The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-07-11
Further Evidence of Corruption
in the Architects Office.
stksskted" Pauper Immigrants Being
Sent to the United States
Through Canada.
French's Son Living in
Clover-The Patent ONCE
Redemption of Checks.
THE CONTRACT BUSINESS.


Proceedings In the Hill InvestigatlOu-rhe
Secretary of the Treasury to the Relief of
His Assistant - an Interesting CouOquy
Between Counsel.
WAsHINGroE, July 9-Mr. Coleman opened
the proceedings in The Hill investigation to-
day, by the presentation Of number OF
bartlett, Robbins & Co.'S contraets AS he
offered the first contract, he explained that
tie prosecution did not cl9im that the con-
tracts were not all right, but they did wish to
show that they had been awarded without
advertisement, and soHse OF them without
competition; that Bartlett, Robbins & Co.
got nearly all Of them, and had been cor
ruptly and unlaTfully favored in the award
of contracts, for supplying heating apparatus
for public buildings in the United States.
Totten asked If counsel proposed to follow
up this evidence by evidence that Hill had
II been bFibed. 1t made no difference, other
wise, how many contracts Bartlett, Robbins
A. Co. received II they held all of them it
only tended to show that they were good
men aud did their work honestly.
Coleman was astOundel that 9 good lawyer
!. should expect him TO show that money had
sctuaiiy passed between the contractor and
Hill. II he could so present fscts as to lead
10 the inference thai n,o oney must have
passed, he would have accomplished what he
expected in this investigation.
1otten objected because the proposed evil
dence would make out no charge.
Coleman called upon the gentleman tosay
whom he represented.
TOtten-I appear for every body defending
against this assault you are conducting
Coleman insisted on an answer, and Toiten
said he represented Bartlett. II Dbbins Il Co.
Mr. Hill and the Dix Island Granite Com
pany. He bad represented the last named
Company many years
COleDan-Thas is all want to know-how
MANY Of these contractors are interested in
Hills defense to the extent OF providing
counsel.
The prosecution then put in evidence
records showing that Bartlett. Robbins Il
Co, Bartlett Haywood .S Co. received
mir eteen contracts for furnishing heating
apparatus for public buildings from 1876 10
1SS3 at an aggregate cost of S41L1l upon
which there extra work amounting to
$1Oa SeS. Contracts were also put in evidence
10 show that during the same period the total
cost Of all contracts awarded to other firms
supplying heating apparatus was $40 900,
upon which extra work amounted to So 900.
Coleman then offered in evidence the pro-
posaIs upon which contracts were awarded
for the supply of heating apparatus for tue
Bureau of Engraving and Printing in this
city. Barllett, Robbins Il Co. S3i AS while
= Barber q Co. bid S30,524, the Contract being
awarded Bartlett, Robbins d Co. A number
of simi g. cases were instsnced.
Here Is a curiosity" said Coleman. 1T
shows how the Secretary of the Treasury has
been coming to the relief of the defense" He
then read from the back of letter from Mr..
= Hill 10 Secretary FOlger, dated after the filing
of the charges IN tnis case, submitting a
statement IN regard to the heating apparatus
for the Charleston, w. Va, Court House the
following endorsement by Secretary Folger
Upon the facts found in the within state
ment il is decided to accept the proposal of
Bartlett Robbins & Co az the surest and
best for the interests OF the Government"
Bring him in" exclaimed TOtten ''here
- is chance for the gentleman to bring another
speculation"
Coleman remarked he supposed the Sscre-
tary bad endorsed the paper in that way to
show has approval of what Hill did By doing
the same thing himself.
Chas. p. Wanpell then took the stand to
indentify number of vouchers showing pay
nents 10 Bartlett, Robbins X Co, and Bart
lett. Haywood d Co.
Totten having objected that these YOU cb-
ers only showed the SUMS ex xoended for re-
pairs, Coleman replle1 il vas mis- object to
show that Bartlett, Robbins q Co. had had
all such work upon public buildings ever
since Hill became supervising Architect.
Coleman then offered in evidences the pre-
pO'als. The evidence showed this work was
done with advertisement and without CIV
ing those engaged in the same business
opportunity ot bidding therefor as requested
by Section $50 OF the Rev sed Satnt IS; that
this work done by firm IN Baltimore
on the public buildings in Washington
Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey Msssachu-
sets, Indians. Michigan, Illinois, Missouri,
ksnsas, and Other States. and in
stme instances that 6ra engaged
TO furD'sh material and perform services on
the United States buildings as far remote as
NeoTaska end Oregon, where the amount
Iaid them did not exceed S.. This evidence
was offered to show this firm of Bartlett,
Robbins x Co. had a monopoly OF toe busi-
ness in their line for the nitsd States
4 which they could not have had il the work
had been open to com petition with others in
terested in the same business. and that such
course on the part of the Supervising Archi-
tect has driven away all clm mpetitors for such
work. and no business men can eO1l pete with
this firm. and they obtain work at their own
prices. Contracts have been awarded this
firm in cases where they were not the lowest
bidders.
Here is a bill for thermometers sent to
Indianapolis. That shows they have no
thermometers out there" said Coleman.
TtOmas-It shows that Bartlett, Robbins &
Co. could sell them cheaper than lndianapo-
lis dealers
Coieman-Th2t Is what we would like to
see yOu prove.
sSee what the Government has to pay for
work IL Portland he added, as he read an
Olher voucher
.4Do yoU mean 70 ssy that S per day for
fOfs man j. excessive2' asked Totten.
hot out there replied Coleman. ''But
they charged be Government the same price
for rCrk done here when they did not pay
irr
Tbomss--HOw do you know thar
C0leman-We will prove it.
The reading OF vouchers was resumed.
Wen IL had continued for some time TOtten
obiecfed on the ground of irrelevaucy
bsirmaD New, of the Committee. did not
~ ow bat ibst The evidence nov offered