The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-30
THE POST OFFICE JOBBMG COMMITTEE.


licity Squelched-Why the Commit
tee Was Notwithstanding
the Wind from Afar.
Yesterday morning the special committee OF the
House OF Representatives OF Congress entrusted
with investigating generally the affairs OF the new
Post once building arrived In this city from wash
ington In charge OF youthful deputy sergeant-at.
arms Of the House, an official photographer Of Con-
gress bringing up the rear. After so long and
tedious ride OF one whole night, at the public ex
pense. they were quickly made comfortable at the
Astor House, also at the public expense. Taking
good care of the wen as the outer man, and
this but partially at the public expense-fOr Uncle
Sam has as yet opened no free dispensary OF sold
co' the committee at once, that is after about six
hours' careful consideration, plunged into medals
res-no went to business, rst by renting for their
use, also at the public expense, the handsomely fur
nished and spacious parlor No. Al, on the second
door Of the Astor, the windows from which afford
them clear view Of the new Post oflce site and Of
the ant.liKe activity OF the several hundred work.
ingmen engaged In raising tho massive foundation
walls. Then long and costly table, provided them
OF public expense, brought into the centre OF the
room, paper pens, Ink, pencils, blotters and all
the other paraphernaiia OF an investigating conf
military commander disposes Of his troops OH tho
day OF battle all this again at the public expense;
the Official photographer took his place ut this table
with pencil gracefully poised between his iYngers
ready like the NEUROLOGICAL Cl,o on the tablets Of
history, to inscribs ON the sheets before him the
great and secret evenSs which "thetr high
mightinesses'' OF the committee have come on to
unearth; and at the door, leading from the COR
ridor to this Judgment or council chamber, there
placed himself the youthful deputy sergeantat-
arms, WAC has all Of them IN his charge ana took
especial parrs at the public expense, that the ruue
public who TO pay for all this npnmary, should
not lntrude.
inn pUmuGus attitude end striking at the same
tine with the nniDie arist0cratIc fingers OF hls
right hand his mutton chop whiskers.
''But the HERALD Sesires TO publish al Important
Information az seoa as possible IN the interest of the
public VIM nothing Of this investigation be given
TO the press az II Is develOplNgr"
saith the y6sts.sat seIgeant-atafns an. eaother
pompous attitude aud ali Srustic shake OF the nead
followed, at the public expense.
Nnerclp0n the youthful deputy seryeant-at-armE
who at present Yields the power OF the dreaded
mace OF the House Of Representatives Of the ul.ed
states m parlos sc: .~y ...... 80 n THIS
S Wi az s, se noa Of the Dpsaea @
side Of his face and sly.nns bend OF his back--in.
duiged ~ rom Seer Necessity and undoubtedly at
nS pupc o. -cnse-tae representative OF tue great
was >.v&n TO understand that what the committee
i>ey DO or omit to d0-for both which commission
the vulgar pu0ic to know. 'sTake your time A.i u
Lucy; take your ttme Miss Long" say this commit
tee through ,ner funky 70 the press and the public
will communicate what they deem proper ana wna
IN their opinion will be commensurate VIA the Iii
people. ''Shoo nv ~
Bat the presence in the committee room OF tho
HERALD representative was not oil necessary for
him ascertain substantially what the charges are
which tins chamber inqulsiron has come here
SPECIFICATIONS OF Mr. A. b. Muiiett the supervising ar
chifect OF the Treasury Department. are all wrong
ina, 80, some oeT p1n snGuH nave Iaem
OF Congress- had to decide on proper plan did, IN
fact adopt different one, but that Mr. Mullett did
uncerem0nlously throw that ASIDE, we'll a. oil the
other six which were favoraoiy viewed by the com.
| mission, aud, while preparing and executing one OF
hts own, he mad adopted and Is about carrying out
some Of the principal features Of the Others. which
1 their authors claim to be original with them and
architects OF this city who furnished plans the
prosecutors IN the case, and are also witnesses;
| and all OF them, as soon as informed OF the
arrival or the committee, visited the building
site OF the new Post ONCE wens over the ground aid
nGes ana en t rereo 70 paor mo- - ID inc
timony. But they must have had some little com
FUNCTIONS OF conscience, though this not OF the pub
lie expense and they cared as the rst witness Mr..
jeremiah I. Smith, experimenting architect OF the
| Hubbard, has sole direction Of the work Mr.. Smith
spread the plans before the members OF tho
| mttee and explained them. although 1t Is said, his
patience was often sorciy tried by questions from
tho committee, who apparently understood Is muca
or Of the method Of calculating the power OF resist
ance OF stone, Of hydrostatic pressure and how TO
determine the snpernculnoeat weight OF building
! material. Wnen 1t is known that all these plans
| might have been Inspected and examined al Wash
mgton with case who can say why this Jolly trip TO
| New York was made ut the pnOllc expense
Later in the day, about three O'Clock in the after.
| noon, Postmaster General Cresweli. and General
Jones' the Postmaster 10 this city, visited the com.
| mirtee room ana had some private conversation
| with tue members for short time only
The other charge which II Is sought 10 investigate
| IL extravaganza In expenditure, the payment OF
prices for materials py tue state Of inc
| the appropriation made ~ Congress was already
ovcrrun BY 500, o0o-that -, that the amount ex-
pended by Mr.. Hulburd, his superior, Mr.. Muiiet
had reached the OF $500 0o0 the available appro-
priaton being but $4soooo, while the work NJ pre-
| sent accomplished might have been done for half
thai amount II the money and tue facilities OF the
market had boon Judciously used and no favorltism
secret inausition win eagerly pursue and probe TO
| the bottom, regardless OF consequences" as the
commonplace phrase runs; ior r there Is money IN 4,
| such cases fine noses snun the scent from
afar, and thus TO plumber the treasury cannot
10 allowed. But rom the books OF the architect
| it appears that the entire amount expended up
to yesterday was s2s1. s0s, leaving an unexpended
to the contracts awarded MIR. mullett, In his last
| report to Congress on this subject says:-"COn-
truCM were awarded, AFTER uue AuNertlseinent, 10
! sne lowest bidders for excavation. stone and
| cement. Ine Two former contracts have been can
! ccled for non.tulnment, according TO TERMS and
purchases made In open market ut more satisfac-
| tory rates"
How long this committee, in charge or the youth.
fu deputy sergeantat arms Will remain at the As
tor House, At the public expense, inqurlng secretly
into the Quarres OF rival architects, who each and
all feel sore az the success OF their plans is not
known; but, from the facts gwen above. the public
win judge that the committee has sat quite long
enough At this trining business at public expense,
and should as speedily as possible pack thefn5el yes