The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-01
WASHINGTON TELEGRAMS
The Hill Committee Investigating the
Chicago Building.
Chicago Witnesses Examinsd-The British
To Be Informed That There Is No Foot
and Mouth Disease Here-NOtes.
THE HILL INVESTIGATION.
The Committee Still Engaged Upon the
Chicago Public Building.


Chicago Public Building.
WASHINGTON, July 31.-Mr. King, of Chi
csgo, was before the Hill investigating COM
mittee to-day. In his testimony he said
In 1879 letter was received by Mcdowell,
superintendent OF the office. asking him to
recommend Charles P. Newton as superin-
tendent OF heating apparatus. Newton was
then about twenty years old The carpen-
tiers employed by the government had done
work for Bartlett, Robbins & Co. in the begin
ming of their work; never knew of the same
thing being done before or since.
Cross-ex amined by Mr.. Totten-Supposed
he was discharged as master mechanic be-
cause Mcdowell thought he was cross and
jealous. Mcdowell had called him fraud
The fact that windows we're defective and
the wind came through them might have
accounted for the building being cold the
first winter Mcdowell had told him that
Jacobs had come there to secure his dis
charge, but he had no ill will towards
Jacobs Did not know whether Bartlett
Robbins & Co. paid for the work done by the
government carpenters or not.
In the redirect examination King ex-
planned that the reason he was discharged
was because he complained of the loss of
money which Major Mcdowell allowed for
work he did around the building. Major
Mcdowell had machine in the building for
the manufacture of sorghum or moIasses,
and man who was employed as draughts-
man was kept busy nine-tenths of his time
by Mcdowell. He might have become cross
at the condition of affairs.
Mr.. Coleman offered in evidence portion
of the annual report of the supervising
architect for the fiscal year ending June 80.
$780, in which Hill compliments Jacobs for
his efficiency, etc. 1t was during this period
that Charles p Newton was employed at the
Chicago custom-house at Sc per day, from
August, 1879 to March, 1881. The pay-rolls
for that period were also introduced.
Jacobs was called to the stand, and stated
that he had no recollection of having writ
ten letter concerning Newtons appoint
ment, referred to by King, he would not
have written such letter unless directed to
do so by Mr.. HILL and he thought he would
remember it ii there was such letter. To
the best of his knowledge and belief he had
not written the letter.
Newton took the stand, and testified that
c. P Newson was twenty-five years of age at
the time OF his employment at Chicago.
Mr.. Coleman announced that he had no
more evidence to submit to-day.
Mr.. Iotten expressed surprise at this, and |
asked why he had not called Watbridge, of
Chicago, who was now on hand.
Mr.. Coleman explained that he had proved |
what he desired to prove about the Chicago
heating apparatus without Watbridge and
he did not care to examine him. Other gov
eminent employees had testified against Hill |
in the former case, and had been discharged
and as Wathridge is in the government
employ, he (Colman) had no desire to draw
from him testimony which might cost him
his situation,
M. NJ. WatbTidge engineer of the Chicago
custom-house, was then called to the stand
by Mr.. Totten. Sometimes when the wealth
er is cold and the wind strong. the heating
apparatus may be insufficient. This was
mainly due to defects in the building such
as leaks around windows. He didn't think
there was any defect in the heating appara-
tus. The settling of the building
had broken and strained some pipes.
Several OF the coils originally put in the
building had been removed to allow changes
and improvements in the building. There
had been complaints of cold in the building
during the last winter but they came from
the most exposed portions of the building.
Mr.. Coleman said to witness that he would
not prejudice his position by asking him
any questions.
Samuel J. Pope, of Chicago, was examined
by Mr.. Totten in regard to the heating APP
paratus in the Chicago building. He said
the plans for that building we're very plain,
and he thought it was to the interest of the
government to have one set of plans for bid
ders to bid on.
Mr.. Coleman intimated that Pope was
willing witness for the defense, as he ex-
pected to receive the benefit of a
large contract on the Cincinnati
public building. Mr.. Coleman asked that
the committee go to Chicago and personally
inspect all heating apparatus in the Chicago
building, the fraudulent character of which,
he alleged, had already been proved. He
claimed that he had shown a clear case of
conspiracy between Mr.. Hill and Bartlett
Robbins & Co. to defraud the government in
this contract He contended that an inspec-
ton of all work in the Chicago building
would show that it was of the same defective
character as that on. the third floor
Mr.. Totten made answer denying that
there was evidence of conspiracy, and urg-
ing that there was not the least necessity for
pushing the investigation into the Chicago
building any further.
Without deciding whether to grant Mr..
Coleman's request the committee adjourned.