The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-06-07

WASHINGTON. May 31.-Estimated
decrease of the public debt for MAY
about $5,500,000. Bond redemp-
ton during the month SI0.-
100000. Payments on account Of
pension, 81 200, 200.
WASHINGTON, May 31.-Investiga-
ton of affairs in the supervising
architects Office commenced this
morning. James Coleman appeared
for Murch and John l.. Thomas repre-
scented Hill. Murch and Hill were
both present. Coleman desired to
put in evidence all papers bearing on
what are known as fifteen per cent
contracts. Blair, of the department
of justice, objected to their introduce
ton, on the ground, 1st, that the con-
tract with the Dix Island Granite
company was made by Hills
predecessor (Mullett), and conse-
quently had no bearing. Coleman
said 1T was evident that Blair and
himself could not act in harmony in
this investigation, and asked that the
letters of Murch requesting the APP
pointment of government counsel to
assist him, on which Blair was de-
tailed, be withdrawn. The chairman
said the committee would let Blair's
objection go over for the present.
This was satisfactory. Coleman Of
fered in evidence the contract made
in 1873 between Mullett and the Dix
Island Granite company, for furnish
ing stone for the New Y ork postoffice
Coleman proposed to show
that this contract entitled the
contractor to fifteen per cent
profit, but the latter, with the knowl-
edge of Hill, who was then assistant
supervising architect, increased the
figures and new contracts were made
without advertising for proposals.
Other contracts with the same COM
pany for st. Louis, Boston and other
public buildings were also offered.
Coleman said acquisitions had been
made several weeks ago for regular
weekly reports of superintendent in
charge of the construction of these
buildings, but they had not yet been
furnished. Coleman then proposed
that the committee issue subpenas
for the appearance of certain witness
es, and that two experts be appointed
One to be designated by the COM
mittee and the other by the
prosecution = to investigate the
alleged fraudulent granite contracts.
1t could be shown that the govern
ment had paid hundreds of thousands
of dollars more than the stone was
worth at the highest market rates,
and work paid for which was never
performed. Thomas objected to the
appointment of experts. The question
was taken under consideration. At
ter consultation, the chairman stated
that there would be no difficulty in
selecting experts. Adjourned till
Tuesday, to allow experts time to
examine papers.
WASHINGTON, May 31.-Merrick
continued his star route addresses.
He called the attention of the jury to
the loss sustained by the government
by the Brady system of increase and
expedition. "There was" he said,
the Mineral Park Proche route, be-
ginning with contract
price of s29,82o and increasing
to $52,033 per annum. How they
grew AT morn bud, at noon, under
the favoring dews of expedition and
the fraudulent kiss of its son Brady,
a full-bloWn rose. The route from
White River to RaWlins was an in
stance OF the small amount of atten.
ton Brady paid to the petition that
he now held up as a shield against the
lance Of justice. There was not
petition, letter. or even the
scratch of a pen that asked for
the fast schedule ordered by Brady,
unless it were the contractors afida-
Wit. If the jury found tbs contractors
had made anfda9its by perjury fer the
benefit of one another, then conspira-
cy was made out and the crime was
proved. Instead Of tasting the waters
afar down where they flowed between
green banks, he had taken them to
the very fountain and showed
poison in that fountain. If
it was not there, then the
government surrendered its case. II
it was there, then in the name of the
people OF the United States he de-
manded that retribution be visited
upon the men who poisoned the
fountain, These defendants were
bold, unscrupulous men. who had at
tempted to broW-beat the court, jury
and counsel from the beginning of the
first trial down to this time.