New-York tribune., 1870-04-18
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE on THE NEW POST

The House Committee Oh the POst-Otice and
Post Roads have reported respecting the contracts made
and work done upon the new PostOhce buildings IN pro-
cess of erection in NewYork and Boston. The report
states that in respect to the building in this city propo
sails for furnishing tie stonenot the dressing-Were adj
yertised for in New-York for The foundation 0hty The
Dix Island Granite Company offered to furnish granite
for G5 rents per foot; Mr. Williams offered it for 62
cents but Lis bid was rejected for the alleged reason that
his quarry had not been sufficiently worked and tested
etc. The Dix Island Company obtained thereupon con-
tract for the stone and the cutting for the entire build
ing under which, the report says, the Government Is
to pay % cents per than the bid" This is how
ever in case the Government take possession by lease or
the quarry which by the contract may be done II also
appears that the price namedG5 centsis only made to
apply to stones whose qua1rled dimensions
do not exceed 20 feet which, the report states
is comparatively small portion. But the chief points
made ny the Committee are that the President OF the Dix
Island Company the principal party TO similar con-
tract for furnishing the narbework for the charleston
custom House which designated by former Assistant
contract - and that the DX Island Company are to re-
ceive Is per cent upon the cost OF WORKING desslnS
insuring and boxing the stone without expense or risk
to themselves" The explanation OF TINS latter clause
given in the testimony OF Mr. A. B Mulett tle super
vng Architect the Treasury is that "it would have
been almost impossible TO have gone ourselves ana col
lected sonecuers unless offered additional Induce
ments which would have amounted To more tnah 10 per
cent" A., II,
I'm Boston made upon advertisement. Mr.. Mulett
that the Secretary FOUND tDat tolp
nation to put up the price OF granite ana leased quarry
upon favorable terms than the material coI nave
been otherwise obtained But the Secretary testnes:
presume Mr.. Mullett informed me Of the terms OF the
proposed contracts before they were madeand that a
TO have doubted the correctness OF his own explanation
which he afterward spoke OF as an tDpTessto Inc re
Ing to his testimony, while in Washington was al
vsed by Gen. Butler to purchase stone quarry by way
OF investments that he afterward purchased fyesXths
OF an unused Quarry at Gape Ann taxing possession on
the last OF April 1862 There Is an extract nom Ger
Of Mr. Mull ipr g.,
says: al have this day had conference with
Cen Ruter and some other gentlemen from MaSsachu-
sets in regard granite for the foundation and base
ment story of the Po,tOnce" In response to circular
shortly aerward addressed to the owners OF four five
guarrIcs the offers OF the Rockport Granite Company
as compared with those OF the Cape Ann Granite Com
loot less for foundation stone the price for the
larger stones, and 20 instead OF rs cents per tn bankage
and wharfage But upon the contract and lease being
offered 10 the ROckland Company they refused to execute
il the ground that II varied from the terms OF their
proposal aud acceptance whereupon II was rendered TO
French's Company who accepted IL. These proceedings
annued upon opinion delivered by the solicitor
OF the Treasury that the contract aud lease rendered to
the Rockford Company were not in accordance with the
proposal. Afterward frenchs Company obtained con
tract for the entire building precisely similar IN terms TO
that for the New York building:
that the Secretary did not personally investigate these
contracts and that the two superntendens were not
terms had been agreed upon they believe that the ex-
pense of these buildings II completed under the present
that the plans previously furnished for the NewYork
building could now be adopted with but little loss or
change except to the location OF some Of the piers for
the foundation and that some 10000 or l2s square feet
OF ground not utilized by the present pan should be in
cluded in that is carried out They call attention 10
what they consider fagant violation Of the spirit and
intention. IL not the letter. of the law, against binding
the Government to pay larger sum upon contract
than appropriated for the specific purpose fine and i'm
prsonment being the penalty OF transgression They
name $1,JO0OO0 as the utmost that the NewlOrk, and
$1,000 900 that the Boston building should cost recommend
that the present contracts with the Dix Island and Cape
Ann Companies should Ice annued that further apro
priation De made for the buildings without limiting their
and that IL be the duty of the Secretary, other
officer charged with the responsibility, 10 see To mat
the plans perfected and proper contracts made within
these limits.