The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-06-20
ARCHITECT HILL,
Progress of the Investigation Into
His Alleged Crookedness---
Dorsey's Threatened On.
slaught---Evans at
Work.

| w OFk.
WASHINGTON, D. c., June 19.-The Hill
investigating committee reconyeped this
morning, and Gen Steinmetz was cross.
| examined
| Question-If you should take one stone in
any one course and apply to it the standard
OF cost which rules under the contract
through the whole building, and that stone
| should be avery large one, with great deal
OIL surface cutting, would it not show, as com
| pared with smaller stone, an excessive cost,
"ilich would rather be apparent than real?
Answer--lt would not be possible to com
pare a twelve-ton plaster, which requires
much labor to move it, and costs S. per foot,
with small stone requiring but little sur
| lace cutting, and costing not half SO much
| Hlii-But that is what the contract calls
| for
Witness-Then all have got to say is there
was not much sense in such a contract
| Thomas stated that one element of the CON
| tract for cutting and dressing was the ex-
| treme low price for which rough stone was
| obtained by the government Defense wished
| show that this was one of the reasons for a
more liberal contract for cutting
Coleman-While it may be satisfaction
| for the public to learn that the government,
| In one instance did not suffer through a con
| tract, it is certainly improper TO admit that
the government could recompense a losing
contractor by making another contract with
HIM, through which the government must be
a loser.
Mr. Thomas put a hypothetical question
based on the assumption that certain num-
Der of days were required under the Is Der
cent. contract to cut certain stone, and ELECTED
the reply: 81 would not take the word Of
any sculptor or stone-cutter who had been
working under the Is per cent. contract 1t
would not be safe estimate to base a con-
tract on
Thomas-Suppose he could not keep it?
Coleman-Then | would give the buildings
away and be done with it,
Coleman said it would not be fair to take
the Philadelphia contract as a criterion for
the-others, for they were totally different.
He had looked over the contracts for the st.
Louis and Cincinnati buildings, and as law
yer must admit that he had never seen SO
much cheek displayed except in the amount
ol lees taken by the government counsel in
the star-route cases. The prosecution pro
posed to show not one fraud but scores, and
the systematic plundering of the government
in the erection of public buildings.
Chairman New stated that the committee
after considerable reflection, decide for the
present to contine the inquiry to the PhiladeI-
phla public building. The committee did not
believe they should investigate the rulings of
the former secretary of the treasury OF the
acts of the former supervising architects, but
should endeavor to find out whether or not
Mr. Hill had been guilty of fraud or corrup-
ton in office.
Hon. Kenneth Raynor solicitor of the
treasury, was next called by the prosecution.
He testified in effect that there is no statute
which authorizes the supervising architect of
the treasury to make contracts for and on be-
half of the government; that no money can
be expended upon public buildings until the
plans and estimates have been approved by
the secretary of the treasury; that the power
to make contracts could not DO delegated to
supervising architects.
Mr.. Coleman then preferred specific charges
against Hill of making extravagant contracts
with Daniel French, of Assistant Secre-
tary Of the Treasury French for furnishing
statuary for the Philadelphia building, and
asked the committee to order Hill to produce
all papers bearing upon the matter.
The committee so ordered and adjourned
WHAT DORSEY MAY DO IF HE CHOOSES.
The correspondent of The Chicago Herald
telegraphs his paper as follows: A gentle
man who knows considerable of the materia;
Senator Dorsey has in reserve said ''Logau
viii have a poor show if he essays any fight
on Dorsey The ex-senator weighs his Ian.
gdage well, and when he says a thing he bay
documents at hand to support his statements,
He has several letters from Logan which
would he read with aviClity at this stage of
the game, and if kept back until about the
time of the national convention would
kill whatever chances the Illinois senator has
for the nomination. 1t is difficult to predict |
when these letters will be given to the public |
Perhaps Logan may be tempted to say some
thing in reply to that interview which will
render their speedy PRONUNCIATION necessary |
But Dorsey aas other crows to pick He can
show the weak spots of many eminent |
Republicans. Dorsey, however, may not
use all his powers of retaliation. He has had |
provocation enough to bring all his perse- |
cutors down on their marrow bones He i? |
not vindictive, but there may he circum. |
stances which will compel him to act for the |
sake of further vindication of his character |
| tell you he is the Sampson that can pull |
down the pillars of the Republican temple |
Whether he will exert his strength or not re- |
mains to be seen. | think he will Then woe |
betide the Philistines