National Republican., 1883-04-18
AFTER THE ARCHITECT.
The Charges Preferred by Mr.. MurCh and
Others Against Mr.. Hill.
Tho Investigation to bo Conducted with
Open Doors.

Inc committee appointed 10 lnVeStlgaUe bne
charges against Supervising Architect Hill
met at the Treasury department yesterday
morning and mapped out plan Of procedure.
II was decided to conduct the investigation
with open doors daily between the hours of
10 q. m. and / p. m, and allow representatives
of the press and other interested persons to
attend the sessions. The committee will
meet again to-day at which time the charges
will be read and a day will then be set for
taking testimony. The investigation proper
will probably begin next Monday. All per-
sons who have filed charges or complaints
will be notified 10 be present either in person
or by proxy on that day. A full stenographic
report Of the testimony will be taken and
submitted TO the secretary with the report of
the committee. Assistant Secretary New,
who Is chairman Of the committee, says they
propose making q thorough and searching In
vestigation, and as their sessions will be open,
the public will have an opportunity to judge
of the truth or falsity of the charges against
Mr.. Hill equally as we'll as tho members Of
the committee.
The charges preferred by OK. Representative
Murch are drawn up in legal form and are
quite voluminous. The charges arc olassed
undor five different heads substantially as
follows:
l. General charges of corruption, fraud,
and extravaganza against ring in the archi-
tect's Office composed Of Assistant Architect
French, Architect Hill, Assistant Architect
Jacobs, A. q. Thomson, NJ. u. Powers, Il. j,
Little, Cannon, Church, Jordan, Bartlett,
Robbins & Co., and others.
2. Charge that Hill corruptly administers
patronage of his Office against the interests of
the United States.
3. Charge that contractors known TO bo
guilty of fraud are especially favored by the
supervising architect, having been largely
overpaid by many thousands of dollars, and
otherwise corruptly benefited.
4. Charge that unskilled and incompetent
persons are knowingly employed in the archi-
tects Office and paid at rates due tho compe-
tent-persons paid who hold sineoures and do
other work for which they are paid.
8. Charge that contracts have been let in vio-
lation of law to persons not the lowest bidders,
and that prices have been paid for labor and
material known TO have been extortionate
and excessive; that vouchers have been paid
for labor and materials never furnished, and
that vouchers bids and contracts have been
unlawfully and corruptly altered to the sd-
vantage and benefit of contractors.
Among the contractors alleged TO have been
improperly favored are the following: Capo
Ann Granite company, the Dix Island Granite
company, Badwell Granite company, Hurri-
cane Island Granite company, Old Dominion
Granite company, the Westham Granite
company, Collins Granite company, Clarke
Island Granite company, and Bartlett, Rob
bins & Co.
One of the specifications alleges that the
persons named in tho "ring" and their as
6ociates have exacted fees, commissions, per-
centsgeg, presents, shares, &C., from con-
tractors
The charges preferred by whitlatt, Tatum
& Co., of Philadelphia, relate to the contract
for furnishing iron shutters for the custom
house at Cincinnati. They allege as follows
Bids for this work wero opened Dec. IL, 1882.
There were four bidders. The lowest bid was
~ - l. a IL.
delphia. The nextlowest was $146,6 $40, made by
the United States Fire Proof Shutter company,
of Boston. The agent of the latter company
demanded q fire test, which was thereupon
ordered by the supervising architect Pending
the test the Philadelphia company was
approached by the agent of the Boston COM
pany. and offered bribe of %,50O to
withdraw their bid, being assured that
thoy would not lose standing in the
supervising architects office by 30 doing.
The supervising architect was subse-
quently officially notified of this transaction
The contract was, however, awarded to tho
Boston company, notwithstanding their bid
was $2l 900 in excess of that of the Philadel-
pbia company. The Philadelphia company
further state that they have credible informa-
tion that no fire test of any kind was actually
made of the shutters, and that the shutters
submitted by the Boston company did not
answer the description either of the spccifca-
tion or the supervising architects require
ments subsequently determined upon.
Another specification is that employees in
tho Office have used government time and
materials in the design and construction of
private dwellings. Among the witnesses
named arc Secretary Folger, Senator Dawes,
A. b. Mullett, w. G. Stinemetz, 4. II. ook-
shott, J. NJ. Wilbur, Joseph Worrus, j. w.
Barton, Michael Giblinu, T. L. james, and f.
II. Murch.
Eleven charges preferred against Mr.. Hill
-, M,.11a al,
architect, have also been referred to the
special committee. These charges allege gen
eral msmanagement on tho part of Mr.. Hill
in connection with tho postoffice at Philadel
phia and the custom house at Chicago. Mr..
Mulletts allegations cover period Of time
dating back to his own administration.
ANOTHER CARD FROM Mr.. MULLETT.
TO The Editor.
I am credibly informed that the ring Of
which Mr.. James G. Hill is the nominal head
are industriously circulating rumors to-day
to tho effect that ! msstated the facts in my
card of yesterday, and that because Hon. L.
q. Murch chose TO make certain letters of
mine part of his case, and also to insist on
action being taken in regard to certain plans
and indisputablb charges made by me in my
official capacity as far back as 1867, that did
take part in preparing the charges against
him now under consideration. He is also en-
delyoring to convey the idea that he Is now for
pnc HrbU blile IN possession OF leutorb OF mine
making tho charges referred to. Both state
ments are equally foolish, and are made only
for the purpose Of deuding and deceiving the
public, l made no statement In my card of
e Mondav that is not strictly true. have had
noth ng to dow with charges or investig gations in
the Il, asury since Oct, 10, when l resigned a
most dsagreeable Office. 1t is notorious that
have made serious charges against Mr.
Hill for years past, and that / have
never been able to get them Investigated.
If Mr.. Murch can do so shall be under obli-
cations to him, though I have not met him
for over two years 1t is ridiculous for Mr.
Hill TO pretend that he Is now for the first
time able to procure letters Of mine making
the charges he is so excited over at this late
date. have filed all my charges against him
with the secretary of the treasury. know
that all of any moment were sent TO him and
placed ON file in his Office, and believe all
were. know it Ia not pleasant TO have such
charges made public, but Mr.. Hill must take
the rough with the smooth, and can accept
my assurances that / not only made the
charges, but can prove them.
My only object in my card Of Monday, and
my only object in this, is to let the public
know that his statement that he is prosecuted
by me is absurd. have performed my duty,
and denounce his acts, and have no other feel
ing toward him than have toward any other
official believe to be equally corrupt. am
aware that the ring Of which he is the slave