Daily globe., 1883-07-23
Hills CROOKEDNESS,
A Statement of the Case Against the
Supervising Architect of the Treasury
Strong Points in Support of the Charges
of Mr.. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Prices Paid
for Cheap Work.
fsnenial Telegram to the Globe !

ISeecial Telegram to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, July 22.-Tne charges as
to poor work in supplying the Chicago
Postofice building are to be investigated.
Chairman New says the accusations made
by A.. B. King and others as to the quality
of the heaters are much too grave to be
dismissed without consideration, and that
the committee will examine the matter for
themselves in Chicago, and will probably
start for that place by the middle of the
coming week. Mr.. New, of course, is a
Judge in the court, and does not express
opinions. but it is very evident that so
much has been said from Chicago
by responsible persons, as to
the character of the work done
there that very serious impression has
been created upon them and the members
desire to inspect for themselves the exact
character of the work. If small part of
that which has been reported as to the
method of letting contracts in Chicago is
true, certainly the architects Office cannot
expect vindication as to that branch
of the inquiry. It is an open question
or any of the other points, with respect to
which those prosecuting the investigation
desire to have inquiries made. It seems
probable that the committee will not visit
any of the eastern places.
The prosecution is unwilling to close the
case as to any one of the cities, as it de-
sires to treat the general charge of fraud
and mismanagement as whole. Lawyer
Coleman to-day said that he had no case as
to any one city. Mr.. Coleman, Matt. Car
penter's old law partner, who has charge
of the prosecution against Supervising
Architect Hill, says that one prin cipal rea-
son why the committee intends to investi-
gate the Chicago custom house on the
spot is that it is impossible to get evidence
here relating to the overshadowing in
| fuence of the administration. Architects
and experts, men of all sorts, say
that they get their living from
TIE government, and that their business
depends upon it, and that while the
charges made are to their knowledge in
many particulars true, they will not volun-
teer any testimony, and will not testify
without they are forced to do so. Mr..
Coleman said in detail: "The committee
is going to Chicago for the purpose of
investigating the contract of Bartlett, Rob-
bins & Co., for putting in the heating ap-
paratus. There was man employed by
this comp pany by the name of Newton at
the time the contract was awarded to them
who was an engineer, and who made the
plans in connection with the heating ap,
paratus. When the work was finished
Newton resigned his position with the
firm and was employed by
the architects Office to go to
Chicago and inspect the work connected
with the heating apparatus. He went to
Chicago, inspected the work and reported
that everything was all right. On his re-
port the superintendent of the building
certified that the work was satisfactory,
and Mr.. Hill paid for it. The contract
was for about $148,OO0. After Newton
finished his work of Inspection he resigned
his position under the supervising archi-
tect and went back to the company, and is
at work with them to-day"
a NOTABLE DEATH.
A telegram was received at the Japanese
legation announcing the death Friday
morning at Kioto, japan, of Twakura, the
second prime minister ofJapan. n. Dai-
jim, a gentleman who knows him we'll, says:
"Iwakura was one of the most distin-
guished men of japan. He belonged to
the old court nobility, and the Office he
held was hereditary in his family. He
took prominent part in the momentous
events which led to the restoration of the
empire in 1868, and a 10 less distin-
guished share in important occurrences
which have marked the social and political
history of Japan since that event. In 1872
his visited America and Europe at the
head of the embassy which was sent from
Japan to the western powers, and he had
the credit of taking q leading part in in
augurating OF his return home the
policy which has since been
followed by the japanese government
He was man of fine presence, of singu-
larly attractive manners and Of pure and
upright character. Japan loses in his
death statesman whom it will be hard to
replace, whose name has become historical
in connection with the greatest epoch in
her national life and man who COM
manded the respect and admiration of his
countrymen and foreigners alike Iwakura
had been an invalid for some time past
and fatal result of the malady from which
he suffered was not altogether unantici-
pated.
COllOdion as Generator Of Electricity.
Professor Guthrie has some time
since utilized the mixture Of collodion
and India rubber for this purpose,
and also given it a wider scope. AS
regards electricity, it is very remark
able that if you rub glass with the
. sheet of India rubber and collOdion.