The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-04-27
Affairs in Washington.
WASHINGTON, April %.

THE CHA GES AGAINST ARCHITECT HILL.
The charges preferred by ex-Rerresenta-
tive Murch against Supervising Architect
bill have been made public. The pa
pers are drawn up in legal form, and are
quite voluminous. The charges are classed
under five different heads, substantially as
follows:
1. General charges Of corruption, fraud
and extravaganza againsta ring in the Archi-
tect's Office, composed of Assistant Secreta-
ry French, Architect Hill, Assistant Archi-
tect Jacobs, A. G. Thompson, W. NJ. II.
Powers, B. F. Little, Cannon, Church, Jor-
dan, Bartlett, Robbins & Co., and others.
2. That Hill corruptly administers the
patronage of his Office against the interests
OF the United States.
8. The contractors known to be gnilty of
fraud are especially favored by the super
vising architect, having been largely over
paid by many thousands of dollars, and
otherwise corruptly benefited.
4. That unskilled and incompetent per-
sons are knowingly employed in the archi-
tects Office, and paid at rates due compe-
tent persons, and hold sinecures and do
other work for which they are paid.
s. That contracts have been let in viola
tien of law to persons not the lowest bidders,
and that prices have been paid for labor and
material known to have been extortionate and
excessive; that vouchers have been paid Tor
labor and materials never furnished, and
that vouchers, bids and contracts have been
unlawfully and corruptly altered to the adj
vantage and benefit of contractors.
Among the contractors alleged to have
been improperly favored are the following
Cape Ann Granite Company, Dix Island
Granite Company, Bodwell Granite Com
pa1ly, Hurricane Island Granite Company,
Old Dominion Granite Company, Westham
Granite Company, Collins Granite Company,
and Bartlett, Robbins & Co.
I One of the specifications alleges that the
persons named in the ring," and their as
sociates, have exacted fees, commissions,
percentages, per cents, shares, etc., from
contractors. Another specification is that
the employees in the office have used the
Government time and material in the de-
signs and construction of private dwellings.
Among the witnesses named are Secre-
tary Folger, Senator Dawes, A. B. Null
lett, w. G. Stinemetz, T. H. Oaksdott j.
M. Wilbur, Joseph Warns, j. w. Barton,
Michael Gillen, Z. L. James, and T. II.
Murch.
CHEAPER POSTAGE.
Third Assistant Postmaster General Ha-
zen expects there will be falling off of
possibly 81, 1000, 900 in the sales of stamps
for the first year, but does not expect any
ultimate loss. His calculation is that there
will be a large increase of businesS-irst, by
increased correspondence in all parts of the
country; second, the substitution of sealed
envelopes in sending business circulars
and other printed matter, paying
two cents, instead of open envelopes, paying
one cent as at present; and, third, the in
crease of sealed correspondence in place of
the postal card. sit is well known" says
Mr.. HaZen, that unsealed envelopes con-
tanning circulars are generally consigned by
those receiving them to the waste basket
without examination. 1t will thus be seen
that the inducement advertisers will have to
pay the extra cent and put their printed mat
ter on the equality with correspondence will
be SO great that an increase of revenue may
be confidently predicted from that source"
THE cIvIL-sERvIcE COMMISSION.
Judge Thoman said last night that the
rules drawn up by the Commission differed
somewhat, but not materially, from those
employed by the former Civil-Service- Com
mission. Until they were laid before the
President and Cabinet he would say nothing
further regarding them, except that, in his
opinion, they would fairly test
the qualifications of those competing
for Office On being Intercepted as to
certain statements credited to him, that the
wholesale discharge of Government emf
ployes on the incoming of a new Admins
tratiOn was not forbidden by law, he assert
ed that what he had said was that the Civil
Service law had nothing to do with the
removals; that the power to dismiss from
office was not abridged by the bill, but that
all appointments to Office must be made
from among those found competent without
regard to party.