Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-13
TO HIS DESK
Engineer Commissioner Back
From an Outing.
ISSUES FINAL Statement
Enlarges on Telegram Denyins
Resignation Rumor.
NOT TO STEP OUT UNDER FIRE
Morrow Says Even Were It His De-
sire to Leave Such Would
Be Impossible Now.

Maj. Jay ]. Morrow. Engineer Commits
sioner. D. c., returned to his desk today
after a weeks outing at Toronto. Can. In
a formal statement he amplified his denial
of the rumor that he intended resigning.
A telegram from Maj. Morrow, then In
Toronto, was published in The Star last
Saturday, he characterizing the report as
false.
The Engineer Commissioner says that
some time ago he had contemplated ask
ing for a transfer from his present post,
but the charges of various sorts made
against different bureaus Of his depart
ment not only had made retirement Inn
possible but had removed every thought of
it from his mind.
the army would never try to step out Of q
position when under fire." he said.
Text Of Statement.
Maj Morrow's formal statement fol-
lows:
II have Just seen the statement in
the Washington Post Of Friday, July
10, with reference to a rumor Of my
contemplated resignation. This statement
seems to be made up largely from sup
position and has no basis in fact There
seems to be no reason for me to add any
thing further in denial Of this report
than was contained in my telegram.
1.-THE Commissioners. and possibly in
particular the engineer department. have
during the last three or four months
been subjected to a great deal OF criti-
cism in the columns Of the press relative
to certain charges made against the ad-
Y1fnfRfratfOn Of District affaira
1.-The Commissioners have formally in
vestigated the charges made by the Bren-
nan Construction Company. alleging ia
voritism in the engineer department. and
have finally promulgated their findings.
and with the exception of the probable
misconduct on the part Of former Assist
ant Engineer OF Highways Fernald. have
found no justification of any of the
charges. 1t should be stated in this con-
nection that action in the case Of Mr..
Fernald had been taken prior to the fling
Of the formal charges by the Brennan
Construction Company. and this action
was taken at the initiative Of the Engi-
neer Commissioner.
Makes q Correction.
1.-THE statement in the Washington Post
that had announced believed the in
spector OF buildings innocent OF the
charges made against him. and remarked
that 80 far as / was concerned Mr.. Ash
ford might be reinstated, IL absolutely
false. have never made such q state
ment.
THE statement which I did make was
that Mr.. Ashford was suspended by the
Commissioners, upon my motion, for the
reason that he had been held under rec
ognizance by a eoroner's Jury. ana that If
the investigation of the case by tho grand
jury should not result in his indictment
by that body there would remain abso-
lutely no reason why he should not be
reinstated.
THE investigation by the Commission
ers of the office OF the inspector Of build
ings will follow the action of the grand
jury, and at its conclusion tho Commits
sioners will doubtless take such action as
their investigation will show should be
taken,
Naturally, even were it my desire to
terminate my official relations with the
District o. Columbia, such action would
be impossible at tho present time.