Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-21
The Senate Adopts the Resolu-
ton to Investigate It.
Then Goes on with the Tariff Bill
THE NICARAGUA BILL.
Under Consideration in the House.
The Senate.

dlleSlng uenlal OF the r1gnt OF voting at the
late election and praying an investigation. Re-
ferred.
Mr.. Hale, from the committee on naval af-
fairs, reported back the Senate bill giving the
Pensacola and Memphis railroad company
right of way through the United States naval
and military reservation near Pensacola, Fla.
Passed.
THE PUBLIC PRINTING DEFICIENCY BILL PASSED.
The public printing deficiency bill was re-
ported back (without amendment) by Mr.. Hale
and passed. 1t appropriates S63, 900 for that
purpose and $1,000 for the observation of
the eclipse of the sun ON the 1st Of January
next.
THE PROPOSED INVESTIGATION OF THE sUPERv1s-
ING ARCHITECTS OFFICE.
The resolution offered yesterday by Mr.. Tel
Ter for the appointment of committee to in
vestigate the affairs Of the supervising archi-
tect of the Treasury during the administration
OF the present supervising architect was taken
up;
making it include also the administr sion Of
the last supervising architect.
MIR. Teller accepted the amendment.
Mr.. Allison inquired Of MIR. Vest what the
object Of the amendment was.
THE CONTRACT AND DAYS WORK SYSTEM con-
TRAsTED.
Mr.. Vest said he took it for granted that the
proposed investigation was not q personal at
tack. He intended none by his amendment
But if he had learned anything as a member of
the committee on public buildings and grounds
with which he had been connected ten years.
the present system in regard to the construc-
ton of public buildings He would put the
whole matter of the construction of public
buildings under the contract system, which, he
said, was infinitely superior to the other
system. In that connection Mr.. Vest told
OF a conversation which he had recently had
with Gen. Casey (''the best administrative
officer in the erection of public buildings in
United States, ifnot in the worldly, in which
Gen. Casey compared the cost of frescoing and
plastering in the south wing Of the State, War
and Navy building by day's-work (S10S, ,000)
with the cost of like work in the north wing
(exactly the same dimensions) by contract
(S33. .OO0)--the latter work being done in one
third of the time that the other occupied. Mr.
Vest also referred to the slow manner in which
the work on the capitol parapets was being
carried on, and to the new library building,
which. he said, would not have been completed
during the life of the youngest Senator il It
had been left under the day's-work system.
He said he had known the present supervising
architect, Mr.. Freret for many years. and he
believed that it would be found on investiga-
tion that the trouble Of the whole matter was
from it. He spoke of the investigation of the
Office some ten or twelve years ago. when it
was shown. he said, that there was ''ring'' in
Washington which controlled the giving of con-
tracts for public buildings.
THE OLD INVESTIGATION.
Mr.. Morrill, remarked that the examination
alluded to had entirely exculpated the then su-
pervising architect, Mr.. Hill.
Mr.. Hale went over the points of the investi-
CATION OF the supervising architects office in
Mr.. Hills time. and said that 1t had resulted in
the complete exoneration of Mr.. Hill
Mr.. Vest suggested that Mr. Hill had been
'PERMITTED TO RESIGN"
Mr.. Hale-He was restored and held his place
for long time.
Mr.. Hale went on to say, in relation to the
imputation that Mr. Hill had retired fromythe
office with a fortune, that, so far from that be-
ing the case. Mr.. Hill had been poor man be-
fore he went into the office, had been a poor
man when he went out of it, and had gone pa
tiently and laboriously to work and had been
earning an honest livelihood since.
SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITY RESTS UPON CON-
GREssMEN.
He did not believe that contracts were made
under the dictates of '.ring." Much of the
trouble in the Office arose from the pressure
brought to bear in regard to public buildings by
ton of the supervising architect was entirely too
small-less than that of an architect employed
in erecting private and public buildings in the
states. 80 that he wondered that any good
architect could afford to take the Office.
Mr.. Call argued that newspaper statements
did not justify aresolution ofinquiry. Although
he should vote for the resolution, he desired to
express his sorrow that such a habit should
prevail.
Mr.. Teller did not understand his resolution
to be reflection on the supervising architect,
although it might be a reflection on the man
ner in which the duties of the Office are per-
formed. He supposed they were done just as
they had been for the last twenty-five years.
The vice was in the system.
MIR. GIBsoN's VIEW OF IT.
Mr.. Gibson spoke Of Mr.. Freret as citizen
of Louisiana whom he has known for years,
and than whom he had never known more
honorable man. Unless there was some sub
stantial ground on which to base the resolu-
ton the best thing would be. under the circum-
stances, to refer the resolution to the COM
mittee on public buildings and grounds.
Such investigations should not be set on foot
on vague, nebulous, hypothetical newspaper
statements. An American traveller, in Europe,
he said, might suppose, from the impressions
left there by surly newspaper statements, that
the Senate of the United States was the repre-
sentative Of a mob and not a Of moral and en-
ASuecucu pcOpie.
Mr.. Teller disclaimed an attack on anybody
by his resolution.
Mr.. Vest remarked to Mr.. Gibson that he
supposed that the ground of the resolution
was the charges contained in the Washington
Post giving names and dates.
Mr.. Gibson under those circumstances with
drew his suggestion as to reference Of the
resolution.
MR. HILL HAD BEEN RESTORED TO OFFICE.
MIR. Sherman (who was Secretary of the
Treasury when the Hill investigation was made)
said that that investigation had left Mr.. Hill
untainted, and that (having been temporarily
suspended) he had been restored TO ONCE.
Mr.. Hawley moved to amend the resolution
by striking out the preamble and merely i'm
structing the committee on public buildings
and grounds to investigate the conduct Of the
Office.
Mr.. Spooner referred to the testimony taken
by the committee ON civil-service reform,
showing that the gentleman who had been sent
rom Washington TO select site Tor the Bing-
guilty Of
THE oAAvRsT AND oRossEsr uroPnxkrY.
He should never think Of imputing that TO the
supervising architect, but II showed the nscss-
sity Of an investigation of the Office.
rHx 1HsoLUT7ox ADOPTED.
Finally the resolution was modified, = sug-
gested by Mr.. Hawlsy, and agreed to.
BONE PURCHASE.
The resolution offered yesterday BY Mr.
Plumb calling on the Secretary q the TfeaeuRy
1or ntatnunnnf a "A NJ uur0hann ~ hnnAa