New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-28
COL. FRERET DISTURBED.
HIS OFFICE TO BE INVESTIGATED IN1MEDl
ATELY.
TRYING TO FIND OUT WHO REVEALED HIS
SCHEME TO RUSH THROUGH CONTRACTS
GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TKIBUNE.I

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TKIBUNE.J
Washington. Dec. 27.-The investigation VI uio
Office of Supervising Architect Freret under senator
Terer's resolution. will begin Immediately upon the
sscmbng Of the senate after the holidays Proof Of
quest onable transactions By officials Of that bureau
multiply, and doubtless the senate committee VIII
unearth much that is yet hidden from honest daylight
The mere fact that Colonel FIeIot has rcsored to
every means 70 discover who revealed his scheme or
pcdline drawings for public buildings to irfrsi"h
slble parties Is prima tacic evidence O' CUNT II
they are not violating the law, why should the state
ments OF a Republican newspaper an approaching
Investigation by the United States snate so disturb
his eiuanimlty? when Colonel FIcrct had determined
upon his plan OF rushing the drawings for twenty OF
moro public buildings through with Indecent hasie
80 a. 10 get the building, under contract before ne
should be called upon surrender the Office 10 his
successor he took every precauon to keep the matter
from leaking out None but the faithful were let
into the secret The Supervising Architect and his
subordinate chiefs discussed the plan in whispers
a fact entirely al variance with honest intentions
Colonel Frerct wei knew that no Senator or Reprcsen
tanve in Congress would tolerate his idea OF giving
their cities second hand buildings or hft-raie designs
Therefore 1t necessary 10 the success OF his scheme
10 keep It quiet lie well knew that there would be
regular monkey and parrot time" If congressman
should learn that he had ordered that old interior
finish made for aad used in other buildings, second
hand plans, mouldings cornices etc. be used IN the
drawings for their pet buildings therefore the "hoio
thing must be kept dark
Freret's idea is TO use anything and everything,
matter how old or how bad, in the drawings for all
new buildings ordered by Congress, just so these
drawings are got out in time for him 10 let the con
tracts before he vacates. This could only be done
by pedling the work out at IS and "a OF one per
cent on the cost of the buildings. This Freret has
done thus insulting every true member OF the arch
tectral profession No dst-class architect Will pre-
pare drawings for less than IL per cent NO good
architect viii give his superintendent for less thah
5 IL per cent And when the fact becomes known
10 the architects of the country that the Supervising
Architect has been letting out the public work 10
irresponsible and incompetent persons, without com
petition and at Is and "a Of one per cent uus
reducing the price of their labor to a mere plttance
they will denounce Frerets degradation Of the pro
fessiOu in unmistakablc terms. 1t Is matter OF
regret that the did not take some action before
the holiday recess toward putting stop to all work
thus let out by FIeret at There is no doubt
but what much If not all Of this work will be cancelled
and condemned by Congress IN the end. Meanwhile
he is going ahead with the work with the approval
Of the secretary Of the Treasury. Won Ncra Ohlmann
chief draugh tsman busiy engaged outside upon TWO
Of The largest public buildings at Lowell Mass, and
Brmin gham Ala while those unfortunate diaugh'smen
who either refused become parties TO Frcets scheme
or who applied for Of the work and were refused
bv him. have little or nothing 10 do in the Office.
Architects, and it remains TO be seen whether they
will tolerate his action in this matter or condemn and
expel him for the h. has taken 10 degrade the
profession to which he belongs
Colonel Fster left Washington today for the
South 10 select sites for public buildings in several
towns lie is a man whose works " do follow him."
Some time ago he was sent 10 Springfield No. 10
select site for the new building at that place. and
he seems 10 have succeeded creating impression
that he and Senator Cocken were working together
I'm the interest few OF the later's political friends
In that town sprn gtied dispatch 10 that effect
has aroused the ire Of the Missouri senator 10 whom 1t
wa shown and who said
don't know a solitary location that has beoh
recommended" he said have no ided IN icSalu to
Tho location IN any shape, manner or form. have
made OmmendauOn directly or indirectly IN regard
10 the selection of location. and don't intend 10.
requested that Colonel fster be sent there beheVhg
him an honest, competent man, 10 make thorough
examination hear the wishes Of all parties. receive
All bids examine all sites and make The most salts
factory and suitable location tnat cOuld De arranged
told him knew nothing IN the world about location:
don't know the owner of any OF the locations, ana
the only parties who have been urging the Location OF
uartlcual sites ia letters to have apparently aclcl
upOn the suppOsltOu judging from their letters, that
which they are opposed have never before seen
suv news paper correspondent IN regard 10 the location
of This public building. and have gwen no Information
and have authorized kilograms 10 be sent ana III
control the alton of the building he dong 80 OF
his own vii and without any causc or foundation ior
such fa:sehOOds. / understand Colonel flster has
returned bat what report ne la, MADE or VIII dhc Ih
regard 10 the various sites which he may have been
offered | do not know. and am very much astOnlshed
mat any intelligent gentleman should suppose that
would undertake 10 interfere In local matter OF TINS
kind and 10 influence or control a special agent Of
ha