The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-14
HILL INV.-.IsArlos.
some Preliminary sparrinE Between
the Court nnd FounaaI.

I NssN SSeFs Aha NeuahNtA
WARRINGTON, D. O., July l3.-Beforo
the resumption Of the regular proceedings
in the Hill investigation, Mr.. Coleman pre-.
sensed formal Communication calling ale
tentien to the promise Of Secretary Folser
that he would cause the attendance before
the committee Of any person in Govern
ment employ, and wanted, to send,the com.
mittee TO distant cities to take testimony,
Another interview with VIM. H. Bills,
US, District Attorney for the Eastern Dis.
trict Of Missouri, reported in the 81. Louis
Pott, DIpateh, June g, charges Superin-
tending Architect Hill with fraud IN com
nection with the construction Of the ii.
Louis Custom House. He desired 10 Ala
that paper. The Chairman said the eop,.
mittee had read the paper or q portion
Of Il, Coleman therefore reiraIned from
reading the newspaper article. He naid
these charges made 90 freely by person
in 90 high an official position demanded
the attention Of the Committee. He desirea
that Bliss be called before the Committee.
or II he should be unable to attend ho
would ask to be examined In St. Louis.
Thomas and Totten objected on theground
that the investigation was not proper.
Coleman maintained the propriety Of tho
inquiry. Hill had been, investigated at
Boston and indicted at St. Louis.
It was the old story with him.
II was the business Of his coun-
sci TO complete this investigation,
not 10 block Ia wheels. Hill ought to In
yite investigation, to open up all Of his
records and II the Secretary Of the Treas
ury was honest In his desire for an inyesti-
CATION he should have suspended Hill
from bis position and put in bis place m
honest man who would furnish the papers
called for by the prosecution. They were
dependent upon the defendant to furnish
the evidence required 10 convict him.
Thomasw"Haye you communicated
with RlissT -
Coleman-"No!"
Thomas-"Then ON bare newspaper
charges you war. an investigation"
L" rLiss' DENIAL.
Coleman-"It's not q bare newspaper
charge. II Ia an interview with BliAs."
The Chairman Of the Committee desires
TO Say that this interview was sent to 1t.
There are some things in It rejecting upon
The Committee. We wrote Bliss calling
bis attention to the interview. asking II it
was truthful, He tslegraphed US as follows:
CLEVELAND. ONO.
Hon. John C. Neg, Warrington, D. @.
No thought or utterance OF mine, public !.
Or private, has either reflected on the In
egrity Of your committee or any oi its
members, or attributed other than earnest,
honest motives and efforts In the inyestiga.
ion oil the Hill charges. / am surprised
md humilia.ed that denial Of statement
10 palpably false seems necessary. Shall
nall on you Monday.
tSigned WV. II. Bliss
On Tuesday Bliss came here and de-
MED the authenticity Of that interview,
aayinE he had been incorrectly reported.
Coleman-"Did he say the charges were
lntrueH"
Neville said there was some founda-
lion ior them, but as reported they were
not true"
Coleman expressed some surprise that
these things had taken place without the
knowledge oi the prosecution. The
Chairman said he could get Bliss here at
any time. He was in Boston now. Cole.
man presumed the occurance Of this
morning would probably cause Bliss or the
reporter Of the Pot DIpatch to come here.
Totten said the investigation had been in
progress seven weeks, and he defed any
one to point to syllable Of the testimony
rejecting upon Hills integrity. The Grand
Jury room was the proper place to inyesti-
gate charges Of corruption, and he asked
why prosecution didn't proceed there.
Coleman maIyeled at the cheek shown
by counsel. The defense had put on the
stand witness who swore he had been
employed by Bartlett, Robbins 4 Co., and
1t the same time had made plans for the
for four buildings, for whichhis
trm was bidding. Another employe Of
hat firm had gone into the Government
employ long enough TO make q favorable
report upon thousands Of dollars worth Of
furnished by that firm for tho
Chicago building. When he finished that
lob he went back TO his place with BARTLETT
Robbins L Company. That was the Of
Ionse that should send them to the penf-
Yet counsel said they were
proving nothing.
The Chairman said the Committee
would tako under consideration Coleman's
demand that Bliss be examined, and the
regular proceedings were resumed.