New-York tribune., 1874-04-13
Tots rumber sf srns rsred oopsr sbeve I2ffy
Square Of fAstsss w,thsst sey.ly By eoHsc Sooo
50 l3 100

Leaving 50 1900 square, oforurl With aossnee fo
join TO waste sha would hnri BE G than 10 Ds. eest
from roof Of which there measured a cmgetoo IL
OF the copper.
After attention had been called to the discrepancies in
these statements a new measurement OF the roof was
made and this time 1t was reported as containing l6l
squares. and Mr.. Shepherds Company received $3.50
additional royalty. don't know what the actual area
OF the is but those who measured it, March5o 1872
found only 81 squares of corrugated work. Ii there
squares the stupidity Of all concerned In the trst
measurement must have been very great.
All Of the facts which have Teci.ed have been re-
peatedy brought TO the attention OF the Secretary o
the Treasury by gentleman who accidentally learned
them and thought that 1t his duty to call attention
to what he at first supposed error but which ne
believes have been n willful fraud lie has met
with nothing but abuse At last when he was intro
duced by member OF Congress- Secretary Richardson
referred the 70 Secretary Sawyer :Or ex
animation. Mr.. Sawyer agreed TO examine the doeu'
nents and proofs and made appointment with the
gentleman who had possession Of them 70 meet him for
that purpose. When the gentleman met the Assistant
Secretary according to appointment having with him
sworn copies OF the original bills, vouchers.
freight bills, &c, he found awaiting
him a letter prepared before one OF the
original documents had been examined. He, Ike every
one else who has carefully looked over the proofs Is con-
vnced only that there il an extended system OF
frauds practiced upon the Government In connection
with the roofing contract, but that the officials OF the
Treasury Department know IL and aid and abet II. III
everything In connection this business was cor
rect It would have been easy for the secretary o INC
Treasury to have shown the gentleman who brought
the facts to his attention that he mistaken fortht
gentleman did not at first charge suspect fraud but
supposed he had simply discovered clerical error
which the Treasury Department would oe very glad 70
have corrected. The treatment ne received AT the
hands OF the Secretary and what he believes to have
a fraudulent second measurement OF the roof Tor
purpose OF covering up previous frauds which would
be apparent from the vouchers file in TIE Treasury
Department reused his suspicious and caused him TO
make the Investigation the result o. which Is gwen In
this letter. Coming here again fortified with documents,
the Department refuses 10 look at his proofs, but pats
him of with the letter referred TO above. OF which the
following is COPY:
OFFICE OF ThE sEcRETtRY Feb. II, lsIA)
N. WHEELER esq, Washington, D. g. -
SIR Your communication OF the 9Th inst. In reference
10 the settlements the copper roofing OF The rne
Hospital at chicago Ill., has been referred TO Assistant
Secretary Sawyer for examinaon whose report thereon
IL as follows:
II have examined the statements contained in the
letter OF Mr. Wheeler Of he 9th inst IN reference to the
settlements for the copper roofing OF the Marine Hos
pta at Chicago ILL.,, aud have made careful conpatl-
which comparison find that the charges made by him
Of double payments payments, rates OF payme ut
IN contract, and, indeed all his charges ndi
eating malfeasance office by the Supervising Arch
tect are not sustained any degree 3y the facts"
/ must decline TO furnish You copies Of any oficill
documents file in the Department IN reference TO t
matter as you not within the scope OF the rules of
the Department entitled thereto nor do the circum-
stances warrant any departure from the rules ia tnis
particular case Very respectfully
WM. A. RICHARDSON, Secretary
The importance Of this does not lie Ia the amount
OF money involved for it is small but IN the fact that
this same company has been engaged IN roonng build
ngs for the United States for years and stu continues
TO do So and il fraud runs througl all their contracts,
the aggregate amount OF money stolen from the Gov
ernment must be very great