New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-13
THE REPORT IN THE HILL CASE.
THE SUPERVISING ARCHITECT GUILTY OF OFFICIAL
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUSEl


THE SUPERVISING ARCHITECT GUILTY OF OFFICIAL
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
my TELEGRAPH THE rRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12.-The report Oh tno
Hin Investigating Committee, hieh was omitted 10
s,arv FcIcer on Monday is all elaborate document.
There is some believe that 1t VIII result III INC
resignation OF the Supervising Architect anous" HOu
of the conclusions reached by the committee pioouhoo
him guilty of corrupt action 1t expected tN"' '"o
full report will be given TO the puDhc SOON Inc CUM
mtee SAYS the testimony of one expert Mr. steinme'I'
IN the excessive and unnecessary cost OF cutting
the store for the Philadelphia puolc buiing although
startling was directly contradcted ny tho testimony VI
other experts. The committee Is OF the OPINION nov"
ever that the OF the stone Tor the fhiauepu'"
building was greater by about S56SOoO than II wouu
have been had the old contracts been annued ana ne"
ones made after inviting free competition. The com
mee saws there were legal obstacles which prevented
the cancellation OF the old contracts ana therefore inc
best that practicable under the circumstances was
probably done Respecting the charges brought ny
Paulson q Eager, the committee finds hat 'hey were
not sustained by the evidence ana al the Sc'o VI '
Supervising Architect was proper.
The next matter taken up is the hreprooi shutter con
tract for the Cincinnati public building ln'o''ng 'ue
controversy the United States shutter Company
and Maniey, Cooper a. co. After reviewing the tesu-
mopy relating to the charges by the latter hfh' lho
committee hnds that there al apparent determine
ton ON In, mart OF the Supervising Architect not TO
ow tree conpetinon but 10 give the contract To the
United States Shutter Company, although Nancy
Cooper & Co. offered TO do the WORK ior les sum
The committee ssysit is driven TO the conclusion 'ha
ne not only dd not all lac could III that case To save
500 600 TO the Government but that be did not Intend
that Manley Cooper Co. should have the contract Al
oil In regard to the contract for nreproo vaults ana
safes the committee finds that DDS nave oeeh ih'eU
by advertisement only once since 1872 ana th"' during
the last eight years George L. Damon VINO Is Also al
officer of the United states Shutter Company, has hcd
the contract furnishing all the sales ana building all
tho vaults required fe public buildings. Duilns That
period he has been paid S339OOO Nhle II Is not SHOWN
mat good work and material have not been furnished
AT fair prices the committee Is OF the OPINION tha pro
ro.ols should have been advertised for each year IN
order 10 allow competition In regard To elevators
for public budngs the committee mas that since Nay
1879 when committee OF experts made reportn favor
of the Hale patent II mas been III use ana no compeu
uop has been invited allowed as Tic law requires Ia
this respect report says, the Supervising Architect
has acted contrary law, ana has been guilty OF Official
derelictiOn
Resneotlng the charge that Mr.. Nm had corruptly ia
contractors furnished slate ROOT iasten
ers of certain patent the committee finds that he acted
for the best interests OF the Government After care
iul analysis and revle" OF me testimony Slang TO lne
charge that the Supervising Architect acted Improperly
i'm approving certain extra bills Ior iron WOk on hc new
~ Post Office the committee says that he should
have gwen greater consideration 10 the reports OF Mr
stenmeu relating TO that subject iSnuon a. tle CIR
aIasn1 scYHtinS. Nevertheless the committee
dresses the opinion that the allowance made by Mr. Hl
| was substantially CORRECT ana JUST
| BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS SUGGESTED.
The committee says the careful consideration OF the
testimony has the conclusion that the Supervising
Architect mas guilty OF official iaVotsm ana mat
the business oce has not been conducted with the
care and Immortality which the interests OF the Govern
| meut and Justice individuals alike demanded The
work II says mas entirely OutgrOwn the system under
which II is conducted. What was adequate In 1888,
when 1t began amentabiy dehcentnow, when the eH-
n.pditnres OF single year public buildings exceed
the total res a ef sy year There are now
1872 pubic buildings under tue control OF the supervising
Architect, ana he has expended nearly @i,lOO,VVO III
rsnnIs alone The last Congress authorized thirty nyc
moro pubic buildings, which VIII cost not less than
gur.cd more than S23.O0O,O00 The committee declares
the immense discretionary power Oyer inc
yisug Architect ought not 10 DC conhded to any one
man he now dIes tue of proposals, makes the
| nisns and specifications hires them made without
| puDlc competition, decides what materials small be
used fixes tho rates OF wages oil large number SUD
ordlnates and skilled workuen ana decides "heh AnC
what repairs shall be made aud by whom lie may so
change me plans after contract has been made as viz
fusIy to abolish all competition He Is the sole Judge as
to hat amount shall he pald Tor any ~ok done outside
OF contract for he is an expert, and the accounting
officers of the Treasury perorce compelled TO accept
his certificate botH AS TO The necessity oil te WORK aOne
and the amoun 10 paid IT, Theoretically II Is true
saws the committee. that these responsibilities deVOVe
ury bu actually they must DO oorne by the superysiug
Architect long a. the present system Is man ,anGd
ali time aud that 1t should therefore build with due re
10 the each locality and that the materials
should suited the purposes Of the structure ana
fbe climate The report also expresses the opinion that
,he nreparnon OF plans for all public buildings should
be open TO competition In order that tue Gvvernent
might have tn benefit of.the learning and ss oil nc
sent nrores.iona architects throughout the country
1he Committee expresses the opinion thal Board OF
public buildings be created, similar 70 the Light
House Board that Secretary OF the treasury shOuId
he -oco president OF the BOARD anu inc % ny
required to pass upon all plans and specifications award
ali contracts approve all expenditure and In general
Yercise IN administrative powers necessary 10 the con-
strneton and repair OF public buildings leaving to the
SUPER vlsag Architect only the duties when properly
| belong 10 his ONCE