The Portland daily press., 1883-06-04
THE HILL INVESTIGATION.
Brooklyn Contractors Present Griev-
aneas

Brooklyn Contractors Present Griev-
ances.
WASHINGTON, June 2.--Ths committee ap
pointed to investigate the charges Of malad-
mlnistration OF the Supervising Architects
office met at the Treasury Department at 10 a.
m. and proceeded TO hear the statement OF Mr.
Poulsen, OF the firm OF Pousen & Eyer, of
Brooklyn, who charged Mr.. Hill with unfair
treatment touching the execution of contre 81
by which the eomplainants prope cd to furnish
iron stairs for the Government building az
AUSTIN, Texas. BY agreement between Mr.
Poulsen and Mr. Hill the case was pre- snted to
the committee without the assistance Of conn
sci on either side. Mr.. Poulsen recited the
terms OF his contract and the conditions at
tending It's execution. Mr.. Hill asked If COM
plainant's object WAS TO reopen a rejected
claim, or to make charges Of fraud on his
(IIill's) part.
Mr.. Poulsen-I charge that we asked YOU to
protect US against the unfair treatment Of your
SUPERINTENDENT and you refused TO do so.
MIR. Poulsen then offered in evidence his pre-
posals aud the correspondence which passed be-
tween his firm and Mr.. Hill, also the CORES
pondence with isl(Pouisen's) Superintendent
and the report of the Government Inspector,
which enumerated in detail many defects ia
the stairs, and recommended numerous deduc-
tons, amounting TO nearly $500.
Chairman interposed, III this is simply
question of dollars and cents it is a matter Tor
the Court Of Claims, not for the committee.
Il yon want to charge fraud or corruption, In
the Supervising Architects effics il viii be
proper matter for investigation.
Mr. Poulsen-l don't care ii never get
cent out of the case, but II has been banging
Tor three years and ] want it settled up. /
charge Mr.. Hill with retaining In Office an ig-
norant, vicious superintendent in the facs al
numerous complaints.
MIR. Ponlsen then produced drawings to show
that the deductions were nnwarrant table and
were not justified by the report OF COL Lowe
(of air. Hills office1, who investigated the
whole matter. Incidentally. Mr.. pouIseu
claimed that Mr.. Glenn, Hills Superintendent
al Austin had discharged good workman aud
hired man jest released from jail, 10 sslaHizz
he paid full wages for no service rendered ex-
cept at his own home.
Mr.. Hill This is charge against AIr. Glenn
| Will write him about il. Mr.. Hill then re-
piled briefly thar his action In the matteF had
been based upon the reports of the Govern
ment Inspector and Superintendent; that some
OF their recommendations for deductions he
had approved and others he had not allowed
The deductions recommended had been for
short weight OF iron, S332; for imperfections.
Sl60; for repairing defects, S211 making a
total OF S703 The amount of deductions actu-
ally made was $500.
Mr.. Hill was asked II he had beard OF the
charge OF extrayagant payment to a vagabond
workman previous to the commencement 0f
this investigation, ard replied not while lhe
work was going op. Ii had come UP atthe
time OF the settlement Of this contract, bnt the
pay rolls would settle the question Of extrava-
gance. They would show that the man was
paid 81 per Gay, which could hardly be conssd-
cred exorbItant pay ia the South.
The case was then Submitted TO the commit
tee, who adjourned till Tuesday.