Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-13
The IailI Investigation.
A NEWSPAPER CHARGE OF FRAUD DISCUSS

NEWSPAPER CHARGE OF FRAUD DISCUSSED.
Before the resumption OF the regular proceed.
inys In the Hill investigation this morning Mr.
Coleman presented a formal communication call
ing attention to the promiseef Secretary Folger
that he would cause the attendance before the
committee OF any person In government employ.
An interview with William b. Bliss, United States
district attorney for the eastern district OF Mis-
souri,, reported In the St Louis Post Dispatch on
June g. charges the supervising architect with
the grossest fraud In connection with the con-
struction Of the St Louis custom house. He de-
sired to fife that paper.
The chairman said that the committee had read
the paper, or q portion Oft.
Mr. Coleman therefore refrained from reading
made SO freely by person in SO high an of1iciai
position, demanded the attention Of the commit
tee. He desired that Mr. Bliss be called before the
committee, or II he should be unable to attend he
would ask that he be examined in St. Louis
MIR: Thomas asked II Mr. Coleman was serious in
making this demand, to which that gentleman re-
piled that he was never more So
Mr.. Thomas.-'Then that is what you meant
yesterday when you said that you were just begin
Mr. TOtten said that Mr. Coleman had strange
conception OF the duty OF the committee, If he ex
paper articles, or the uterances OF district ator-
ney, whose reputation might be GOOD but who
certainly had the smallest amount or goOd sense,
Murch had been housing around the country for
long time, and II the committee went into that
matter hs would bring upsomething else when 1T
failed. The counsel knew that the proposed inves-
tgation was not proper.
Mr.. Coleman maintained the propriety Of the in
quiIy. Mr.. Hill had been Investigated ut Boston
and Indicted at ST. Louis It was an old story with
him. It was the business of his counsel to COM
plete this investigation, not to block its wheels.
Hill ought to invite investigation; to open up all
of records and II the Secretary OF the Treasury
was honest in his desire for an invest cation he
put in his place an honest man who would fur
Eish the papers called for by the pros acutiOn.
They were now dependent upon defendant to
furnish the evidence required to convict him.
Mr.. Biss7"
Mr. Coleman.-"No.n
Mr.. .ThOmaS-"ThenO on bare NEWSPAPERS charges
you want an invest1gat1Onf"
Mr.. Coieman:-"It is not bare newspaper
charge; 1t is an interview With Mr.. Bliss"
TELEGRAM FROM MR. BLISS
The Chairman.-"The committee desire to say
that this interview was sent to It, There are some
things in 1t rejecting upon the committee. We
wrote to Mr.. Bliss, calling his attention to the In
terview, and asking II It was truthful report He
Hon. John c. New, Washington, D.C-No thought
or ltterance of mine public or private, has either
on ahs
motives and efforts In investigating the Hill
charges. am surprised and Inundated that a
(slgned.) WI H. BLISS.
AUTHENTICITY OF THE INTxRvIEw DENIED.
On Tuesday Mr. Bliss came here and denied the
authenticity OF that interview saying that he had
been Incorrectly reported"
Mr.. Coleman.-"Did he say the charges were
untrue?"
Mr.. New.-"He said there was some foundation
for them but that as reported they were not true"
things had takenplace without the knowledge OF
the prosecution.
The chairman said that he could get Mr.. Bliss
here at any time; he was in Boston.
Mr.. Coleman presumed that the occurrence OF
this morning would probably cause Mi. Bliss or
the reporter to come here.
Mr. TOTTEN's WARM DEPENsE OF THE ARCHITECT.
Mr.. Totten denounced MIR. Coleman's proposition
as monstrous. He wished Mr.. Hill to prove HIM
self innocent, instead OF trying to prove him
guilty. Mr. Hill had been indicted at St Louis: so
had Mr.. Potter; the whole supervising architects
been acquitted. The indictment only went to
show how grand jury cosld be crminaly used by
malicious mall persons THIS investigation had
syllable Of testimony re necsing upon % Mr. His in
teegr1ty: The authenticity OF the newspaper arti-
made mistakes; they were unavoidable at times.
But points were also added in the editorial rooms
that changed the entire meaning OF an interview.
vestigate charges Of corruption. and he asked why
the prosecution did not proceed there.
Mr.. COLEMAN MARvELs AT Mr.. TOTTEN's CHEEK.
Mr. Coleman marveled at the cheek shown py
witness who swore that he had been employed by
Bartlett, Robbins Co.. and at the same
time had made plans for the government for four
buildings, for which his firm was bidding.
Another employe Of that firm had gone into govern
ment employ long enough to make a favorable re-
port upon thousands of dollars worth OF material
furnished by that firm for the Chicago building.
When he finished that job he went back to his
place with Bartlett, Robbins & Co. That was an
ohen1e that ShoEld send them to the penttentiary,
yet the counsel said that they were proving moth
ing.
The chairman said that the committee would
take under consideration Mr.. COleman'S demand
that Mr.. Bliss be examined.
THE REGULAR PROCEEDINGS
were then resumed. The defense called John B.
Patterson accountant OF the supervising archi-
tect's Office, to contradict Mr. StinemetZ in his
OF the cost of the extra work performed
upon the New York post Office.
THE DIX ISLAND GBANrTE CONTRACT.
Mr.. c. P. Dixon. jr., OF thes Dix Island Granite
company, was the next witness.
The Civil Service Examination.
EIGHTY- EIGHT CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE Rx-
AHMED TO-DAY-THE CHARACTER OF THE APPLI-
CASTs, &C.
OF the ITO candidates notified to appear for