Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-19
Trouble Over the Cleveland
Public Building.
GRANITE OR SANDSTONE
WHICH MATERIAL SHALL BH
USED IN CONSTRUCTION.
President Says He Has Kept and Will
Keep Hands Off in Illinois
Gubernatoria1 Fight.

terfal to be used In the construction OF the
S2,OOO,0O0 public building at Cleveland, Ohio.
was again brought up at the White House
this morning, when Representative Burton
of that city called on the chief executive
and presented F. A. Scott, secretary of the
Cleveland chamber Of commerce. and Ar
mold w. Drummer. the architect whose plans
were selected for the new building The
President was Informed that public senti-
ment in Cleveland undoubtedly demands
that the building be constructed out OF
granite. and not out Of sandstone, as or
dered by Secretary Shaw. Powerful inf1u-
ences were brought to bear upon the Presi-
dent to have him order a reopening, and IL
Is suggested that this may be done. al
though Secretary Shaw a few days ago tele-
graphed Senator Dick that the matter was
settled and that the case could not be re-
opened In any way, and that he had decid-
cd that the building should be erected of
SANDSTONE, as planned for long time
II the case is reopened 1t will be a great
surprise. 1t has been gone over al air.
Ierent times by the President and Secretary
SHAW and the unalterable decision of Secre-
tary Shaw has been in favor of sandstone
reopening now might cause a great deal
OF trouble and hard feelings in quarters be-
sioes In Cleveland, and there Is some doubt
that this will be done, although the granite
interests of Cleveland believe thew have
laid facts before the President that will
accomplish their wish. Treasury off1ciaIa
are almost as badly divided on the oues-
ton as the people of Cleveland. The super
vlslng architects office has favored granite
so has other treasury officials, Secretary
Shaw being almost alone for sandstone
A Long Contest.
The contest over sandstone or granite has
been raging for several years. The org nal
appropriation was for sandstone build.
Ing. Congress later increased the appro.
priation so as to allow granite to be used
II found advisable. BIDS for the construc-
ton of the building were called for. the
bids to be for both materials, and the Treas
ury department to have the option of se-
lecting. The Charles Mccall Company OF
Philadelphia were the lowest bidders for a
granite building, while Bra0iey & Co. OF
New York were the lowest bidders for sand
stone. Secretary Shaw personaIIy toojx
charge of the matter and finally selected
Bradley & Co., and tentatively decided upon
sandstone announcing that IL granite
should be decided upon later the contract
would go to Bradley & Colt was at this
1uncture that the Mccall company wrote
Secretary Shaw a bitter letter full Of in
situations as to the letting of the contract,
and Secretary Shaw responded. The Nc
Call company declared that Bradley & Co.
were really John Pierce of New York who
has received contracts for so many public
buildings. They pointed out their RESPONSE
bility and the fact that Ii would be en-
tirely unfair should the contract go to
Bradley & Co. for granite when their bid
was the lowest.
The agita ton continued for a long time,
involving Senators Hanna and Foraker,
Representatives Burton and Beidler and
many others. These men were for granite
and sandstone in turn, according to the
wishes of their constituents. The sand
stone sentiment had its strength In the fact
that there are many sandstone squarries
around Cleveland and that the owners and
labor people wanted that material used
The Cleveland chamber of commerce about
a week ago decided upon granite, and Sem
ator Dick sent telegram to Secretary
Shaw asking that the case be reopened-
Secretary Shaw declined to do so, saying
the matter had been settled and that the
building would be constructed OF sand
stone. This has not deferred the granite
advocates from pressing for a reopening.
They say that the treasury option to the
use of either granite or sandstone holds
open until July 1, but Secretary Shaw
stated recently that he had already in
structed the contractors to go forward with
sandstone.
The Illinois Situation.
Otto R. Barnett of Chicago. one of the
delegates to the Illinois republican conven-
ton, was In conference with the President
today. Mr.. Barnett was forced to leave
the convention and come to Washington on
legal business. AS the situation now looks.
he expects to get back in time to be In at
the finish of a nomination. Regarding the
report that the deadlock will hopelessly
divide the party in Illinois, Mr.. Barnett
said that, on the contrary, the utmost
good feeling prevails In the convention
among all the delegates, and personally be-
tween Yates, Deneen and Lowden. The
prolonged convention. he said, had given
delegates opportunity to become better
acquainted. Although each delegate ten
aciously sticks to his own candidate, there
is an entire absence of bitterness, and
general feeling that all will work for the
success of the party. He predicts that the
nominee of the convention will be given an
ovation and will be elected. AS to the
story of the President interfering In tne
deadlock. Mr. Barnett made this statement:
81 had long, full talk with the PRESIDENT
today regarding the gubernatorlal sltuatlon
in Illinois. The President said In the most
emphatic and unequivocal manner, as ne
has stated publicly before, that he has not
taken, and is not taking, any part for OF
against any candidate for the nomination.
and that nobody is authorized to speak for
hin; or represent him in any manner in con-
nection with this contest
.sHe saws that each of his appointees in
Illinois is acting entirely on ms own re,
sponsibility and according to his Individual
choice without any interference or sug-
eestion in any manner, directly or Indirect.
ly, from the President. He further stated
that not only had he nothing whatever 10
do with the alleged offer of an ambassador
ship to Gov. Yates, to retire In favor OF
Lowden but that the matter had not even
been mentioned to him, and no suggestion
had been made to him or by him that any
federal appointment be given 10 Gov. Yates
as has been rumored.
..rhe President emphatically asserted that
he is keeping hands Off and earnestly de-
sired that this fact be given as wide pub
ucity as possible"
Distributing Hebrew Immigrants.
Simon Wolf, the head of the Jewish Or
der of B'pai Birth, made call at the
White House to speak to the President
about some things he has accomplished on
a recent trip III removing from the congest-
q "a rters OF New York many Hebrew
Samilies For two years the B'na b rith
has been undertaking to find homes In dif-
ferent parts Of the country nor Ior Wsn "a
reuain there without knowing where to go
ar What to de- The result of this con-
"a ,n,,artv and distress which gives work