The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-22

The committee decided to confne itself for
the present to hearing testimony concernina
the Philadelphia contracts, and will not leave
the city Tor the purpose of taking evidence
relating to other public buildings The in
vestigation will be hurried, and not p-o.
longed through the summer months.
THE VIEWS OF THE COMMITTEE.
Mr. New submitted the views Of the COM
mttee as to the scope of the investigation,
and said:
I'm determining the question submitted at
the last meeting of the committee as to the
importance and relevancy of the testimony
then offered to be submitted, viz: in regard
to the st. Louis, Cincinnati, Hartford. and
other public buildings, and that of the work.
men now at Quincy Mass, it would be we'll
to consider the scope and nature of the
inquiry this committee is called upon to
make. The foundation of this inquiry was
laid in a speech made by Hon. T. H. Murch,
in the House of Representatives, in which
he stated that the office of super
vising architect of the Treasury was
corrupt from top to bottom This
led to certain correspondence between the
Secretary of the Treasury and Mr.. Murch,
and eliminated in the designation of this
committee to investigate the question of ex-
listing corruption or fraud. 1t is not for
this committee, nor did the Secretary, in
organizing it, intend, to inquire into the acts
of former Secretaries of the Treasury
or former architects. The question before
this committee is, is the Office of the super
vlslng architect corrupt, or has the super
vlslng architect been guilty of fraud, cor
ruption or wrong doing? The investigation,
so tar, has been directed to the modified 15
per cent. contracts, and the prosecution seek
to show that the prices paid under the modi-
he'd contracts were largely in excess of the
lowest market rates. This the supervising
architect expressly admits by his answer.
This admission covers all work done under
the 10 per cent. contracts as modified by the
present supervising architect, not only as
to the Philadelphia courthouse and post
Office, but also all other buildings erected
under the modified contracts. Witnesses
have been called and have sworn to the prices
paid for work upon the Philadelphia house,
and the amounts paid under such contracts,
as we'll as what would have been a fair value
for labor and profit 10 the contractors,
have been elaborately shown by calcula-
tions and testimony by General Steinmetz.
1t may, therefore, be assumed by this COM
mittee that the same ratio of excess in the
prices paid over what was the lowest market
rate OF wages and over fair contract price
in open competition in all these buildings so
erected under the modified Is per cent con.
tracts, and that the same ratio of excess Of
profit to the contractors in said other build
ings, over and above what would have been
fair profit, exists in such other buildings,
as is shown by General Steinmetz, and the
admissions OF Mr.. Hill 10 exist in the
Philadelphia house. Assuming this state of
facts to exist, i devolves upon the prosecu-
ton to show, by other evidence or argument,
hn ci ,f
fraud or corruption in making such modi.
fed contracts. For the present, therefore,
the committee will not take up other build
ings, nor will they go to Quincy to take testi.
mony OF workmen, reserving the right to do
either or both as may be determined
after the submission of evidence tending to
show fraud or corruption on the part of Hill,
If such testimony can be adduced II the
prosecution claim that there is any matter of
fraudulent character in any other build
ings differing from such as it is claimed are
wrongful in the Philadelphia house, such
mattercan be shown without going over the
same tedious process as we have had in that
house. If there be such glaring frauds as
are charged in this matter they should be so
patent that evidence could be adduced with
in reasonable time and without Drolonging
the investigation all summer This commit
tee was formed TO investigate certain charges
filed with it, and we think the committee
should contine itself to the work assigned it,
Other charges on file will be Investigated,
but the examination must proceed without
delay.
EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES RESUMED.
Testimony was introduced, the purpose Of
which was to show that Hill was personally
responsible for certain changes in the plan
for the Philadelphia building by which the
government was subjected, as charged by the
prosecution, to an additional and unneces-
sary expense of $244, 900. This closed the
case of the Philadelphia public building, and
Mr.. Coleman announced that he was ready
to present the complaint of Manly, Cooper
Il Co., of Philadelphia, and Frank Taylor,
secretary and treasurer of Manly. Cooper &
Co., took the stand. He offered in evidence
the correspondence between his company
and the supervising architect relative to let
ting contract for fire-proof shutters for the
public building at Cincinnati, and then made
statement touching the charges preferred
by his company as follows: "On the morn
ing of the day the bids were to be opened
he came to Washington with Mr. Manly.
president of this company. Just
Hoyt of Springfield, Mass, one of
the bidders, approached witness and said he
had been looking for him at all the hotels
and regretted not seeing him sooner, as he
could have submitted a proposition By
which he (Taylor} could have made mora
money than by bidding on the contract
When the bids were opened they were four
in number, as follows: Manly, Cooper &
Co., S124,66G United States Company, $l46,-
$50; Hoyt S15l, 40, and one other bid,
which was $l60, 467 After the bids we're
opened" continued witness, "all other par
ties retired leaving Mr.. Manly, George L.
Damon representing the United States Com.
pany) and myself with Mr.. Hill. The latter
gentleman said he was tired and very busy,
and asked that we would come and see him
in the afternoon. Mr.. Manly and left, but
Damon remained behind We returned to
Philadelphia, and the next day Damon fol-