Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-11-29
SHAW in BOUT
AT PITTSBURC
SECRETARY SNAPS HIS FINGER IN
FACE OF; THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE PRESIDENT
Heated Discussion over the Selection
of Site For the New Postoffice--
Secretary Proposes to Get Place
That Will Suit the People.

TT
That Will Suit the People.
Pittsburg, Pa, Nov. 27.-secretary
Shaw came to Pittsburg yesterday to
inspect sites for the postoff1ce build
ing. He held meetings with represen-
tatives of various business mems or
carnations, which were characterized
by heated arguments, in which Shaw
did not hesitate to express himself.
At one Of the meetings the secretary
snapped his fingers in the face Of H.
d. w. English, president of the local
chamber of commerce, who left the
hearing, declaring It was farce,
After viewing the various sites offer
ed, Secretary Shaw announced that he
would make statement on the matter
after he had reached Washington.
Came to Probe "eraft."
The secretary's visit was the result
Of vigorous protest made against his
selection Of site for the postoff1ce
building. and against which the gov
eminent had begun condemnation pro-
ceedings. These latter proceedings
were stopped when protests reached
the secretary endorsed by the local
congressman and it was announced
that the site selected by the secretary
was offered to the government at dou-
BILE the amount for which 1t was assess
ed. 1t was also int.mated that there
had been graft in connection with the
selection. Shaw offered to pay $1,000
for the name of the man who gave in
formation about the alleged graft. He
also challenged real estate men pres
ent to show that all did not get
square deal at the hearing in Washing
ton. The challenge was not accepted.
Then the Row Begins.
The secretary received, first of all,
President English and a committee
representing the chamber of COM
merce, who protested against the
Fifteenth street site. A heated de-
bate followed, which Secretary Shaw
closed, apparently, with one parting
shot:
81 guess these members we're called
to approve certain course and knew
what was wanted of them before
they were selected"
At this point, President English,
white with rage, demanded a hear
ing.
81 value my reputation in this city
too highly" he said, 'to allow any
imputation that selected this COM
mittee unfairly to stand"
Mr.. Shaw said: well, is it not true
that you called meeting for the pur-
pose of finishing some other business,
and that no one knew you were going
L tn MI a r,,jffnn 2O
"The meeting was called in the re-
gular way"
But did you specify that you would
name postoffice committee?"
''Well, we have set of bylaws, and
| if the chamber is satisfied with them,
you should be, Mr.. secretary"
Secretary's Anger Rising.
"But l am not. If your appointees
represent the membership of your or
ganization would be glad to hear
them, but they do not. They repre-
sent the directors only. It may be the
will of the directors to protest against
the Fifteenth site, but have the word
of perhaps so per cent of the member
ship of your organization that they do
not oppose it. You have admitted that
you called the meeting without stat.
ing the purpose of the gathering"
Mr.. English angrily started to ex.
plain, and his eyes flashed fire. Sc
cretary Shaw was equally angry and
interrupted him.
1T is not within the province OF
your body to select postoffice, but
would gladly give their selection some
weight if it was the selection of the
membership. The meeting was not
called publicly, and I DO not care that
for the selection the membership have
made" And the secretary snapped
his fingers in Mr.. English's face.
/ Mr.. English dashed from the room
shouting:
81 will appeal to President Roose
welt This is an outrage and farce
I will not be insulted in this way, mol
have the chamber Of commerce Sc
insulted.'
II Room For Mr.. Duff.
/ C. ]. Boyd. Of the civic committee
then came forward.
Give him ROOM" said Secretary
Shaw with merry twinkle in hi:
eye. Mr.. Duff set forth that thu
Fifteenth street site was too far from
the center Of the city, where so pc
cent of the mail is delivered, that i
was not in a built-up district, tina
people lived there only by force {
circumstances, and that the stree
cars passing the site did not han
one-half as many passengers as thu
cars on other lines. TO this secretar,
Shaw replied:
.N ell, I'll look these sites over an
consider these things for myself;
am here not to cater to any set 0
men, or to any civic body, but to ge
site that will suit Pittsburg and tn
,, people. can't please you all, but
thing if we sift the merits of eac
.. site out, we will get the one with tn
most merits"