National Republican., 1883-06-27
MI. Fill COrreCts Ills Statement in Regard TO
Filing Articles Of Incorporation.
How the Offered Brbe Was Brought to
the Secretays Notice.
The Architect Charged With Asking Percentage For
Procuring tho Allowance Of Claim,
And with Keeping Party Interested In
Contracts In Ills Employ.

oInCers OF tnO treasury JouchlnB pOnusmen'
They do not require articles of association
of corporation TO be filed. Tho RESPONSE
biity of bidders is examined into.
Mr.. Coleman. Who has told you since last night
that the accounting officers do not require articles
OF association TO be hicdY-A, inc chiei CLERK
called my attention To the matter and said was
MIR. Coleman That is not an answer. asked
did he tell you that they did not require them p
O. Now, Where arc the articles which you said
yesterday had been Gled "a don't think they
o. Don't You know the United statos company
is myth, and that Damon takes tie contract and
does work for the department, which he could not
otherwise do2--A. know just the contrary that
tits an Incorporated company aud has been doing
O. What is the name of the firm over the door
where the shutters are made IA. / don't know.
q. Then you have no evidence of the bona iidcs
of such company or its actual existence IA.
There are extracts from thoir meetings attached
70 some of their contracts.
BY Mr.. New Have you over seen their articles
ofincorporation IA. No, sir.
Mr.. Coleman. VIII you show me the certificate
of the accounting officer of the treasury of the re-
sponsibnity or reliability OF this United States
company-A 1t is probably attached to their con-
tract.
Mr.. Coleman examining tho bonds). If these
bonds require two sureties and Mr.. Damon is
officer uf the company, then they have but one
surety aud are no bonds in the intendment Of the
law.
Secretary Folger was then sworn,
Question (by Mr.. Alexander, of the committec).
Mr.. Hill stated in his examination that he had
shown to you paper in which the Manly. Cooper
company alleged that they had been appioacned
by George l.. Damon with all offer OF S4,t09 to
withdraw their bid.-A. He did not show me the
paper Ella AS S sd tb 70 mS sG hG5S SpS GGSpST Co.
preached them with some oher TO withdraw their
bid.
q. Did you understand that It was an ofIor to
buy OIL Manly, Cooper & Co. "A. understood
that IL was proposition from one of the bidders
for Manly, Cooper d Co. TO withdraw their bid.
q. How did IL come "A. IL maintained
one of the facts relating to the application for
an extension of time for the fire test.
Q. Mr.. Hill was asking your advice as to ex-
tending the time IA. Yes, at that time we con-
cludod 10 extend IL.
q. Did you, know of any stated amount being
q. Did Mr.. Hill show you Mr.. Damon written
denial "A. don't remember.
q. Did any other conversation occur at that
time IN relation to the awarding of this contract2
"A. lnasmuch as the lowest bidder had ut that
time been awarded the bid, no injury had been
done the government, and we did not deem It
necessary 10 inquire whether an infamous propo-
sition had been made. This wns previous 10 the
test, and as 1t was reasonable TO suppose the low
est bidder would have the contract no investiga-
tion OF the alleged bribery wa; ordered.
BY Mr.. CoemRn Did Mr. Hill tell you that COM
paint had been made tp him by Mr.. Kelley that
$500 had been offered to Manly, Cooper & Co. to
was not mentioned, and l don't remember that
Mr.. Kelley's name was mentioned. ! think this
conversation occurred pending the postponcment
O. Did he make this statement to you in writing
or verbally2-A. He reported TO me verbally. He
came to my room and stated that Manly, Cooper
d. Co. had asked an extontion of time. under
stood it, that this of the facts 10 be brought
TO my mind us q reason for granting tho exten-
sion
@. In making this verbal statement, did Mr..
Hill mention the nainc of the party making the
ofer2-A No; he spoke of 1t, MS one Of the bidders
having made an offer TO Manly, Cooper & Co. to
withdraw their bid. There was at that time no
question of rejection of the bid. / certainly un-
derstood that If the shutters of Manly Cooper &
Co. stood the test they were to hnyo the bid.
