The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-06-03
THE HILL INVESTIGATION.

Washington, 2.-Ex = Congress
man Murch, to-day, addressed a
letter to Secretary FOlger wherein
he informed the secretary that, in
aSmucA as the attorney had selected
from among the employees of the
treasury department. Jnos j. Blair
to assist in the investigation,of the
affairs Of Architect Hills Office,
who was acting for both Hill and
himself (Murch) Gas prosecutor and
defender, he (Murch) would notify
the secretary that, so far as he was
concerned, the services Of. Mr.. Blair
could be dispensed with, andMuTch
would employ his own special coun-
sci in the case. Murch has received
letter from the Crane Brothers
Manufacturing Company, Chicago,
wherein they state they are
pleased to see him taking active
steps to investigate the charges
against Archetect Hill in regard to
the alleged malfeasance office. in
letting contracts and various other
Irregularities connected with his
official position. 'They trust he
Will continue to persist in the good
work until bottom is reached"
Crane Bros. enclose in their letter
to Murch a copy of the following
letter, which they state they had
mailed to Secretary Folger:
CHICAGO, April II, 1888.
Hon. J. c.. Folger, Secretary Of the
Treasury.
Dear Sir: I'm the spring Of 1879,
this company among others made a
bid for elevators for the custom
house and postoffice in Chicago, but
| through an error of the superin-
tendent in charge here, our bid was
made for steam elevators, while
government adopted hydraulic ele-
| Yators, for which we had not made
a bid. The matter was then brought
to the attention Of Secretary Sher-
Imam, who ordered an investigation
and who stated, upon the report
made that but for the fact that he
had promised to have the court room
ready for occupancy az a CERTAIN
J time he would cause the whole
} matter to be reOpened and new bids
to be made. We charge that Hill,
the government architect, made
misrepresentation to Sherman
regarding the delay which would
be occasioned by having new bids
made, and that in fact, the
rooms were not ready for the
elevators for months subse-
/ quent to the time named.
In the opinion passed upon the re-
port by Secretary Sherman he
stated that ''but for the delay in this
case, a serious one. l would set
aside the award" Further assur-
auceS were given this CEN parry kat
} for any future contracts by gov
eminent Of an elevator, a full
and fair opportunity should be af-
forded US to compete for such
work. Since that date (79) we
have had no advice or opportunity
to compete for such work
! for the treasury department
! although we are advised a large
number of elevators have been con,
5 tracted for. Having thus already
called your attention to the mat.
ter, we would next respectfully ask
you to cause that an Investigation
be made showing how many eleva-
) tors have been contracted for since
l those for the custom house OF
> Chicago in 1878, where erected
; and by whom, and what
competition Of any was invited OF
allowed, under Hthe direction and
control of Architect Hill. feel great
injustice has been done in not giving
us an opportunity to compete for
such elevators as have been con.
i tracted for since those cited above.
Very respectfully,
r. II. CRANE. Presiaenk.