Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-20
The Hill Investigation.

The Hill Investigation.
THE COMMITTEE ASKED TO GO TO CHICAGO TO TAKE
TESTIMONY.
Before the Hill Investigating committee this
morning Mr.. Coleman read an AFFIDAVIT, which re.
cited that A. B. King, Milo Walbridge and John
Woodman, all OF Chicago, were important and
material witnesses to the fact that the heating
apparatus OF the Chicago post Office, furnished by
Bartlett, Robbins & Co., was OF poor quality and
improperly constructed 1t was stated that these
witnesses could not be brought to Washington,
and the committee was requested to adjourn to
chicago Tor the purpose OF taking their testimony.
AN EXPERT IN HEATING APPARATUS.
F. D. Bradbury, OF this city, was called by the
defense as an expert In heating apparatus He
testified that 1t was not feasible to require each
his own specifications The plans for the Phila
delphia post Office were pronounced by the wit
ness 70 be very easy OF comprehension.
FAvoR1TE SLATE FASTENER
Mr. Coleman then proposed to show that all OF
panied by specifications requiring the states to be
fastened by the Farquhar patent process: tnat
that patent was not the best, as Mr. Hill well
knew, and that lower bids proposing to use
happened, said Mr.. Coleman, that Farduhar h ad
a monopoly OF the business or putting on slate
ROOFS; Tor no person could use his patent without
Mr.. Totten pointed out that one OF the contracts
called for the FarQuhar patent fastener or another
Mr. Coleman replied that it amounted to a prac-
ttcal designation OF that fastener
Mr.. Totten admitted that UP to A certain date
because up to that time there was no other fas.
tener known TO the department..
MI steinmetz dnterruptIng. .l-"Indeed; look at
the New York post Office"
Mr.. Totten, continuing, said that when other
fasteners were known to the department. the spa
ciflcat10nS had been opened to them, with re-
flo nl tn fha -
patent.
MR.. MURCHs THREAT.
During lull In the proceedings Mr.. Coleman
humOrously remarked to Mr.. Totten that he had
received letter from Mr.. Murch informing him
that within halt an hour after Mr.. Murch met Mr..
TOtten the latter would have to be advertised for.
MODEL OF A SLATE ROOF
was exhibi ed to the committee with the object OF
showing the superiority of another fastener over
the FarQuhar patent
Edward Wallace, q slater, testified that other
patents were better than the FarQuhar, in cases
the witness said that he had frst heard OF the
Jones patent ION exhibition) about two years ago.
BEFORE that time the FarQuhar patent was the
1est IN use 0aa copper wire was equal TO anything
Mr; stinemetz testified that he had inspected
the Farquhar patent fastener upon the Bo,ton
post Of1ce building, by direction OF Mr. Mullett, in
1873 AS result he had refused to use the Far
Qghar patent in a report made to Mr.. Mullett
,ona MI. NulsMan Guen Iead some contracts dated In
1881, requiring states to be fastened with Far
quhars fasteners, and called attention to the fact
that the specifications gave the address Of the
patentee.
Mr.. TOtten said that the Farquhar fastener was
the only one known to the department prior to
January 31St, 1881, and contracts made after that
date allowed the use OF other patents
Mr.. COLEMAN IRR1rATRD.
A delay In the production OF Mr.. Ste!nmetz' re-
port irritated Mr.. Coleman, and he charged that
all OF the papers called for by the prosecution had
been subjected to the scrutiny of the defense He
declared that the Secretary OF the Treasury had
shown lack OF earnestnesS in not suspenIing Mr..
Hill from Office during the progress OF the fnvesti-
cation.
Mr.. Hill testified that the Farquhar fastener had
been used by Mr.. Mullett upon the Boston post
office with good results
Nr. Lowe, OF the architects Office testified that
it was highly advantageous to submit to bidders
specifications for heating apparatus.
Adjourned until tomorrow.