The Washington times., 1924-07-23
BARRED BY
ELEVATOR
MAN
Chief Clerk Looked Like Any
body Else to Ponsyer, Who
Draws a Transfer

Enforcing q non-smoking rule
n an elevator in the Patent
Office one Of Washington's worst
firetrap buildings has resulted in
the transfer Of William H. Pom
syer, colored operator, to the Gem
eral Land Office.
G. G. Henry, chief clerk Of the
Patent Office, apparently believed
the rule did not apply to him. He
found out differently Saturday
when Ponsyer refused to run his
elevator while Henry carried a
lighted cigar.
Clamps Lid On News.
Captain +. w. Hoover. deputy
superintendent of the state. war
and Navy buildings, is making an
investigation. Mr.. Henry reported
the incident, urging that the con-
troll Of the elevators and its en-
ployes be vested In him rather
than in Captain Hoover's office.
Mr.. Henry refused to discuss the
incident today. other than to say
It was IAN internal matter, merely
being the transfer Of an employee
from one building to another"
While washington Times report
er talked to him, he picked up q
telephone and gave to q co-official
the following order:
Instruct all employees Of the
Patent Office not to give any in
formation to representatives Of The
Washington Times or any other
newspaper about the elevator in
cident Saturday"
Thus Mr.. Henry tried to throw
an air of secrecy about the Incl
dent.
well, / don't want anything In
won't discuss It" he said. You
can print anything you like, but /
won't tell you anything"
The elevator incident occurred in
this way 1t was learned today:
Saturday noon Henry and another
employee, boarded Ponsyer's eleva-
tor. The operator noticing Mr..
Henry with cigar pointed to the
non-smoking sign.
well, take me UP anyhow"
Henry is reported to have said.
Refused to Quit Post.
Ponsyer refused. Henry then
ordered him off the elevator. He,
Ponsyer. refused to go. Henry left.
A few minutes later the Chief
Clerk returned to the elevator.
Ponsyer saw him with a cigar and
again t<d him of the rule. Henry
insisted he be taken up and Ponsyer
again declined. Henry then ordered
another employee to run the ele'
vator. Ponsyer refused to permit
him and turned off the elevator
switch.
Chief Clerk Henry never did ride
up with Ponsyer.
Ponsyer heard nothing of the
incident until Monday when he was
ordered to make a report. He was
then transferred out Of the Patent
Office.
Captain Hoover said today that
he did not have a complete report
Of the incident.
Will Back Ponsyer.
IND action is planned against
ponsyer," he said. Furthermore,
this office will back Ponsyer If our
investigation develops the whole
affair was only an attempt on his
part to enforce the rule"
Captain Hoover knew nothing Of
Ponsyer's transfer.
'He was probably moved to avert
any further trouble" he said.
The smoking rule has been par.
ticularly enforced in the Patent
Office, because Of the great fire
danger. Records worth millions Of
dollars are stored In this building,
and It is a fire trap.
Extra fire apparatus always re-
spends to an alarm from this office,
because Of the danger. Henry to-
day is seeking to change the rule.
Ponsyer, an employe Of the Gov
eminent, does not come under
Henry, but is employed by Captain
Hoover's office.