Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-21
THE HILL INVESTIGATION.

A Call for More Papcrs-A Little Tit
between Chairman New and Mr..
COleman-Mr. Murch Sharply Cross
examined.
this morning. Mr.. Coleman asked to be furnished
with all contracts made by the United States for
nre-proof shutters
Chairman New replied that the reduistion was
too general and must be made more specific
Mr.. Coleman.-If they Will furnish us with all
the contracts we can readily see what we want
without letting them know In advance just what
we propose to do. When the prosecution is COM
PEELED to depend upon the defense for their papers
IT IS pretty difficult matter to specify in advance
the particular papers that may be REQUIRED, par
ticularly as in Some instances we do not Know
what papers are In existence.
Chairman New then adverted to the statement
Oh counsel male yesterday in regard to the con-
duct OF this investigation, and characterized any
statement That the committee is giving the in
vestigaton half,hearted support or is disposed to
Impede 1t as absolutely untrue.
Mr Coleman.-No such statement was made
What said was to show that the administration
prosecution Of this investigation Which is b. being t
carried on at the expense OF private individuals,
and is in great contrast with the spirit shown in
intend, nor do desire, to reflect upon this COM
mittee. who are doing all in their power to further
TINS investigation, and are affording US every
MIR. New.-YOu are as familiar as any of us with
the laws regulating the disbursements OF funds by
tne ye treasury department and you know that we
nave no money either to pay witness or attorneys
fees. II you should 60 before the grand fury and
procure an Indictment, then l have no doubt
administration to which you allade, and the de.
partment OF justice would assume the expense OF a
prosecution. but in this it is totally different
MR.. MURCH~CRoSs- Ss-ExAMINKD.
Mr.. Murch then took the stand for cross
examination.
Witness was In the habit, while employed at
OF signing the payroll just as others
old out never had an opportunity to see the head.
lngs; was PAID by the contractor Witness could
been employed upon any one stone. He was per-
lectiy sure that under the Is per cent contracts
men men were @ employed much longer upon certain
Work thaC was necessary.
Ques-What do understand by that?
IA ans am unable 70 say what your understand
Ing Is, but that is what said
Ques.-When you were foreman and gave in
Structions to your men TO consume SO much time
as you now say more than was necessary-upon
being committed?
Ans-I was not. My business was with the con-
tractor and worked under instructions. knew
that fine work was to be done, and that liberal
amount OF time was being given.
Ques.-Were you so innocent that you did
not then understand that some one was being
AnsI acknowledge that was innocent. I
now know that frauds were being committed At
tracts was performing my duty and, as always
90, mlnd1ng my own business.
A QUESTION ANSWERED BY A QUESTION
Ques.-And you were helping to commit these
frauds. were you not?
Ans-Do you mean to say If you hire a man to
do a days WORK and tell him he need not work
hard, do you think he would be committing a
fraud? :"
Mr.. Thomas.-You are asking the question your
self; you may answer it. am not on the witness
Witness.-very well; wish you were. Iwill
answer arnnC 1t myself then. do not consider it
QuesEWhat were the Inducements held out by
Ins n to the men to ast them in per
Ans.-NO Inducements: the men themselvas
were swindled.
Ques:-Who do you represent before this COM
Ans.-T. H. Murch alone: and I wish to saw. and
nave 1t go on the minutes, that the statement at
trlDuted TO MI. Hill, that an being paid by the
stonecutters, Is absolutely false.
WHEN Mr.. MURcH's CONSCIENCE BECAME AwAK-
ENED.
Ques.-Then you are here purely to perform
patriotic duty. When did your conscience become
awakened to the necessity OF exposing the
frauds?
Ans.-In 1871 when became aware Of the gross
IraudS Wnich were being perpetrated, 1 felt that
my own responsibility to perform public duty.
Ques.-lS not your only reason for attempting to
fact that
he was a member OF the commission before which
you appeared, and that the commission refused to
listen to your demands.
Ans.-That Is true, the fact that he was men,
Der OF the commission, that he was made aware of
the frauds and still persisted In his course is nv
reason for connecting him with the frauds
10 your demands, 1t would have resulted In break
Ing al existing contracts. and would have COM
peiled the government to 1nisiits buildings with
Ans.-I know nothing OF the kind. know that
there were 20 quarrtes on the coast of Maine
owned and controlled by separate parties, who
have furnished the same quality OF granite, both
IN texture and appearance as that which was
Ques-You assume that do you?
=. Ans-l assume nothing. know 1t, and affirm
Ques-r the Is per cent contracts had been alb.
rogated, would not the government have been
called to pay the prices which your stonecutters
would have demanded?
Ans.-We offered to do the work for s. per dav.
al ana q MI Hli under the modified contracts, paid
MR. hURcH's SPEECH IN CONGRESS.
Ques-You have been member Of Congress;
have you ever spoken In Congress on this subtect7
Ans.-Ih have frequently alluded to It,
Mr. Thomas Quoting from witness' speech).-
You say II am familiar with nearly every public
building in this country from personal Inspection
NOW Is that strictly true?
Ans.-Wel, no: not strictly 80 in the literal
sense In which you wish to take 1t. am familiar
WIN many or them.
Ques.-Then you did not tell the truth, did you?
Mr Coleman.-Did you ever know a Congress
man TO make speech that was literally true?
[Laughter.]
CLOSE OF THE cRoss-ExAMfNAT1oN.
The cross-examination wasi pursued to great
length. Witness said the greatest frauds upon the
Philadelphia building were perpetrated after Mr.
Hill became supervising architect and after a
superintendent had been put In charge by the
arch1tects Office. This superintendent was totally
incompetent, and permitted the QrOSSeSt fraudS.
yet he is In the employ OF the architects or1ce
ID reply 10 a question by Mr.. Coleman, witness
said his ground of complaint against Mr. Hill was
that after having his attention called to the gross
lrauds rs' Wnicn were being parpetrated. Mr.. Hill
still went ahead and made the modified contracts
based upon the fraudulent and excessive rates
tracts ~
This concluded the examination OF Mr.. Murch.
CONTINUED IN THE SECOND EDITIoN.l
The Star Route Verdict.
From Harper's Weekly.
The result OF the star route trials can not be