New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-26

NATIONAL CAPITAL TOPICS.
FOR AND AGAINST MR.. HILL.
FURTHER ALLEGATIONS BY THE PRosEcUuoN-TH
COMMITTEE BECOMING WEARY.

COMMITTEE becoming WEARY.
WASHINGTON July 25.-Before the Hill In
yestigatng Committee this morning Mr. Coleman reao
an affidavit recting the frauds alleged to have DeeD
committed In connection with the stonedressing con-
tracts setting forth that testimony essential 10 tne
prosecution could be obtained from persons living ~
Quincy, Mass, where some of the work was done. MI
Totten held that Mr. Coleman was not entitled TO the
testimony he desired 1t not rebuttat put only
cumulative proof. Mr.. Coleman maintained that inc
testimony was important primarily and proper 10 DO
given The committee reserved its decision upon inc
question.
Mr. Hill was called to the stand to testify In answer 20
the charges OF fraud in furnishing elevators lie sara
that committee OF experts appointed by the Secretary
of the Treasury TO select elevators for the chicago
building had reported in favor OF the Hale apparatus
The report In evidence. Mr. Hill SAID that tne
subsequent awards of contracts for elevators had Deen
based upon that report
To Mr. Coleman the witness said that he kne" tne To
port applied only the elevators for the Chicago Dull
ing The only advertisements after that report were
for steam or freight elevators and not for nydrauhc
passenger elevators Circular letters may nave peen
issued instead Of advertisements, but eompettlon was
had He understood that Otis & Co. and Hale % co.
were separate nrms but used the same patents, Otis
Co. supplying the East and Hale Co. the West lie re-
garded an elevator q machine requiring such sklh
and science in ts construction that did not fall witnn
the statute prescribing advertisements for proposals
Mr. Coleman read Mr. Hills Endorsement upon
a proposal by Otis & Co. for supplying
elevators, stating that he had compareu
the prices with the prices given by other firms The
witness said had not invited competition by otner
firms, but had their prcelists in his Office Referring 10
the two instances the lowest bidder had not Sc
cured the contract for supplying heating apparatus Mr.
Hi produced the record show that their proposals ala
not contemplate supplying efficient apparatus
Mr. Totten offered In evidence statement OF the pro-
posas for supplying the heating apparatus Tor tho
Pension building in this city, now being CONSTITUTION
under the superntendonce Of General Meigs.
Mr. Coleman remarked upon the failure OF Bartlett,
Robbins &c Co TO put IN proposal III the paper was
presented prove that that firm did not get Oil OF tue
work. It came too Late for the bids were opened after
this investigation had begun. 1t might be material as
showing Bartlett, Robbins Co did not care 10 pu
where Hill did not supervise the work.
Mr. Totten said no introduced the paper 10 snow 'ne
vida difference In tho eleven bids-rrom S23O0O to
ssl oO0-where bidders required 10 supply thelr
specifications He supplemented 1t with statement OF
he bidding for heating apparatus for the Cincinnati
the yu, bids ranged from SIPS 900 to sl5ioOo.
The chairman announced that the committee would
Mr. st John, OF Ncw.York, and on saturday Messr@
King and woodman. OF Chicago, and MT lsaacs oil 81
Mr. Coleman SAID he should refuse to examine Mr.
Walbrdge until the other witnesses were present
Mr. Coleman called for the papers connected WIN inc
supply OF plumbing material lumber iron and brick Tor
public business II would facilitate his la6ors he said
il the defence would acknowledge that one person had
furnished the supplies In each case u
The chairman began TO show signs of mpatence He
saId that the call for enormous mass OF papers,
and he did not know whether they could be found.
Mr. Totten again complained OF the ueay ia tno pro-
ceedngs aud asked why his client should DO Kept upon
the gddiron. -, ..,.. -, .
gridron ana IN the same brcan declared that MS client
had not been damaged lie said that lie should rave
nil this inyesfIgaiiOn some time ago II mad been
fairly treatea by the Architects Once aud had Deer
freey supplied with tho necessary papers, put nc uiu
not purpose being bounded out