The Portland daily press., 1883-06-28
THE HILL INVESTIGATION.
The Supervising Architect Charged with
Demanding Pay for Passing Claims.

Demanding PAY for Passing Claims.
WASHINGTON, June q. The Hill investiga-
ting committee resumed its sessions this morn
ing, and J. M. Wilbur of New York, took the
stand. The witness has an account against
the United States for putting in illuminated
tiling for the New York postoifice, and pre-
sented his account TO Hill in person In March,
| 1877, and had conversation with him in HIPS
office. Hill looked the accounts over and said
1t was all right, bat added that he ought TO
have something for settling such an old ac-
count. He would refer the matter to Mr..
Cannon, an employe OF his office. He called
Cannon, who took the witness into another
room and told him they ought to have 10 rer
cent for setting the claim. Tho witness
neither assented nor dissented but said moth
ing. Some days after he called again, and
subsequently called on the secretary and
found that the claim had been disallowed. The
witness afterwards called Hills attention 10
| Gannon's connection with the contracts and
| afterward called Assistant Secretary Meteor
mick's attention 10 Mr.. Gannon's case, and
Cannon was removed The witness believed
| that both Hill and Cannon made adverse re-
| ports upon his claim.
Mr.. Thomas asked, ''How have you sup
ported yourself during the past six years
Objection TO the question led 10 prolonged
discussion as to its propriety and admissabiity.
Question-Why did you not make record
| Of this conversation which you allege to have
had with Hill in which you say he asked for
10 per cent.
A.-well, thought it was rather a strange
| proceeding on the part of the government oiii-
cial, but was stranger in Washington at
| that time and | did not know but that it was
| custom with officials here. Witness said
further that he had made no secret Of the mat
| ter, but had told y great rrany people that
| Mr.. Hin bad asked him for 10 per cent OF his
| claim for passing II.
+ Odd Mr.. Hill ask 10 per cent?
A.-No, he said he must have something and
| he introduced mo tc Cannon who indicated
that 10per cent was the correct figure. consider
| cd Hill aud Cannon one and the same SO far as
| that proposition was concerned.
| Articles OF copartnershiD between Cannon,
| Simmons 81 johnson were then put III evil
| dence by the prosecution. They bore the date
| 1874, and one of their stipuations was to the
| effect that in all contracts which might be OBJ
| tanned from any of the departments l.. K.
| Cannon should receive 10 cents for every ton
| of stone materials hauled by said firm
| which should constitute his full share OF the
| profits from that branch of business, but that
| Ia all other profits he should share equally
| with other partners.
| The opinion OF Assistant Secretary French
| favorable 10 the Webine claim was than put
| in evidence and read, as also the opinion OF
! Secretary Sherman which referred the matter
| to Cong ess for its action.
| l.. u. Cannon then tooks the stand for de-
| fence. Witness was an empoye OF the
Architects office from 1869 10 1877, part OF the
| time principal clerk. Witness denied that any
| Such conversation ever occurred as nad Deen
| detailed by Wilbur or that any proposition had
been made by him (witness) to Wilbur sor 10
| per cent. of his claim for passing it. Hill re-
| ferred Wilbur to him (Gannon) because it was
| customary in the office to refer a claimant TO
| the clerk having the matter in charge. That
| was the explanation in this case.
| On cross examination witness said he left
the government employ May 1877 with one
months leave of absence. No reasonswas az
! signed by the department for his dismissal
| Witness lost $500 through his connection
with Summons 81 johnson which covered a
| period Of Is months. Never had been in any
| other business transaction involving furnish
| ing Of materials to the government or perform
| ing work for il. The copartnership of Sim
| MONS johnson Il Cannon was dissolved before.
| Hill became supervising architect and never
had an existance during his incumhency of
| the office
| Mr.. Coleman reserved the right to ask some
! further questions tomorrow after evidence
| of one other witness shall be heard.
Mr.. Hill then took the staud and said por-
| tion of the testimony of Wilbur is true ald~1I
| part Of it is false II never held any .,,I, yer
sation with Wilbur gfiici e was either said
! UT 1nJimafed that I would receive or
| permit any compensation to be paid for the
| settlement of claim" The charge OF Wilbur
| is absolutely false. Witness never appeared
| before Congressional committee in connec-
| tion with this claim except in answer to a
| summons.
At 1.30 p. n. the committee adjourned until
30 Tomorrow