The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-17

1898 600 and $4,000 feet I'm blocks under 80 cubic feel
al 90 cehtSoI 900 Whole OF marble. II delivered
as before Soso,600; whereas If il delivered in the
proportion requred-bat is, the large and small blocks
mere would be OF blocks containing over 80 cubic feet
ooooo, at Sl ys-S99,000; land OF blocks containing
less than 80 cable iee 900 feet 65 cent? 1927
w hole COST oil marble requTedy32o 500 which, add
excess paid by government $3.50, lO0-tola $685. 800
| lhus VIII government have been defrauded out OF
$3.50 100. E.Hai N# E##
! have assumed that the quantity required will be
fraud Will not I'm amount be so great
| Mach OF the BILE delivered, and nov set in the
building is OF an inferior quality and does tally with
tue samples telered TO IN the contract
The President of the United States (Mr Fillmore) has
examined ihe marble and he informed me that he had
would direct The bad marble TO be removed.
The subsequent letter Of the Commissioner OF Public
Appendix deVelopss detail other abuses Of an extra
ordinary character connected with this work.
TESTIMONY OF ROBERT SMITH, OF NEW YORK.
This gives the facts in regari to the marble contract
which was awarded 10 Rice. Baird. & Co.
The contracts have been most unusty disposed of
The original plan for making the contract which the
best. changed and estimates invited for the rough
marble and the above named parties obtained the con-
tract bn, by means, without ncurrDg the expense
OF hauling from the wharf 10 the Capitol grounds-,hus
$4,000
The plan of contracting for large blocks at three times
the cost OF the smaller ones-$i 9S per cubic foot for the
large blocks and 65 cents per cubic foot for the smaller
biocks-lt will readily be perceived be made the
means OF extracting large sum OF money from the gov
ernmeni, IT the practice Is allowed to continue.
Unairness also has been practsed in the contract for
cutting and setting the marble This aforementioned
tract was given out prua ely, which increases the suspi
eon that uniarness was contemplated by persons in
thority
Mr.. Fillmore voted against Mr.. Strong for an office in
New York, and advised by respec table persons
New York city not TO appoint him superintendent.
The gness rock would have been useiulfor back
ing for the granite the large granite blocks used,
and at saving 70 the government OF 20 so cents per
in mi nj tvulI ahnut6 in
No bonds have been required from the contractors.
The witness enters into de,als 10 show thai, by the
money will be taken from the government and given 10
the contractor Tor extra and that this would
amount for the columns alone TO about $4,000. and
which can Dc taken in no other light than gTatuy
TESTIMONY OF JOHN +. HoLoBAN.
At the request of Samuel Strong, witness made out an
estimate for the marble work for the Capitol extension
Mr.. Strong said the estimate for friend in New
York. Shows the interest that Strong took in reference
proposed to have Senators Borland and Walker. and
Hon. Mr. McNair. OF the House OF Representatives,
burned in ehgy.
Five or six hundred dollars worth of tools were sold
by Strong TO Mr. Emory the contractor for the granite.
The tools belonged TO the government.
7,mony of Me foovins nine witne,es, going to show
fraudulent fractions by Samuel and Robert Strong, out
OF uofkmens pay, and cher hmproprnt,es.
/. TESTIMONY ISAIAH prANE, sToNE-MAsoS.
Witness received $40 SO for his work Robert Strong
took from him, and paid witness for eighteen days at
81 SO per day, and kept the balance The next month
witness paid $37 81 for twenty two days He gave
the whole amount to Strong He paid witness al the
rate of 81 so per day. and kept the balance Strong con.
hnued this practice until this month--January.
2. TESTIMONY TIMOTHY GLEASON.
By agreement with Samuel Strong, witnesses nav was
TO be 81 so per days and the difference between that and
So IS his previous pay, Strong was TO have. Samuel
Strong received witnesses whole pay at ~ as per day.
and gave back to witness the 81 so per day.
g. TESTIMONY PATRICK cusAcK, STONE MASON.
y
and paid such one of whom witness receive
81 25 per day, aud witness heard him that he gave
to Samuel Strong 81 per day, leaving for himself tbe
work, and the efforts of the superintendent conceal
them. Samuel Strong offered witness SlOo to meet MIR.
Mcfarland Hon. Mr.. Boand and whip them; and stated
that if it cos, him 81 900 he would pay it.
TESTIMONY OF JAMES DuYrrY, sroKE.MAsoS.
Received his ticket for $50 for work, and paid SIS out
OF the $50 TO Kingsley Tor Robert Strong under
men receive only 81 rs per day out OF the 80 25
amount OF his daily pay
5, o. TESTIMONY OF FREDERICK AND HENRY,
STONE. .MAsoHs.
Large portions OF their wages paid to Robert
Strong, under agreement AT the time OF employment
Agreement drawn by Samuel Strong superintendent
T. TESTIMONY OF TIMOTHY MAHER.
Shows an attempt 10 pay witness for thirteen days,
when he only performed three days work.
8. TESTIMONY or HUGH DoRoHoo.
Collected from six men, named, $40, which witness
paid over to Robert Strong and Nathan Kingsley
O. TESTIMONY OF JOHN DowD,
Showing the existence Of agreements between inferior
workmen and Samuel Strong "lo work for definite sum
less than the standard wages and their consent to be
made the agents or medium by which Strong defrauded
the government OF the sums between their agreement
and the standard wages for good workmen,"
II appears that the system intended for the benefit
OF Robert Strong. with the assent OF Samuel Strong the
| superintendent.
Mote by The committee Samuel Strong wa. superin-
tendent and Robert Strong and Nathan Kingsley were
ioremen or deputy superintendents OF the work.
TESTIMONY OF TwEsTY-osE WITNESSES,
On the following points
/. The use of bad and unfit materials for the work
2. The bad execution OF the work.
8. The conversion of public labor and materials pr
| vate uses.
4. Waste #...t
5. Extra measurement allowed for the benefit OF con-
tractors; losses by the government sustained through the
oversight neglect Of The architect and superintendent
by paying for labor, the expense OF which should be
borne by the contractor, &c, &c #
| 1. Testimony OF John Kelly Samuel Strong offered
500 TO witness " he would raise a mob to burn Hon
Mr. Borland of the Senate, and Hon Mr. McNar of the
House OF Representatives, in efigy.
2. Testimony OF John Boyd. stone e-mason.
3. Testimony of Michael Lyddon Shows waste in
paying aborers' rtonc c-masons !" bad execution
OF the work and OF improper materials; work done
al the expense OF the that should have been
done by The CONTRACTOR.
Testimony OF John Dunn, measurer OF granite
That extra measurement at the expense Of the govern
men, was allowed the contractor, which will amount
az he says, 10 " something unbeard Of" ts
Testimony OF Thomas Sutton As brioklayer, tesii-
he's TO the use OF improper materials. I W. .aM
g. Testimony ot John A. Schmidt--As wacbman and
messenger, teshes TO materials being carried Oh from