National Republican., 1883-08-01


put in and has been employed there since;
the first winter the heat was so slight could
scarcely keep warm. To do this they had TO
close all doors and light the gas, put cotton
add rubber mouldings around windows, shut
the blinds, and put a board over the Ventila-
tors in order to keep warm. Could not keep
warm in cold weather when the ventilators
were open. There was great deal Of complaint
all over the builing of insufficient heat. In
1879 letter was received by Mcdowell, super
intendent of the building, from ii. G.. Jacobs,
of the architects office, asking him to recon-
mend Charles Z. Newton as superintendent
of heating apparatus Newton was then
about 20 years old; carpenters employed by
the gOvernmen mt had done work for Bartlett,
Robbins & Co. in the beginning of their work;
never knew of the same thing having been
done before or SINCE
Cross examined by Mr.. Totten. Supposed
he was discharged as master mechanic because
Mr. Mcdowell thought he was cross and jeal-
ous. Mr.. Mcdowell had called him fraud.
The fact that the windows were defective
and the wind came through them might have
accounted for the building being cold during
the first winter Mcdowell had told him that
Mr.. Jacobs had come there to secure his dis
charge, but he had no i'll will toward Mr. Ja-
cobs; didn't know whether Bartlett, Robbins
& Co. paid for the work done by the govern
ment carpenters or not.
In redirect examination Mr.. King explained
that the reason he was discharged was be-
cause he complained of the loose manner
Major Mcdowell allowed work to be done
around the building. Major Mcdowell had
a machine in the building for the manufac-
ture of sorghum or molasses, and man who
was employed as draughtsman was kept
busy nine-tenths of his time by Mr.
Mcdowell. He might have become
cross at the condition of affairs, and Mr.. Cole.
man offered in evidence portion of the an
nual report Of the supervising architect for
the fiscal year ended June 80, 1880, in which
Mr.. Hill compliments Mr.. Jacobs for his eff
cioncy, sc. 1t was during this period that
Charles Z. Newton was employed at the Chi
cago custom house at SO per day from August,
1879, to March, 1881.
The pay rolls for that period were also in
troduced.
Mr. Jacobs was called to the stand, and
stated that he had no recollection of having
written the letter concerning Mr.. Newtons
appointment referred to by Mr.. King. He
would not have written such letter. unless
directed to do 80 by Mr.. Hill, and he thought
he would remember it If there was such a
letter. To the best of his knowledge and be-
lief he had not written the letter in question.
Mr.. Newton took the stand and testified
that Mr.. @. L. Newton was twenty-five years
of age at the time Of his employment at Chi
cago.
Mr.. Coleman announced that he had no
moro evidence to submit to-day.
Mr.. Totten expressed surprise at this, and
asked why he had not called Mr.. Walbridge,
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 Mr.. Walbridge,
and he didn't care to examine Mr.. Walbridge.
Mr.. Coleman intimated that Mr.. Walbrdge
would not give the kind of testimony he
wanted, as it might result in his discharge.
M on M
cago custom house, was then called to the
stand by Mr.. Totten. Sometimes when the
weather is cold and the wind is strong the
heating apparatus may be insufficient. This
was mainly due to the defects in the build
ing such as leaks around the windows. He
didn't think there was any defect in the
heating apparatus. The settling of the build
ing had broken and strained some of the 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 last winter, but they came from the
most exposed portions of the building.
Mr. Coleman said to the witness that he
would not prejudice his position by asking
him any questions.
Mr.. Samuel J. Pope, of Chicago, was exam
ined by Mr.. Totten in regard to the heating
apparatus in the Chicago building. He said
that the plans for that building were very
the government to have one set of plans for
all the bidders to bid on.
Mr. Coleman intimated that Mr.. Pope was
a willing witness for the defense, as he ex-
pected to receive the benefits of q large con-
tract on the Cincinnati public building.
Mr.. Coleman asked that the committee au-
thorize an inspection of the heating apparatus
for the Chicago custom house, in addition to
the works on the third floor, the fraudulent
character of which he alleged had already
been proved. He claimed that he had shown
clear case of conspiracy between Mr.. Hill
and Bartlett, Robbins & Co. to defraud the
government in this contract. He contended
that an inspection of all the works in the
Chicago building would show that it was of
the same defective character as that on tho
third floor.
Mr.. Totten made an answer denying that
there was ever the slightest evidence of u
conspiracy, and arguing that there was not
the least necessity for pushing the investiga-
tion into the Chicago building any further
The committee at o'clock adjourned till
this morning.