, and we as
sure you you viii be long and gratefully
remembered by the park watchmen of
public buildings and grounds"
Dedicated Formally.
Colonel Bingham seemed taken more
by surprise than before. but made a fit
ting response. in which he assured the
delegation of his deep appreciation Of
their remembrance On the back OF the
clock is engraved a brief inscription
giving the recipients name and the date
of presentation. With the gifts was the
following formal dedication
| We. the undersigned park watchmen
of public buildings and grounds. present
=---------------- ------------------------.--s=
| -----------=----=z=