New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-22
FRERET UNDER FIRE.
SENATOR TELLERs RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
SCOPE OF THE INQUIRY BRoADENED-MATTERs
IN WHICH BROOKLYN AND CHICAGO
rpY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TxIsUNES

rELb1kArh TO the
Washington, Dec. 2l.-After It had been slightly
amended Senator Teilers resolution investigate the
dhcs of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury was
adopted to-day without a division As modified the
resolution provides that the management OF the once
BY Trercts predecessor well as by himself SHAH be
investigated. No Senator ready to rcfute the
charges deny the truth OF them, but Messrs Gibson
Call and Vest objected TO that part OF the resolution
which reflected personally upon Architect FTeret On
that point Mr.. Teller not tenacious; he cared
more fer the substance than the form OF the !esolu-
ton Mr. Vest was not so considerable OF the feelings
Of Frerets Republican predecessors, and he declared
hat ex-Architect HIPS official conduct ought TO be
Investigated.
Senator Hale and Senator Morrill, both stated that
~ official investigation of Mr. HILL while he was yet
Al officer Of the Treasury, had resulted in his COM
phe exonera ion. Mr. Hale went in
lason TO the imprts;on that Mr.. Hin had retired
fron Office with fortune that. far from that being
the case Mr.. Hin had been poor man before he went
into the office, had been poor man when he went
out Of It, and had gone patiently and lsboriously TO
wort and had been earning an honest livelihood since
Nj Call argued thai newspaper statements did not
iusit a resolution Of inquiry
Mr.. Teller did not understand his resolution 10 be
rejection the Supervising Architect although it
might be a reflection the in which the
duties v The Office performed
Mr. Gibson spoke of Mr. Freret citizen Of
whom he has never known honorable man
Unless tcc substantial ground which
base resolution, the best thing would be- under
the circumstances refer the resolution to the Com
mite Public Buildings and Grounds. Such In
vestigatio,s should be foot vague, nebu
lous, Alphabetical newspaper statements
Mr. Sherman. who secretary of the Treasury at
The time q the Hill investigation, then took the
floor and sid that that inquiry had lief Mr.. Hill
untained AID he had been restored to his office. from
which he hh been temporarily suspended pending
the Investigation
Senator Slponer remarked that the Special Com
mitce th Civil Service had found occasion to
Investigate III, charges respecting the purchase of
site fur a net building at Bngham,on. New-YOrk.
and while nothing hal been found which directly
affected Architect Freret. it found tina, his
personal representative in that transaction had been
gully Of the g,svest and grossest impropriety. He
thought invetigaiion necessary.
II is certain hat the committee will find fruit
full field. only In Washington, but in several towns
and CT les in whi,h sites have been bought and con-
tracts for building let within the past two wears.
Brooklyn and Chicago two of these places. II
may lie remembered that when the proposals for
n. Brooklyn building opened # found that
the lid OF Contractor Gobel of Chicago. was some
100000 lower than OF the Others.
Tie contract was awarded to him and
be returned Chicago TO obtain signatures
his bond. His friends say that the Brooklyn
lung tfieN 10 bUy OObel on, thdt ne rc
fused be bought While in Chicago Gobel was
suddenly stricken with Illness and removed
10 sanitary resort IN Michigan; and while he
PROSTATE bed of sickness. unable to transact
any business wbawver, dispatch was sent 10 him
from the Treasury Department informing him that
unless he should execute and file his bond within four
days his deposit Of 81 900 would be forfeited and the
contract awarded 10 the next lowest bidder. That
happened. and 5obels friends assert mat he was
the victim Of snap Judgment
On the other land ii has been asserted that salts
factory terms wee made with Gobel and that he lost
nothing by the Transaction. The next lowest bidder
by some $4,000 or more was Mr.. Lamb Brook
lyn man. He is responsible and lad fulfilled
previous contracts with the Government TO It's salts
faction But he Republican. II the contract
should be awarded TO Lin, Of the profits thereof
would find their way into the packets of the Demo
cratic gang which had fourlshel long in the City
OF Churches" TINS intelligence flashed over the wires
from Washington o brooklyn and was promptly com
nunicaed TO two vigilant seepless patriots Chair
man Murtha, Of the state Democratic Executive
Committee, and hll7 Furoy, secretary of the Kings
County Democratic COMMITTEES. no time was lost
They boarded the midnight train for Washington and
were at the White House early the next morning
secretary Fsirchd sent for and secret conference
held then and there.
The contract mus be awarded to Barney Gala
Cler." That their ultimatum.
Barney" was the thiid lowest bidder, and he is
stanch friend II not an active member Of the gang
II is reported that Secretary Fachild dcmurrcd, say
Ing in substance that IL would look bad TO give inc
contract TO whose bid was so mrch hehcr
tlan that OF another competitor, simply because the
former a Democrat and the latter Republican
Well" replied the Brooklyn statesmen, " the matter
stands like this. If you don't give the contract 10
'Iarney' we'll have TO meet the voters on elecuoh
Gay with empty hands and you needn't expect very
tis majority for the National ticket in Kings County
That's al there is about it,"
eli flp
growing hot signs Of Democratic disafecton had be-
gun to multiply. and there an unexpected demand
To be nat, What could be done Architect Frcrc' Was
called in and he intimaed that way could Dc 1ouhd
to get I'D of the obnoxious Republican bidder and
leave .lear field for Barney and DOODLE Blu
he did no like TO assume the entire responsibility Tor
doing II. Tho Republican bidder had NEGLECTED. to
comply with minor requirement Of the proposals
relating TO samples Of materials and his bid might be
rejected onthat technically. That was done Lamb
slaughtered and Barney got the contract, and
II is said hat he a liberal contributor TO the
Democratic campaign fund.
The attention of Representative Cheadlc Of In
diana, havini been drawn 10 the matter az the last
session he offered resolution OF inquiry which was
referred 10 TIN Committee on Expenditures on Public
Buildings. of shich the Hon. Timothy J. Campbell IS
chairman Wien Our Tim" read the resolution h"
winked a sly wink. then fTowned. and opened his
mouth and sale: " DO theys think I'm a blank fool TO
report back rsoluton that reflects tie b'ycs In
DrCoklyni No. sir This resolution won't see day
light until hnest and noble frnd. Grover Cleve-
land has been gain declared the peoples chfce for
President FOR a second terrun." And so Tim" thrust
the resolution int, the darkest of the busiest
pigeon-hole in his committee room and gave II
no further thought although the rules Of The House
REQUIRED that SUCH resolution shall BE- reported
back within DAYS. After several weeks had
passed Mr. Cheadle rose In the House one day ana
asked what the Committee had done with his resolu
Ton Our Tim" vas equal 10 Inc occasion lie
and sad
The committee is able at this time only 10 report
progress
pigeon role. But Mr.. Chcadle has no forgotten ~