Daily globe., 1883-05-25
poker" as cleverly as Mississippi river
gambler "befoe de wah."
NV estern Associated Press.

WASHINGTON, May 24.-The committee
appointed to investigate the charges
against Hill, supervising architect of the
treasury met to-day. Murch stated that
he was prepared to go on with the investi-
CATION provided certain privileges were ac-
corded to him. He desired that a full
record be made of all evidence taken, and
he be furnished copy. Ex-Collector
John L. Thomas, of Baltimore, who ap-
pesred as counsel for Bartlett, Robbins &
Co., of Baltimore, asked that he be fur
nished a copy. The committee acceded
to the request, whereupon Murch stated
that he desired to take the charges seriat-
i'm, and complete the investigation under
each charge before proceeding to
another. He would therefore take
up first the matter of Dix Island drain,
and to facilitate matters would call upoR
the architects Office for certain papers
which he proceeded to enumerate, those
included what were known as ''15 per cent.
contracts" the orders for construction of
buildings for boarding houses for laborers
at Dix Island. The pay rolls for labor
upon the NewYork and Philadelphia public
buildings, the letter (if one was written)
of commission to investigate matters re-
lating to the construction of these build
ings together with mass of other speci-
fed papers and documents. Thayer, of
the architects Office, who was present in
HilPs interest, suggested that it was due
Hill before requiring him to scour the
files of his Office for ten years past, that he
should be informed for what specific pur-
pose the papers would be used, and what
specific charge against him they were ex
pected to substantiate.
Murch replied that he labored under the
disadvantage of being without cour sci !;
that he had never before appeared in
court, either as plaintiff, defendant or at
torney, but he expected later on to have
the advice of counsel. He further stated
that his object in asking these papers was
to show that great frauds had been perpe-
trated upon the government; that the cost
of public buildings had been increased far
beyond any necessity, and that contractors
had, in some instances, been paid ten
times over the value of services rendered.
After some discussion as to the mode of
procedure all adjournment was had till
tomorrow, with the understanding that
Murch be permitted to inspect the files of
the architects Office and designate such
letters and documents as he may
desire to have put in evidence.
NICKBRsoN's DIVORCE.
Judge Advocate Barr, who was sent to
Philadelphia by the war department to
make an examination of the judicial pro-
ceedings and all papers in the Nickerson
divorce case, has returned, and will forth
with prepare report to be submitted to
the adjutant general. The investigation,
off foi Eo - l.
court martial of Major Nickerson for con-
duct unbecoming an officer and gentleman.
NOTES.
Information has been received of the
arrest in Montreal of w. McPhelan, coun-
terfeiter and fugitive from Justice from
Portland, Me-, with 1000 bonds of the
Maydower Gold Mining company in his
possession. The surgeon general of the
marine hospital service has established q
quarantine station at Pensacola.
The treasury department has been ad
vised that party OF pauper Mormons
from Switzerland are en- route to New York
on the steamship Nevada. Instructions
were to-day sent to the collector of customs
at New York to cooperate with the COM
missioner of immigration to prevent the
landing CT the Mormons referred to, pro-
vided they are paupers within the meaning
Of tte immigration act.
LEAvENwoRTH PosToFFIoE.
The property bounded by Main, Della
ware and Second streets has been selected
as a site for a new public building in
Leavenworth.
THE QUEENS BIRTHDAY.
The annual dinner in honor of the
queens birthday was given by Minister
West at the British legation this evening.
Covers were laid for thirty persons, as fol-
lows: Secretary Teller, Chief Justice
Waite, General Sherman, Admiral Porter,
Commander Green, q. S. S. Despatch,
Senator Miller, Of California, Assistant
Secretaries Davis and Adee, Chief Clerk
Brown, Mr.. Chew, of the state department,
the ministers of France, Germany, Austria,
Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Chill, Brazil,
Japan, Peru, Argentine Republic, Hawaii,
Netherlands and charges d'affairs of Rus
sia and Italy, Minister West and secretaries
of legation, Messrs. Saurin, Howard, Charl-
ton and Stone. The number of guests
this year was smaller than usual, owing to
the absence of the president and all but
one member of his cabinet, and the inabil-
ity of the ministers of Sweden, Denmark,
China, Turkey and Switzerland to attend.
ENTRIES OF RAILWAY GRANT LANDS.
Secretary Folger has directed that in fu-
ture registers and receivers Of land Offices
must not receive filings upon odd sections
of land granted to railroads within the
limits of the land grants withdrawn for
indemnity purposes.
SILVER PURCHASE.
The treasury department purchased 32,-
600 ounces of silver for delivery at the
different mints.
PosToFFIoEs ON DECORATION DAY.
First Assistant Postmaster General
Hatton, acting postmaster general, issued
an order to-day closing all the postofices
on Decoration day between the hours of 10
a. m. and p. NJ, except in the larger
cities. In these cities the postmasters are
to use their own discretion as to the hours
Of closing their Offices.
NAILS FOR CHINA.
The postofice department has received
notice of the discontinuance of all Jap
anese postal agencies hitherto maintained
at different ports in China, except at
Shanghai, and of the consequent inability
of the Japanese administration to assure
any longer delivery of unpaid or short