Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-19
The Hill Investigation.

CROss-ExAMINATIoN OF GBN sTINEMETZ.
The Hill Investigating committee reconvened at
II o'clock this morning and Gen. Stinemetz was
called to the stand for cross-examination.
Question: you should take one stone In any
one course and apply to 1t the standard OF cost
which rules under the contract through the whole
building, and that stone should be q very large
one with great deal OF surface-cutt!ng, would 1t
not show, as compared with q smaller stone, an
excessive cost, which would rather be apparent
than real?
Answer.-It would not be possible to compare
tWelve:ton plaster, which required much labor to
move it and costs nve dollars per foot, with q
small stone, requiring but little surface-cutung
and costing not half so much.
Mr.. Hill-But that is what the contract calls
Witnesa-Then all have to say is there was
not much sense in such contract
Ques-lf the prices allowed in the modified con-
for cutting the stones might not either quarry or
net dimensions be used in making the calculations
,Ans-Yes, str; it is a mere question of conve-
nience.
Ques-Are you familiar with the value Of the
stock used in the Philadelphia building?
AnS.-1 have seen the contract
Mr. Thomas-But that Is not an answer Do
you not kow that the stone used the Phade
three or four times as much as the government
Mr.. Coleman objected to the question as irrele-
want to the subject under investigation. The con-
tract for furnishing the stone was entirely sepa-
rate and Independent OF the contract for working
and dressing
Mr.. Thomas replied that one element of the con.
tract for cutting and dressing was the extreme
low price for which the rough stone was obtained
by the government The defense wished to show
that this was one reason for more liberal con-
tract for cutting.
Mr.. Coleman.-While 1t may be a satisfaction
Tor the public to learn that the government in one
instance did not suffer through contract, It Is
certainly improper to admit that the government
Roafn hryv, nl.fv,,
another contract with him through which the
government must be loser.
The croSS-eXamtnation was continued with fre-
quent DTS of argument on the part OF counsel and
occasionally sharp retort. At one point, when
the witness replied with some impattence, Mr.
as an expert"
Mr. Coleman replied: 1--WE think your compe-
tency to put questions should first be tested.
WltnesS was shown photograph OF the Phila-
delphia building. and was asked: From your ex-
perence as an architect which would you say
nice OF the first or third stories?
AnS.-l did not compute the first story.
MT. Tn0maS-But can you not see by looking at
tne pans, ana can you not give an opinion7
WltneSS-l 90 not care to give an opinion with.
out making calculations. am not guess man.
on the assumption that a certain number OF days
were required under the Is per cent contract to
cut a certain stone, and elected reply: 1 would
not take the word OF any sculptor or stOne-cutter
who had been working under the Is per cent con.
tract It would not be safe estimate to base q
contract on.
Mr. Thomas.-suppose he could not help III
MT. Coleman-Then would give the building
away and be done with it
(CONTINUED IN THE SECOND rnrrgor1