In reply to further questions, Mr.. Folger
said: know before the contract was finally
awarded that their thianly, Cooper & Co.'S
shutters did not meet the requirements of
the specifications in thickness. Mr.. Hill
made written report on tho subject
would not undertake to say that he said they
pledged themselves to furnish shutters as
required within twenty-four hours, and that
it should not interfere with the execution of
the contract, nor do / remember that he told
mo the shutters of the next lowest bidder
were also thicker than called for by the speci-
fcations
Mr.. Coleman then stated that owing to the
fact that no ussistance-as often requested-
had beon furnished the prosecution for the
examination of papers and accounts Con.
Stincmctz had been unable alono to prepare
all the evidence which they wished to present
in the Bartlett-R Robbins case. The prosecu-
ton, however, We're ready to go on with an
other branch of tho case which would not
require much time Counsel then read as
specifications under the general charge of
fraud and corruption, that Mr., Hill, rs super
vising architect of the treasury, in March,
1877, promised and agreed with james NJ
WILDER, then having claim against tho gov
ernmont to the amount of 100000, for fur
nishing illuminating tiling for the Now Y3hk
postoilicc, to pass said claim If he (WiHcr)
would allow him (llill) 10 per cont. of said
claim.
Further, that Mr.. Hill knowing lie Gan
non to be associated as co-partner in the firm of
SimOns, johnson & Co. in the transaction of
business relating to tho traffic in building
materials, said Hill knowing this fact re-
fused to dismiss said Cannon from his posi-
tion in tho architects Office, but permitted
him to remain and use his influences in secur-
ing contracts for his firm.
Mr.. Wilbur was about to take the stand, when
Mr.. Thomas asked and was permitted to nut
in the answers OF Bartlett, Robbins u Co. and
of Mr.. Hill to the charges preferred in that
case.
The answers were then read
Attor the reading of these answers which
occupied about thirty minutes Mr. Coleman
made u statement of the facts which the
prosecution expect to prove in the Wilbur
case, substantially as follows:
In 1878, 1874, and 1870 Mr.. j. b. Wilbur was
subcontraCtor under Bartlett Robbins s. Co.
for furnishing illuminated tilng. In 1876 or
1877 Mr.. Wilbur presented his claim for eX-
ta materials furnished, amounted TO between
$4,000 aud $4,000. Mr.. Hill said this IS an
old claim aud we ought TO have something
for getting il through.
Mr. Hin then called in Mr. Cannon, whose
name has already heen mentioned here and
he (GannOn) said 10 per cent. ought TO be
paid by Wilbur for gotting it through, and
that it could be gotten through ifthat amount
We're paid. Mr.. Wilbur said nothing, but re-
lated tho circumstances To his counsel, After
ward learning that Cannon, an emp pfbye of
the architects office, was "a member of
firm who were dealing in building mate
rials in this city, and holding contracts un-
der the government Mr.. Wilbur went TO
Mr. Hill and, protesting against IT., asked for
his (GannOn's) removal. Finally, when the
matter was brought to the attention of the
secretary of the treasury, Cannon was re-
moved, and from that day Mr., Hill has pur-
sued Mr.. Wilbur, and has used every effort 10
defeat MS honest n claim as any man over
held against the government.
Con- Tyler whose name was mentioned
yesterday in connection with the offer of
S4,5OO TO Manly, Cooper & Co.. being pres
ent, was at this point permitted TO make q
statement TO tho committee. Counsel for tho
prosecution claimed the right To cross eX-
anime which was accorded.
Gen. Tyler then said: ! am charged here
with having made an offer OF bribery
never made any Otior to Manly, Cooper & Co.
nor did j ever suggest 10 them to make an
imperfect shutter"
In reply 90 questions by Mr.. Coleman wit
ness said; Il am farmer. In 1852 / was
engaged in the same business. Havo known
ftpnrue l. Dnman tKyanfy Nygnpg HaNa