The Evening critic., 1883-06-14
MR.. HILLS DEMURRER.
A Reply TO the Charges Preferred
Against hin, by Murcfr

A special to the Baltimore american says
that Mr., John L. Thomas, counsel for Su-
pervising Inspector Hill, has filed his ex-
ceptions, by way of demurrer, to the
charges preferred against his client After
entering general denial, Mr.. Thomas
gives Ia history of the fifteen per cent.
contracts. which, he charges, were is
sued while Mr.. A. b. Mullett ad
ministered the office of supervising archi-
tect, and who inaugurated and advocated
the system. Mr.. Hill had nothing to do
with the award, and knows nothing more
of the circumstances connected Herewith
than is shown by the records of the Office.
In fact, Mr.. Potter, who succeeded Mr..
Mullett, and who was Mr.. Hills predecessor,
followed the same system. Mr.. Potter en-
deavored to have the contract system abol-
ished, and made report to that effect.
He was unsuccessful, however, and when
Mr.. Hill took charge, the system was still
in operation. The contracts were still
largely in excess of the amount that should
be paid for the work. Mr.. Morrill,, who was
then Secretary of the Treasury, gave care
ful personal attention to this matter, and
entertained the same views as to the dis
advantages of the system. Under, his di-
rection, and with the assent of the con-
tIuCtuTs. bue uTsU lOuluCtuiOu, SllInl-
mating the fifteen per cent. element, was
made in January, 1877. The favorable re-
suits of this first modification furnished
strong argument in favor of the subsequent
notifications. When Secretary Sherman
entered upon his duties, he had his atten-
tion called to the subject by Assistant Sec
retary French, on a report by commits
sion, and referred the matter to the Attor-
ney-General, who decided that thees con-
tracts were not obligatory upon the United
States, and that the Government could
either cancel them, proceed under them or
modify them. Acting upon this decision
the Secretary subsequently modified the
contracts, in so far as not to interfere with
the work in progress. Mr.. Thomas
then reviews the charges pre-
ferred by Mr.. Murch of al
legged frauds, which he characterizes
as tending rather to show the defects in the
fifteen percent. system than any intent to
dofraud the United States. The commits
sion appointed by Secretary Sherman sim
ply discharged the duty assigned to them,
and implications affecting the character of
these gentlemen will certainly have to rest
upon something more substantial than that
embraced in the statement referred to. Mr..
Thomas then calls attention to the fact that
all of the notifications were made with
and by the consent Of the contractors, who
agreed to the compromise. The prices for
stock remained at the same rates in the
modified contract, and were very
low-so low, indeed, that the
rough stone from Dix Island
is estimated to have cost, delivered from the
building, from three tn five times as much
as the price paid therefor. The contractors
had evidently put their prices for stock at
this admitted Improbable rate, in view of
the large profit assured under the cutting
feature of the contract, and, when the Is
per cent. element was eliminated, had
grounds for demanding consideration on
this account. Under the modified sys-
tenn, they were responsible for the
safe handling and delivery of the
expensive cut stock, as well as for the
spelling of stone in cutting, which is very
important and dangerous risk. What was
proposed to effect was the completion of the
several buildings with the same materials
with which they had begun, and at q ma
terial saving from what they would have
cost under the old system. And this was
undoubtedly effected. Mr.. Thomas calls
attention to the fact that if there was any
fraud intended, the various Secretaries of
the Treasury must have been necessarily
implicated. In conclusion, Mr.. Thomas
asks that the testimony of Mr.. Steinmetz
be ruled out as impertinent to the issues
before the committee.