Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-06-24
MORE EXPOSURES
In PHILADELPHIA
Ex-Filtration Chief Hill Held in $4,000
Bail For Court
CHARGED WITH PADDING BILLS

Philadelphia, June 22.-On charges
of forgery and OF classifying statements.
John w. Hill. former chief of the ill
tration bureau. at a salary of $4,000
a year, was held by Magistrate Eisen-
brown In $4,000 bail for trial at court.
MIR. Hin resigned his Office a week ago
and the resignation was accepted by
Mayor Weaver after the disclosures
made during the hearing of Council
man Frank ii. Caven. who is under
bail. charged with violating his coun-
cilmanic oath, by contracting TO furnish
sand To the city for the filter beds. The
arrest of Mr.. Hill was made at the in
stigation OF the mayor in his crusade
for good government.
Several witnesses were heard, but the
only sensational testimony presented
was that of Frederick Schaffhauser. a
discharged employee of the filtration bu-
reau and at present employed in the
water bureau. All OF the testimony re-
ferred to two contracts awarded to
Daniel J. McNichol One was for maxi
ink excavations for water pipes and
the other was for laying pipe. The con-
tract for the excavations amounted 20
$75O.OOO and that for laying the pipe
was for $i60, 900. There was a supple
mental contract to the last named. the
amount being $4,000.
Schaffhauser testified that after the
work on the excavations had been COM
pleted there still remained nearly $1,000
OF the appropriation. He stated that
during a conversation with Chief Hill
the latter told him he thought the
$1,000 ought to go to the contractor.
He was told by Mr.. Hill. he said. to
''eat up" the surplus. and. acting on
these instructions. he added IL to his
contractor, witness said, never ex-
cavated the rock for which that money
was paid. but stated that the trenches
were widened at the top According to
the contract. any widening at the top
of trenches was to be done at the ex-
pense of the contractor and without
any extra charge to the city. After he
had made the false entry on his esti-
mates. Schaffhauser said, Chief Hill
told him TO scratch il out and insert
the original figures. as the then direc-
tor OF public works. Mr.. Haddock,
would not stand for It." Later this
record was destroyed by Chief Hill and
a new one made out containing the
charge for additional excavations for
which the surplus of $1,000 was paid.
To show how this was brought about
counsel for the prosecution offered In
evidence three letters. One was from
Contractor McNichol to Chief Hill.
asking for an additional allowance on
his contract because of the increased
length of deep trenches. necessitating
additional expense. The second letter
was from Chief Hill TO Director Had
dock. recommending the payment as
requested by the contractor. and the
third was from Director Haddock to
Chief Hill. authorizing the payment Of
the money.
Concerning the contract for the lay
ing OF water pipe. Schaffhauser said
that under the direction of Mr.. Hill ne
had added TO his monthly statement
charges for excavations that had never
been made.
After brief argument by counsel the
magistrate fixed bail in the sum of
$4,000.
Former Judge Gordon. for the prose-
cution in his argument stated that he
had not attempted to show all of the
criminal acts of Chief Hill. but that he
merely desired to make out a case IN
the present instance He intimated
that when the case was brought to trial
there would be further disclosures OF 4
sensational nature.
Mayor Weaver after the hearing an
nounced that he had engaged three ex-
pert accountants to investigate the ac-
counts of the bureau of filtration. They
will begin work at once.