Daily globe., 1883-06-04

would show the man was paid 81 per day
which could hardly be considered exorbi-
tant in the south. The case was then sub
mitted and the committees adjourned till
Tuesday.
Murch to-day addressed the following
letter to Secretary Folger:
WASHINGTON, June 2.-Hon. G. j. Folger,
Secretary of Treasury. My Dear Sir: had
the honor to address you a communication
on the 23d of April last, in which asked,
referring to charges against the supervis-
ing architect, "Shall have the power to
prosecute and employ counsel?" In your
reply of the 9th of the same month you
said section 189 of the revised statutes
forbids any department employing coun-
sci, but have requested the attorney gen
eral to detail, for the purpose of assisting
in the prosecution of these charges, some
gentleman of legal training from the de-
partment of Justice" He has designated
John s. Blair as such person. Blair has
since appeared before the committee in
vestigating the charges in the capacity of
both counsel for the prosecution and de-
fense. At the last meeting of the committee
Hill appeared by counsel. When I wrote
you requesting 1 might have power to
employ counsel at the expense of the
United States l supposed if counsel was
allowed me, it would be some one who
would represent the interest of those pre-
terring charges against the supervising
architect of the treasury and no person
representing both the prosecution and the
defense in the matter of these charges.
However this may be, Thomas, who had
previously appeared before the committee
as counsel for one of the firms whom it is
charged Hill has favored in the matter of
contracts with the United States again a2.-
peared before the committee at their last
meeting, day before yesterday,
aud said ''oefore the proceedings
commence I desire to state to the com
mission that since the adjournment of the
commission last Tuesday I have been
employed by Hill to appear also for him
IN that part of the investigation in which
he is particularly interested, Having
been heretofore retained by Bartlett, Rob-
bins Co., I thought there was no impro-
prlety in my acceding to his request"
You Will readily see the present situation
of the case compels me to have counsel
who will be unembarrassed by having to
both prosecute and defend before the COM
mittee. have accordingly at my own ex-
pense, retained counsel who Will hereafter
represent me. You will pardon me there
fore if I withdraw the request heretofore
made, that the United States furnish me
counsel to aid in this investigation, there
now being no necessity for such counsel
Very respectfully, yours, T. f. MUBCH.
Murch has received the following letter
with enclosure:
CRANE BROTHERS MANUFACTURING Com
PANY, CHICAGO, TO Hon. Thomp-
son h. Murch, Neutrality-suspicious. sir:
am pleased to see you are taking active
steps to investigate the charges against
Government Architect Hill, in regard to
alleged malfeasance in Office, in letting
contracts and various other irregularities,
connected with his official position. I am
we'll aware this course has been needed
for long time past and as 1 can only
speak in spirit of commendation of the
efforts which you are making towards hav-
ing thorough investigation of the
charges made against Hill. I trust
you will continue to persist in
the good work until you shall
have reached the bottom of what
appears to have been Iniqaitous proceed
ings connected with the administration of
his office for some time past. For so doing
[ believe you will receive the commenda-
ton of all well meaning men who are
cognizant of the fact that this investiga-
ton is taking place, as many who have
heretofore endeavored to do business with
the department have been treated in the
same manner as ourselves. I beg also to
inclose herewith copy of letter sent to
Hon. Charles j. Folger, secretary of the
treasury, which will give you some idea in
general way of the treatment we have
received at the hands of the government
architect. Trusting this will be of some
use and service, Yours truly.
R. I. CRANE, President.
The following is copy of the letter
from Crane Bros. to Secretary Folger, re-
ferred to in the preceding communication:
CHICAGO, April II, 1883.-To the Hon. G.
j. Folger, Secretary of the Treasury
Dear Sir: In the spring of 1879 this
company among others made a bid for
elevators for the custom house and post
Office in Chicago, but through the error of
the superintendent in charge here, our bid
was made for steam elevators, while the
government adopted hydraulic elevators,
for which we had not made a bid. The
matter was then brought to the attention
of Secretary Sherman, who ordered inves-
tlgation, and who stated. upon the report
made, that but for the fact he had promis-
ed to have the court room ready for
occupancy at a certain time, he would
cause the whole matter to be
reopened and new bids made. We charge
that Hill, the government architect, made
a misrepresentation to Secretary Sherman
in regard to the delay that would be oc
casioned by having new bids made, and
that in fact the rooms were not ready for
the elevators for many months subsequent
@ the time named. In an opinion passed
upon the report by Secretary Sherman, he
stated ''but for delay, in this case a serious
one, [ should set aside the award.'' Fur
ther assurances were given this company, |
that for any further future wants by the
government of elevators, full and fair
opportunity should be afforded Us to COM
pete for such work. Since that date, 1879, |
we have had no advice or op-
portunity to compete for such work
for the treasury department, |
although we are advised that large uum-
Der of elevators have been contracted for
that department. Having thus briefly |
called your attention to this matter, we |
would next respectfully ask that you
cause investigation to be made, showing |
how many elevators have been contracted |
for since these for the custom house in |