The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-07-10
NATIONAL AFFAIRS,
Hill Being Coraered with Damaging les.
timony Assisted" Emgrants-
Other Items.
The Hill InyestigRtiOn.

NASHINGIOS, July 9.-Coieman opened
the proceedings in the Hill investigation by
the presentation Of number N Bartlett,
Robbins l. Co. 5 contracts. As he offered
the first contract he explained that the
prosecution did not claim that the contracts
were not all right. They did not wish to
show that they had been awarded without
advertisement, and some Of them without
competition; that Bartlett & Robbins got
nearly all OF them, and that they had cor.
ruptly been fayore in the awards OF the
contracts for supplying heating apparatus
for the public buildings OF the United
States.
Totten asked II the counsel proposed to
follow up this evidence by evidence that
Hill had been bribed. 1t made no differ.
ence otherwise how many contracts Bart
lett, Robbins & Co. received. Even II
they had all Of them it only tended TO show
that they were good men and did the work
honestly.
Coleman was astounded that good law
yer should expect him TO show that money
bad actually passed between the contractors
and Hill. II he could so present the facts
AS to lead to the inference that money must
have passed he would have accomplished
all he expected in this investigation.
Totten objected, because the proposed
evidence would make out charge.
Coleman called upon 1.-THE gentleman to say
whom he represented,
Totten-'I appear for everybody who 1,
defendant against this assault you are con.
ducting,'
Coleman Insisted upon an answer, and
Totlen said he represented Bartlett, Rob.
bins Co., Mr.. Hill, aud the Dix Island
Granite company. lie had represented the
last Lamed company many years.
Coleman-"Thati is all | want To know
how many OF these contractors are Interested
In Hil's defense, to the extent Of providing
counsel ~
The prosecution then put In evidence a
showing that Bartlett, Robbins & Co., or
Bartlett, Haywood & Co., received nine.
teen contracts for furnishing heating an.
paratus for public buildings from 1875 10
1888 at an average cost OF $4l7,lll, upou
which there was extra work amounting tc
SlO9, S4S' Contracts were also put In eyi.
dence to show that during the same period
the total cost OF all the contracts awarded
the other firms supplying heating apparatus
was Sl7o, 4O, upon which the extra work
amounted to 5000.
Coleman then offered in evidence the pro.
| posals upon which contracts were awarded
for the supply OF heating apparatus for the
bureau Of engraving and printing in this
city. Bartlett, Robbins & Co. bid S1.
AS, while Barber & Co. bid $50, 1874, the
contract being awarded to Bartlett, Rob.
bins 4 Co. A number II similar cases were
instanced.
Here is curiosity said Coleman.
"It shows how the secretary of the treas
ury has been coming to the relief OF the de.
fense.' He then read from the back of A
letter from Mr.. Hill to Secretary Folger
dated after the filing Of the charges In thi,
case submitting statement In regard to the
heating apparatus for the Charleston, West
Va, courthouse with the following en-.
dorsement by Secretary Folger. upon
the facts found in the within statement
decided to accept the proposal Of Bartlett,
Robbins n Co. ~ the surest and best fol
the interest Of the government.
Bring him n!' exclaimed Totem.
Here is chance for the gentleman to
bring another specification. -
Coleman remarked that he supposed tho
secretary had Endorsed the paper in that
way to show his approval Of what Hill did
by doing the same thing himself.
Charles p. Wanncll then took the stand to
identity number OF vouchers showing the
payments TO Bartlett, Robbins & Co., and
Bartlett, Hayward & Co.