Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-07-14

A BOMB FROM BLISS
Thrown Into the Arena OF the Hin invest
caflou

Thrown Into the Arena OF the Hill Invesh
CATION.
Washington, July 13.--Before the
resumption Of the regular proceedings
in the Hill Investigation. Coleman
presented formal communication
calling attention To the promises oil
Secretary F0lger that lac would cause
the attendance before the committee
Of any person In the government EN-
ploy, and would send u committee TO
distant cities TO take testimony. II
needed. An interview With William
Bliss, United States district attorney
for the eastern 4 strict of Missouri, re-
ported ia the 81 Louis Posf-I1ispatci I
Of June 18th, charges Supervising
Architect Hill with fraud ia ccnnec-
ton with the st. Louis custoni-house.
He Coleman desired 10 file that pa 4
PER.
The chairman said the committee
had read the raper, or portion OF IT,
Coleman, therefore, RETAINED from I
reading the newspaper article. He 4
said the charges made so freely 10y a 4
person OF so high an official position. I
demanded some attention. Hedesired (
Bliss 10 he called before the
committee, or ii he should be /
unable to attend, be would ask that Z
Thomas and Totten objected on the 4
ground that the proposed investigation |
was not proper.
Coleman maintained the propriety /
of the inquiry. MIL had been inves- !
tipated ut Boston and indicted at
St Louis. 1t was an old
story with him. 1t was the business
of his counsel to complete this inves-
tigatIon not to block It's wheels. Hill
ought To investigate, to open up all
his records, and If the secretary OF the
treasury was honest in his
desire for his investigation,
he should have suspended
Hill from his position aud 3ut In bis
place an honest man who would fur
nish the papers called for by the prose
cution. They were now dependent
upon the defendant TO furnish the evil
deuce required TO convict him.
Thomas" Have you communicated
with Bliss ~
Coleman.
Thomas. --"Then, on the bare news
paper charges you want an investiga-
tion?p
Coleman. Ut is not bare newspa-
percharge. IT is an interview with
Bliss
The chairman. Tile committee de-
sires to say that this interview was
sent 10 IT,"
There are some things in it reflect
ing on the committee. We wrote to
Bliss calling his attention to the inter
view, and asking If it was truthful
report. He telegraphed US as follows:
"Cleveland, Ohio. Hon. John C..
New, Washington: No thought or
utterahce OF mine, public or private,
has ever reflected on the integrity Of
your committee or any members OF It,,
or attributed other than earnest and
honest motives and efforts
In investigating the Hill
charges. ! am surprised and humii-
atea that n denial of statement so
phipapiy, fase seems necessary.
shall call on you Monday.
lSignedl 81. Fl. Bliss.
On Tuesday Bliss came here and de.
MED the authenticity OF that interview
saying lie had been incorrectly re.
ported.
Coleman Did lac say the charges
were uptfue?3
New-"He said there was some
foundation for them but that as re-
ported they were not true"
Coleman expressed some surprise
that these things had taken place
without the knowledge OF the prosecu-
ton.
The chairman said he could get Bliss
here at any time; he was In Boston.
Coleman presumed that the occur.
renee of this morning would probably
excuse Bliss or the reporter OF
the POST DiS1ufch to conclude
Washington, D. c., July IL. since
the first of July the number or post
masters commissioned averaged ! leo
per month, large increase over any
previous year. ;,
Totten said the investigation had
been In prugrtr - seven weeks, anu he
iefed any one 10 point To syllable OF
testimony rejecting upon Hills integ-
ri'y, The grand jury room was The
proper place to investigate charges oi
corruption, and he asked why the
prosecution did not proceed there.
Coleman narvelled at the cheek
shown by the counsel The defense
had put on the stand witness who
swore that he had been employed by
Bartlett. Robbins " Co, and ut the
same time had made plans for the gov.
eminent for four buildings which hi.
firm was bidding. Another EN-,
ploye swore that the Arm
had been in the government
employ long enough To- make "a f,lvora.
BILE report on thousands of dcllars
worth of material furnished by that
firm for the Chicago building. When
he finished that job he went back 10
this place with Bartlett, Robbins Il Co.
That was an offence that should send
them to the penitentiary, yetthe coun-
sci said they were proving nothing
The chairman said the committee
would take under consideration Cole
mans demand that Bliss be examined
aud the regular proceedings were re.
sumed.
A Railroad Commission.
The president appointed Byron An
drews, of Washington, w. III. Bridge,
man, of Stanford, Conn, and Dudley
+. Phelps, of New YORK city, as 9
commission to examine and report
upon twenty-five miles OF the North.
ern Pacific railroad, in AIissula tiiyi,
sion, Montana.
YELLOW FEVER.