National Republican., 1883-06-04
THE HILL INVESTIGATION.

Charges Heard and the Matter Taken
Under Adviscment--AIr. nIuroh Hires
Lawyer on His Own Hook--A Conn
plant From Chicago.
The committee appointed to investigate
the charges of m administration of the
supervising architects Office met at the Treas
ury department at 10 a. m, and proceeded
to hear the statement Of Mr.. Poulsen, of the
firm of Poulsen & Eger of Brooklyn, who
charged Mr.. Hill with unfair treatment
touching the execution of a contract by
which the ompainants proposed to furnish
iron stairs for the government building
at Austin, Texas By agreement between
Mr.. Poulsen and Mr.. Hill tho case was pre-
sented to the committee without the assist
ance of counsel on either side. Mr. Poulsen
recited the terms of his contract and the cir
cumstances attending its execution. Mr..
Hill asked il complainants object was to re-
open rejected claim, or to make charges of
fraud on his (Hill's) part.
Mr.. Poulsen. / charge that we asked you to
protect us against the unfair treatment of
your superintendent, and you refused to do so.
Mr. Poulsen then offered in evidence his
proposals and tho correspondence which
passed between his firm and Mr.. Hill; alsb
the correspondence with his superintendent
and the report of the government inspections
which enumerated, in detail many defects in
ductions amounting to nearly $500.
Chairman New interposed II this is simply
question Of dollars and cents II Is matter for the
court OF claims, not for this committee. If you
want to CharBc fraud or corruption In the super
yisng architects Office IL will be proper matter
for Investigation
Mr; Poulsen. don't care II never get cent
out of the case but IL has been hanging for three
years and want II settled up. charge Mr.. Hill
with retaining in office an ignorant, vicious super
intendent in the face Of numerous complaints.
r., POulseu produced
deavored to show that the deductions were un-
warrantable, and were not justified by the report
OF Col, Lowe (of Mr.. Hlps oiiice), who inves'
tigated the whole matter.
Incidentally, Mr.. Poulsen claimed that Mr..
Glenn, Hills superintendent at Austin, had
discharged good workman and hired a man
just released from Jail, to whom he paid full
wages for no service rendered, except at his
own home.
Mr.. Hill. This is a charge against Mr.. Glenn. I
will write to him about 1t.
Mr.. Hill then replied briefly that his action
in tho matter had been based upon tho re-
ports of the government inspector and super
intendent; that some of their recommends
tions for deductions he had approved, and
others he had not allowed. The deductions
recommended had been for short weight OF
iron, $332; for imperfections, $160; for re-
pairing defects, $2l1 making total of $703.
The amount of deductions actually made was
$500.
Mr.. Hill was asked IL he had heard of the
| charge of extravagant payment to a vagabond
workman previous to the commencement of
this investigation, and replied not while the
work was going on. 1t had come up at the
time of tho settlement of this contract, but the
pay rolls would settle the question of extrav-
agance. They would show that the man was
paid 81 per day, which could hardly be con-
| sidered exorbitant pay in the south.
Tho case was then submitted to tho com.
mittoe, who at 1:40 p. M, adjourned until
Tuesday morning.
Mr.. Murch has addressed the following let.
ter to Secretary Folger, which is self explana-
tory:
WASHINGTON, D. c., June Q, 1ss3-HoN. CHARLIE
| ]. FoLGER, Secretary of the Treasury-My Deai
| Sir: had the honor to address you communi-
cation on the twenty-third of April last, in which
| asked, referring to the charges against the
supervising architect, shall l have power Ia
prosecute and employ counselT' In your reply o.
| the twenty seventh of the same month you said
| Section 1S9 OF the Revised Statutes forbids any
| department employing counsel; but have re-
quested the attorney general 10 deal for the pur.
| pose of assisting in the prosecution of these
| charges some gentleman of legal training from
the department of Justice He has designated Mr.
John $. Blair as such person."
| mittee that is investigating the charges, In the
capacity Of both counsel for the prosecution and
| the defensel At the last meeting of the commit
| tee Mr. Hill appeared by counsel. When wrote
| you requesting that might have power to en-
ploy counsel AT the expense OF the United states,
| supposed If counsel was allowed me 1t would be
some one to represent the interest of those pre-
ferrng charges against the supervising architect
OF the treasury and not person representing
both the prosecution and the defense
in the matter OF these charges
| However this may be, Mr.. Thomas, who had pre-.
| viously appeared before the committee rs counsel
for one OF the firm, whom II is charged Mr.. Hill
| has favored In the matter of the contracts with
The United States, again appeared before the com
mitee at their last meeting on day before yester-
| day and stated " Before the proceedings COM
menced this morning desire to state TO the COM
mission that since the adjournment of the com.
| mission of last Tuesday, nave been employed by
that part Of the investigation In which he
is particularly Interested. Having beer
heretofore retained by Bartlett Robin
& Co., thought there was no impropriety in ml
acceding TO his request" You will readily sec
that the present situation of the case compels me
to have counsel who will be Hhembarrassed by
having both to prosecute and defend before thu
committee. / have accordingly at my own ex.
pense retained counsel who Will hereafter repre-
sent me.
You will pardon me, therefore, II withdraw the
| request heretofore made by me that the United
States furnish counsel TO aid In this investiga
sci. Very respectfully yours,
Mr. Murch has received the following letter
| with inclosure:
CRANE BRoTHEHs MASuRAcTURING COMPANY
Trensuters office, No. 10 Jefferson street, Chicago
| May 2S, lsS3.-THl Hon. THOMSON II. MURcH, NJ
| c., Washington, II. C--Dedr SIR! am pleased Il
that you arc taking active steps TO investigat,