The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-09-19
Late News.
SUPERVISOR ARCHITECT HILL.
The Investigation proves His par
tiality.

WASHINGTON, Sept, 19.-The report
of the committee appointed by the Secre-
tarJ OF the Treasury to investigate the
charges against Supervising Architect
Hill, was given out for publication yes
terday. Some of the committee are
severe on Hill and his resignation Is
freely talked of. s
A synopsis of the report of the com
mittee investigating the charges brought
by ex-COngressman Murch. of Maine,
against Supervisor Architect of The
Treasury Hill. was sent to some of the
leading papers last night as a special.
That the synopsis was furnished to
correspo pondents by, Supervising Architect,
Hill himself, and as regards the actual
findings of the committee was imperfect
and misleading. The official report says
the charge Of Manley, Cooper & Co. /
that after advertising for proposals for
making and furnishing shutters for pub
lie buildings at Cincinnati, the Supervis-
ing Architect refused to let the contracts
for this work to the lowest bidder.
The committee fad it would have been
better for Manley Cooper s. Co., had
been allowed all the time asked, for the
firm being responsible and the lowest
bidders by over $4,000. The refusal
to allow Manley. Cooper & Co. to make
the test, the haste with which the award
was made to the United States Fire proof
Company after the refusal to allow the
test, and the further fact that the success
full bidders have been furnishing most of
all the work in this line for several years
compel the committee to believe that the
Supervising Architect not only did. not
do all that he might to save this $4,000
to the Government, but that he did not
intend that Manley. Cooper & Co, should
have the contract if he could avoid it:
With respect to the work on the vaults,
and locks for the public buildings, the
committee express the opinion that for all
sneh work proposals should have been
invited by public advertisement at least
once year, and says that giving orders
continually for term of years to one
firm without any opportunity for compe--
tition by invitation of public proposals.
is in direct conflict with the letter and
spirit Of the law.
With regard to- the purchase of eleva-
tors of one particular make, and the fail
nre to advertise for competition, the
committee says that the Architect was
direlect in his duty. In heating appar
ratus for the Chicago Custom house, the
committee find that the appointment of
Newton to inspect the material furnished
was not in accord with the idea of the
officials. aE
The Architect knew that he was an
employe of Bartlett, Robins & Co., (the
firm | think built the heating apparatus)
and his only duty was to inspect the
material furnished by that firm. The
committee says there is no surprise that
| the impression should be obtained that
Newton's appointment was part of a
scheme TO enable contractors to furnish
material inferior in quality to that called
for in the specifications
The committee says it was clear that
| HILL was disposed to favor George L.
Hayward (safe manafacturer) and T. j.
| Hayward (steam fitter) and that his ac-
| tious in matters in which these men were
concerned have the appearance of serving
| his friends. The committee says the off
cial favoritism is so manifestin the conduct
of the supervising architects Office as to
give color to the statement made by Cole
man, the attorney for Murch, in his state
ment That in everything that goes to
make up a building, Hill has some one per-
son or some firm with whom he deals, to the
exclusion of everybody else, The com
mittee does not believe this is necessarily
evidence of corruption on the part OF
| Hill, but it shows that the business of the
Office has not been conducted with the
care and economical impartiality with
which it should Your committee does
not hesitate to say tina: the press of the
country criticize unfavorably any Office in
the government conducted on such prin-
ciples as have been pointed out in this
case. Report closes with showing oi
great extent of the business of the archi
tect's Office his discretionary powers. ant
recommends the appointment of a boaId
similar in character to light house board
for the discharge of all administrative
duties relating to the selection of sights
and the construction of public buildings