The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-03

WASHINGTON. April p.
The latest piece of official deviltry
that has come to light in turmoil-rid-
den Washington is the charges of
MessrS. Mullett and Murch against
Supervising Architect Hill, Of the
treasury department. 1t is a common
practice for jealous government Off
Gals to make
CHARGES OF CROOKEDNESS
against a brother employee who ex-
cites his jealousy and envy. An in
vestigating committee is the result
and if the charged official is not found
guilty his character is somewhat
damaged any way and he will feel it
much harder to rise in the service in
the future. Hill is in a position of
great responsibility. He has to make
contract awards and see that work is
properly.done, and if he wished to be
dishonest he could make immense
sums by having understandings with
the numerous shrewd contractors
with whom he deals. He has been in
charge Of the supervising architects
office now for long time and until
recently was giving unqualified salts
faction to his SuperiorS. Mullett and
Murch are bitter personal enemies to
Hill, and to damage him they claimed
in general way that great corrup-
ton and irregularities existed in his
office. hoping that an investigating
committee would be able to discover
frauds. The committee was
promptly organized and began de-
tailed examination of the super
vising architects Office, but every
thing was found to be efficiently and
honestly conducted as far as they
went. The two accusers were called
upon to testify, but they attempted
to cowardly sneak away, claiming
that the investigation was conducted
in the interest of Hill, and that they
would not be allowed to make cor
rect statements. Here the matter
rests at present. The investigation is
being openly conducted and the
action of Mullett and Murch in not
wanting to testify is strongly de-
nounced by government officials who
contend that their accusations are
groundlesS and false and simply an
attempt to injure Mr. Hill. The
supervising architects Office is one of
a general Importance, and Murch
and Mullett will probably be made to
prove these allegations or be sued for
malicious defamation of character.
Accusing officials has got to be COM
mon practice in the last few admins
trations, and the accusers should al
ways be forced to appear before
committee appointed for the purpose
and prove their charges or be sum-
marily punished.
THE POLITICAL CHESS BOARD.
Sam Randall has been busy at work
in the last few days among the Mary
land Democratic politicians fixing his
fences for the SpeakerShip of the next
house. The eX-Speaker is one of the
shrewdest wire-pnllers in America,
and to thus more than to his ability
he always relies in a political contest.
He hates newspaper talk, and likes to
move around entirely unknown to the
public. Maryland will probably be
as far south as he will venture to go,
for the Democrats in the other south
ern states hold tariff views entirely
different from Mr.. Randall, and he
would get little comfort by going
there. Evenin Maryland his canvass
did not work very smoothly, for, in
spite of the enormous manufacturing
interests of that state, there is a
strong sentiment in favor of tariff for
revenue only. Randall's tactics are
to obtain the votes of all of the north
ern Democrats, and on tho assem-
bling of congress say to those from
the south: You will have to vote for
me or there will be a split
in the party. In other words,
he expects to bulldoze the Carlisle
men from that section and from the
west. He cares nothing for the other
Democratic aspirants. In the mean
time it is to be regretted that
Mr.. CARLISLE AND HIS FRIENDS
are doing nothing; that statesman
seems entirely to rely upon his pas.
record for support. putting more faith