Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-26
INVESTIGATING MIR. FRERET.
Testimony Taken Before the Senate
Committee To-day.


Committee To-day.
DRAUaHTsMEN EMPLoYED IN THE sUPERvrsINa
Architects OFFICE TELL OF THE CONTRACTS
MADE WITH OUTSIDE ARCHITECTS IN THE PROF
ITS OF WHICH THEY EXPECTED TO SHARE.
The examination into the affairs of the Office
of the supervising architect of the Treasury
was continued this morning before the Senate
committee on public buildings and grounds.
Mr.. George H. Atkinson, draughtsman in
the Office, was inquired of in reference to the
personnel of the Office, particularly as con-
nected with the preparation of plans for public
buildings. He mentioned as
UNFIT SITES FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS
those at Binghamton, N. Y, and Sacramento,
Cal, as two which had appeared to him unfa-
vorable. The Binghamton site, he thought
was liable to overflow at times of extraordinary
freshets and the Sacramento one seemed to
him to be swampy, but he understood that that
was the general nature Of the ground about
that city.
BEST TO HAVE WORK DONE IN THE OFFICE.
He was asked by Mr.. Morrill, whether he
thought that the practice of letting
out contracts for plans and drawings
to outside architects was likely to
result as creditably and satisfactorily
as If the work was entirely executed in the
office, and he expressed the decided opinion
that the system OF having all the work done in
the office was the best. The difficulty was that
the office force was not strong enough to carry
on the work as rapidly as was desired. He did
not believe that any more contract work was
now being given out.
another draughtsman in the office, and he was
inquired Of as to outside work being done
by him in connection with Mr.. Barry
an architect, in making drawings and
plans for the Bridgeport Comm building
He was asked whether it was his idea that as
good work was done in that way as If it we're
all done in the Office, and his reply was that
the tendency would not be toward as good
work. He was asked what supervision was ex-
ercised over these outside drawings, and the
reply was that the drawings on which he had
to Mr.. Van inertia, the chief draughts-
tect. The contract with Mr. Barry
was that for these plans and drawings he was
to receive $1,05O. The work was done by Mr..
Barry, MIR. Simonson and the witness. He ex-
planned how Mr.. Barry had come to get the
contract. Mr.. Won inertia had been talking
among the draughtsmen as to employing an
outside architect and Mr.. Simonson and him
self had called at Mr.. Barry's office, and talked
the matter over.
SHARING IN THE PROFITS.
'Was there any talk as to your sharing in the
profts?" Mr.. Spooner asked.
1--WE expected to make some agreement
which would lead to that"
You did not intend to select an architect
with whom you could notmake an agreement"
$50 that really the schme was to select an
architect who would give you partnership in
a contract that you two could not have while
you were employees of the government"
"Yes."
Glow long would it take you to do all the
work done under the Barry contract?'
II do not think could do all of it inside of
three months"
$50 that you would do, at cost Of s449
(s5.5O day. all the work that, under this con-
tract, cost 81 050?"
"As look at it now, that is right"
''Mr. Freret said that the work could be done
more cheaply outside than in the Office. You
do not SO understand it. Do you pay any one
In the office percentage of what you receive
under the Barry .contract?'
when the giving out of such work was first
proposed, did you not denounce it as an out
rage on the government"
Il was opposed to it."
Is there a sufficient force of daughtsmen in
the Office to do all the work without detriment
to the public interest by delay?
am not in position to answer that cues
ton.
CIvIL-sERvIcE EXAMINATIONS IN THE OFFICE.
What is your opinion as to the plan of civil
service examinations in the Office?
never heard but one question asked in the
examination, and thought that that was i'm
practicable. A man should be allowed six
weeks to answer such question.
How many have passed and been put on the
eligible list under that examination?
Four.
How many have been chosen out of the
four?
One.
Was he the one who had the lowest standing?
l don't know. He was from Chicago.
Do you know whether he was selected by
MIR. Freret on the application Of a member Of
Congress?
/ don't.
Who gave you the letter of introduction to
Mr.. Barry?
Another emplope, Mr. Oscar Thompson.
Does he share in the contract?
We employ him to do the iron work; and we
give him 800.
A VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO THE CAMPAIGN
FUND.
The witness was asked whether he had been
solicited to contribute to the campaign fund at
the last election. He said that he had been by
an Office employee named Krinkel. He had re-
luseu u Hrst ana second time; but IL was put to
him third time in such a way that he volun-
tarily contributed. 1t was to the democratic
fund.
THE BARRY CONTRACT.
In reply to Mr.. Pasco, the witness said that
the work under the Barry contract was still
going on, and was done by himself and Mr.
Simonson entirely out of Office hours He did
not know why the same work might not be done
in the Office in extra hours; except that en-
ployes were not bound to work extra hours
HEATING AND vENrILATINa EXPERT
The next witness was Henry Adams, heat
ing and ventilating expert, employed in the
Office of the supervising architect of the Treas
ury. He testified as to contract for the draw
ings for the heating apparatus for the building
at Bridgeport, Conn, and said that he had re-
ceived S1S for the drawings he had furnished
He had also made drawings for Mr. Barry for
the Bridgeport building, but had not yet been
paid for them. He had been requested by
Mr.. Van inertia to put in bid for heating APP
paratus plans for Reading and other public
buildings. The bid was in the name of Mr.
Beadenkorf who had no interest whatever in
it. Mr.. Won inertia had told him that he could
not have a contract in his own name. Mr.. Bea-
denkorf is a mechanical engineer, employed as
assistant engineer by the Consolidated gas COM
pany OF Baltimore, and he had declined to put
in any more bids, as he did not consider it ex-
actly right.
To Amend the Naturalization Laws.
THE PENDING BILL AMENDED BY THE HOUSE Ju-
dietary COMMITTEE.
The House judiciary committee to-day had a
asol, Ak,,.xr a. 80