National Republican., 1883-04-20
THE HILL INVESTIGATION.
The Committee Notify the ArohitooVs Ac'
cusers that They are Ready TO Begin


The Committee Notify the ArohitooVs Acc
cuscrs that They are Ready to Begin
Business.
The special committee appointed TO investi-
gate the charges against Supervising Archi-
tect Hill held another meeting yesterday and
concluded the reading Of all tho charges on
file in the Treasury department. These in
clude the charges preferred by Hon. T. II.
Muroh, A. b. Mullett, Charles Roberts, and
Wm. II. Nicholson representing Manly,
Cooper 4 co.,, George w. Billings and Poul-
son &c Eyer (the Becla Architectural Lead
works, Of Brooklyn, N. W. Mr.. Billings
charges corruption and fraud on the part of
Mr.. Hill In the contract with Bartlett, Hay
wood & Co, for work on the New York post
office. He alleges that Mr. Hill always
allowed the firm TO furnish pipe Of less thick
ness than the specification called for, and
allowed them to submit without COM
petition supplemental bids, to accept pro-
posals for the continuance Of same work at
their own rates. He also charges Mr.. Hill
with incompetency, and suggests that he be
suspended during the investigation. The
charges preferred by Poulson q Eyer relate
to their treatment by Mr.. Hill In regard to
the contract for work>on the postofiice at Aus
tin, Texas. They allege that they mado OK
plicit charges Of fraud and misbehavior on the
part of the superintendent In charge Of the
building which were accompanied by proof.
These matters were entirely ignored by the
supervising architect, and never elected the
slightest response from him.
Accompanying the charges filed by A. b
Mullett ii letter addressed by him to Secre-
tary Folger from New York Nov. 20, 1881, In
which, among other things, he says &C. be-
lieve that keep strictly within the bounds
Of truth when l say that the government has
..,I ~
Mr.. Hill and his associates not less than
$10000,00o, and this can be proved to your
entire satisfaction, and so clearly that 1t can
| not be denied"
There are eleven specifications to Mr.. Null
lett's charges which allege mismanagement
or corruption IN the following particulars:
/. In the matter of the sale Of old material
at Dix island and It's purchase at an enor'
| nous price. 2, In the matter Of l.. Il. Cannon,
who, Mr.. Mullettsays was proved to be corrupt
and guilty of penal offense, yet tpermitted "a
resign and practice as agent and attorney in
| the Office of the supervising architect. g. Ex-
penditures made on the Postofiice department
building under direction of Supervising Arch
itect Hill, by A. J. Thompson. 4. Unneces
sary and collusive expenditures for tho recon
struction Of heating apparatus Of the treas
ury building 5. Changes in the plans ol
basement of Ithe Philadelphia postofiice
made for the benefit Of the contract
ors for tho granite. 8. Forgery of pay
rolls in the office of supervising architect BY
Charles Williams, foreman. z. Offer Of th'
superintendent of the construction bureau o.
engraving and printing to award contract fol
brick for consideration, said superintendent
being under the immediate control and super
vision of the supervising architect; 8, re-
moval Of the superintendent Of repairs a
Pittsburg on false charges by the supervis
ing architect 80, substitution of proposal, a.
increased prices, by consent of Supervising
Architect Hill 10, attempt to destroy th'
custom house at Chicago" IL, cancellation O
the percentage contracts for granite cutting by
Secretary Sherman, and the substitution
therefor of specific contracts at fraudulent
rates.
The committee will not meet again unit
next Mondayyunless something should occu,
in the meantime to call them together.
A letter has been addressed by the commit
tee to all the gentlemen preferring charges
notifying them that the committee is ready
at their convenience to hear and inspect sucf
proofs as they may present In substantiatioI
of the charges made by them. The lette
concludes as follows: "The sessions of th
committee will be open TO all who may wisl
to attend, and all testimony offoret
will be received and geographically re
ported. The witnesses will be examined
under oath, and any that may b
| IN une employ OIL tno uopartmono VIM
upon such examination, shall disclose an.
frauds or wrong doing by other officers o
employees of the department shall not be dis
turbed In their situations because of sucl
testimony. Such papers and records of tn
department as may be material to the prope
investigation of the charges will be subject Il
your inspection, and you may if you desire
be represented by counsel. The department
will furnish. such clerical aid as may be re
| ouired IL Ia the earnest desire of the secre
tary that the investigation be full, open, ant
impartial to the end that Justice be done 3
the government as we'll as to the accused.
| Tho latter is sipned hv the antire cnmmittaf