The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-06
charge that the Supervising Architect En-
tered Into Contracts Grossly Unfair
to the Government.
Systematic Agitation for Securing
Increased Pensions for Soldiers.
ARCHITECT HILL.
The ISvestigatiOn Brings Out the Effect of
Some of His Contracts

The Investigation Brings Out the Effect Of
Some of His Contracts
WASHINGTON, June 5.-The Hill invesigat
ing committee resumed its session.
Mr. Thomas, counsellor Hill, objected to
the charges filed by Mr. Murch, upon the
ground that they are not specific and definite.
whereupon Mr.. Coleman, counsel for Mr.
Murch, submitted a specific charge that in
1877 Hill entered into certain contracts
winch were grossly unfair to the govern
ment, in that he agreed to pay certain con-
tractors far in excess of the real value of
materials furnished and work to be ner.
formed. In support of this charge Mr.. G.
Steinmetz, ofNew York, expert was called to
TESTIFY relative to the construction of a public
building in Philadelphia He explained m
the committee the difference between
quarry dimensions and net dimensions, the
former being the cubic dimensions of stone
as taken from the quarry, and the latter the
cubic dimensions based upon the SPACE
which the stone will occupy in the building.
Mr.. Stelnmetz stated that in making con
tracts 1T was the custom to stipulate the
dimensions. In the case of the Philadelphia
building Mr.. Hill had contracted for quarry
dimensions, and in this way compelled the
government to pay greatly in excess of the
market value of the stone actually used. He
further testified that he had made computa-
tons from the plans furnished him by the
architects office of the Philadel phia building
OF the actual cost of several stones and the
market value of the same. based upon their
true or net dimensions He instances as ex-
amples explaining from drawings, that one
stone which cost the government $50 con-
tract price, was S5S in excess of
the true value of the stone
and another, costing the government
$l29 where the actual COST allowing so per
cent proht to the contractor, should have
been 500, the excess paid by the govern
ment, in this instance, being $73. Mr. Stein
metz stated that if the time was allowed him
ne could, by computing each stone, show the
aggregate amount paid by the government
for the stone used in this building in excess
OF its market value.
Mr.. Coleman stated to the committee that
IL was the purpose of the prosecution in the
case OF the Philadelphia building to show
the amount OF moEey which the govern
ment, through Hills contracts, had been
compelled to pay in excess of
the market value of the ma.
terials used; that the combinations
were necessarily slow, and further time
would he required before going on with this
branch of the investigation.
After some consultation between the com,
mlttee and counsel it was agreed that Mr..
Stelnmetz should submit his calculations for
nx stones in each course, and they should be
taken as all average for the entire building.
Mr.. Thomas, for the defense, gave notice
that they would ask the committee to sum-
mon every witness named in the papers by
the prosecution, and they would insist upon
the right to crosS-examine them
Adjourned until Monday next.