National Republican., 1883-06-26
THAT BRIBE.
The Head Of the Manly Cooper Company on
the Witness Stand.
Row and Where Mr.. Damon Made Ills
Oner-How Bonds Are Approved.

Tho Hill investigation was resumed at
1890 o'clock yesterday morning. Mr.. r. z.
Manly, president of tho Manly-Cooper Co., Of
Philadelphia, was sworn and testified in rela-
tion to the offer Of bribery alleged to have been
made by Mr.. Geo. L. Damon of the United
States Fire Proof Shutter company, of Boston.
Witness first saw Mr.. Damon in the super
vising architects offico the day the bids were
opened for shutters for the Cincinnati post.
Office. Mr. Damon approached witness and
said he was very sorry he had not seen him in
season, as he should certainly have induced
him not TO make bid: Witness walked away,
and Mr.. Hill requested us to withdraw, as
he had TO get the secretary's mail of,
Witness understood by that remark that
Mr.. Hill wished TO be alone. Mr. Taylor and
witness withdrew leaving Damon there. An
hour afterward Mr.. Damon met witness and
Mr. Taylor as they were coming from the
dining room of Willard's hotel. He (Damon)
renewed the conversation He said ho had
been furnishing fire proof shutters for the
government and was anxious to do TIM work,
and would like to submit to witness a prop
osition looking to the withdrawal of his bid
Witness replied that the only proposition
that he could entertain would be one to sub
let the contract to the United States company.
Witness then read a letter from Damon in
Producing to the Manly Cooper company Mr.
Tyler as counsel for the United States COM
panyj also telegram from Damon making an
appointment for meeting. Witness did not
respond to the suggestion, but Damon and
Tyler came to the Office of Manly, Cooper q
Co. the evening Of the day suggested in the
telegram. 1t was at o'clock in the evening.
Mr.. Cooper, Mr.. Taylor, and Mr.. Allison, at
torney for the Manly-Cooper company were
present, as well as witness. CONVEX
sation ensued. Witness repeated to Damon
what he had already said in regard
to subletting; that there was good
deal of money in the contract
and II the department was willing tho Manly
Cooper company would consider a proposition
to sublet. Mr.. Tyler then took Mr. Allison
aside, and upon their return, Mr.. Allison
stated that tho proposition was to pay us
$4,000, in consideration of which we were
either to withdraw our bid or offer n shutter
that would be condemned. Witness at once
replied that it would be entering into a con-
spiracy against the government, and the
Manly-Cooper company could not for an in
stant entertain it. The interview then
abruptly terminated, and Messrs. Damon and
Tyler withdrew.
Witness was asked in regard to something
which Mr.. Damon had said, when counsel for
defense peremptorily objected TO IL: that IL
would be hearsay evidence, and that il might
not be possible for the defense to get Mr.. Da-
mon before the committee In rebuttal and
that it would be unfair to have mere state
ment go on record as evidence.
Upon cross-examination witness said: We
were willing to sublet, but under no circum-
stances would we withdraw our bid.
Q. You were ready to dicker; then why
were you ready to sublet and let them do the
work PA. Because Damon assured us that
they could do the work to Mr.. Hills satisfac-
tion, but that we could not under any circum-
stances, and wo had begun to think such was
the case.
The cross-examination elected no new facts
save Yitness's opinion that the United
States company could have given the Manly
Cooper company $4,000 for their contract and
still have made money by assuming it.
Edward b. Allison was next sworn. Wit
ness gave his profession as member of the
bar at Philadelphia. Had acted as counsel for
the Cooper company. Witness then
made a statement which fully corroborated
the testimony of Messrs. Manly and Taylor
relative to the bribery offer.
MIR. Hill was then recalled and was ques-
TONED by Mr.. Coleman:
Q. Have you any business interests di-
rectly or indirectly with Mr.. Damon PA.
None whatever. In replyto further ques-
tions witness said Mr.. Damon had furnished
vaults and safes for the government both un-
der contracts and upon orders. In fact, most
OF this work had been done by Mr.. Damon
for years. 1T was let generally by yearly
contract. Mr.. Damon had for years been the
lowest bidder under advertisement. He was
the sole party interested in this work He
was also member of the United States COM
pany and manufactured for them al his
works
Mr.. Coleman. This United States company
appears TO be incorporated in New York. and
you say Mr.. Damon does their work in Bos-
ton. Now is there any such company as the
United States Fire Proof Shutter company
doing business anywhere or manufacturing
AnXWleIa flnir "A 4 ha
answered TO the best of my knowledge. |
understood that they controlled facilities for
making shutters.
@. DO you consider that you have good
bond when you have the signature of one
member of firm as contracting party and of
another rs surety "A. AS matter of fact |
don't look at the bonds myself, trust to one
of my clerks.
O. Do you mean to say that you biud tho
government to a contract without personally
knowing anything in regard to the character
OF the bonds?-A. Why, bless you, yes. If
personally examined all bonds should have
time for nothing else.
Mr.. Taylor was recalled and made a few
corrections Of the stenographic report of his
previous testimony.
Mr.. Hill was again recalled and was further
questioned relative to the bond furnished by
the United States company.
by Mr.. Coleman. DO you consider ii good
bond IA. do not know. l do not remem-
Der who signed it, probably had an idea at
the time as to the responsibility of the par
ties.
BY the committee. Do you not require tho
articles of incorporation as evidence of the
bona hdes of a company.--A. The accounting
officer of the treasury so requires. l think
we have them in this case on our files.
Mr.. Coleman. We would like to see them.
After a half hours delay the file clerk of
the architects Office reported that there was
nothing of the kind on file, but that the arti-
cles Of incorporation were doubtless in the
second comptrollers Office.
Chairman New gave instructions 10 have
search made for them.
At l'3O m. the committee adjourned till
this morning.
trademarks.