The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-21
STARTLING FACTS PROMISED.
THE INTESTIGATION OF THE EJPENDI-
7URES ON ELLIS ISLAND.
More Than Double the Amount Estimnted
by Secretary Window Already Expended
In the Construction OF Buildings-secrc.
tary Nettlet,n's Latest Figures.

| In the Construction OF Build,ngs-tsecrc.
| tary Nettietnn's Latest Figures.
WASHINGTON. March 2O.-There are apt to be
| some sensational deveopmen at to. morrow's
| session Of tho Joint Committee on immigration
| in connection with the investigation OF the ex-
penditures at Ellis Island. The recent visit Of
| the committee to New York opened up a
train OF thought in tho minds OF certain
members of the committee. and their
inquiries may embarrass the officials who arc
| supposed to give that work careful super
| vision. Since the last meeting OF the COM
| mittee Secretary Nottlcton has completed
| the preparation Of II statement OF accounts
| the figures OF which are simply astound-
| ing. The statement will be formally filed
| in the morning. and Mr.. Nettlcton is expected
| to appear before the committee. when he will
| be put under the fire Of nm examination in re-
| gard to the state of corruption which tho ac-
| counts seem to indicate.
Congressman Stump OF Maryland. who in
conjunction with Senator Chandler. is in
charge Of tho investigation. will lead in the
| examination. Mr. Stump says the in
vestigation has in reality Just begun. and
from evidence already in sight. some
| startling results may be expected
He is not in this thing for the
fun Of it. but extends the probe to the bottom
| Of what appears to be n most astounding piece
| OF extravaganza. rivalling the palmiest days OF
| the Tweed rings system Of public construc-
tion.
1.-THE investigation is Just becoming warm"
said Mr.. stump. but shall DO greatly mis-
taken II the hearings OF the next few days do
not bring out some strange not to say startling
| facts. advise you. as newspaper man. not
| to miss tho hearing tomorrow"
In tho statement of expenditures at Ellis
Island which Secretary Nettleton will he
asked to Justify. the items foot up to a grand
total Of S612.O0O of which $5S2.34a.6 8 has
been actually paid out. and the remainder is
covered by contracts. This sum is more than,
double the amount estimated by the late Sec
Rotary Window.
The day before his death he wrote to the
Appropriations Committee that 100000 more
would be ample to complete all improvements.
That made total up to that time Of S25O.O0O.
few instances culled here and there
from the latest statement of Secretary Nettle-
ton will suffice to show how this figure has
been more than doubled under the existing
management: For altering shell house and
dining room. $12.94O: for coal house.
S23.4OO: for q flag pole. S2.25O: for
an electric light plant. Little Ellis Island.
$22.552.45: for main building and boiler
house. Sl3l00O: for heating apparatus. re-
pairs. &C., SS2.H73.5O: for house over an ar
tesan we'll. s5.o2O. and SO on.
Before the buildings on Ellis Island were
a
comments on the methods of those in charge
Of the construction were heard Republicans
high in that partys councils were the severest
critics sinGularly enough. most of the COM
mcnts We're directed toward those high in
and Major, Hibtnrd. superintendent OF con-
the new Immigration buildings and tho meth.
, ods Of Col. Mensn On the other :, hand,
Weber SnH his nf rionds
sa 81 The sonsss What pp.ksS m n
nst% % peonis Local cal RsnuSiiesns ' said That
nenditures. and that no crumbs had fallen into
their hands. In fact this has been one of the
Harrison Administration. 1t was asserted by
these grumhling Republicans that over $500;
s fen ys on tne a ana
Of the patronage incident to such heavy dis
y: Con. Nctteton and Major Hubbard are the
two men above all others who can explain
these .expcnditurcs;' it was declared: and
used for the buildings on Ellis Isand in case a
OF fire n2thing on earth could prevent holo;
nIs ms re G@oy
tie matter his peIrSonal attention. i. trusted
ratary Foster. since he has been at the head
of the Treasury Department. has been up
to his ears in work: He also, had to
accept the assurances of Cen Nettleton and
Major Hibbarl Tho situation under the two
Secretaries IF the Treasury in the Harrison
Administration is just this: Gen. Spaulding
md a. X. Tingle. chief of the Treasury agents.
have been running the customs end of the
department until they SO anGered tho New
York merchants that Mr.. Foster has at last
been compelled to interfere. and Gen. Nettle-
ton and Major Hubbard have been running the
immigration end of the department until Rep
resentative stump. Senator Chandler. and
others have found it necessary. and even OBJ
ligatory to step in and Investigate the con-
struction Of the Ellis Island buildings and the
vast outlay for them.
The resolution offered in the House bv
Representative Amos j. Cummings. mt the re-
quest OF the New York Chumber OF Commerce.
calling for IN investigation of tho methods Of
tho Treasury agents Ut the uort Of Now York,
has had a wholesome effect. Mr. Cummings
has not been we'll for some time. and even now
is confined to his room in Washington. The
resolution Is still In committee. But soon
after ts appearance in the House the Treasury
Department took steps to remove the cause Of
com plant. Some of tho Treasury inspectors
attached to the New York office were dismissed
from the service and dozen more were trans
fcrrcd 4. j. Tinglo WAS shipped to the Pacific
coast and Charles s. Wilbur. head Of the New
York Office has made way for George $.
Whitehead. In other words. the New York
office of tho Treasury agents has been prac-
tically dismantled