National Republican., 1883-07-18
THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A d.
VIDE.

Therefore the Prosecution in the HilI
Case ASK che Committee 20 Infer GhRt
Thero Was one.
The Hill investigating committee resumed
its sessions yesterday morning,
James =. Lowe, of the architects Office was
recalled, aud testified that there was no
draughtsman in the Office in 1878 able TO pre-
pare the plans for heating apparatus for the
Chicago building. The architects office did
not undertake to make plans for heating APP
parbu5 for largo buildings, because they were
necessarily complex aud required much timo
In their preparation.
Mn Steinnots took the stand aud said chat
There was nothing TO have prevented him
from giving to Mr.. Hill full and accurate ln-
formation concerning the extra work upon
the Now York postoilice lie dcniod that
he was disgruntled and sore. He said he had
been in partnership with a. B. Mullctt
Mr. Coleman remarked that he should
judge that Mr. Hill was now in partnership
with MIR. Mullett.
The witness made u general contradiction
of the witness Patterson in his testimony rO-
| garding the cost of the extra work upon the
Now York postOiCc, and declared that Pat
terson had accepted Mr.. Hills fig rs as the
basis of his estimate.
Mr.. Coleman ncxt proposed to show the re-
lations existing between Mr.. Hill and the
American SafH company, the United States
Fire-Proof shutter company, and George l..
| Damon, all one and the same person, as he
said. Five contracts for furnishing iron shut
! ters for public buildings made with the United
States Fire-ProOf shutter company, were put
in evidence. Mr.. Coleman called attention
TO the fact that they were signed by Damon,
us superintendent of the company, and asked
| If tho dolcnsc would concGde that they were
all Of the contracts made for tho supply of
| fret proof shutters since Aug. l, 1876.
Mr.. Hill acknowledged that such was the
| fact.
Next in evidence wore contracts made with
George l.. Damon for supplying safes and
vaults for public buildings
| Mr.. Thomas inquired tho reason for the in
| PRODUCTION OF this evidence.
Mr.. Coleman answered that he was trying
| to show that Damon got all of the contracts
for safes made by the supervising architects $
Office since Mr.. Hill had been In Office
MIR. Thomas remarked that all Of the con-
| tracts had been advertised.
| Mr.. Coleman asked If tho defense would
concede that Damon was the only contractor
for safes and vaults since 1876.
| Mr.. Hill could not say, but thought il was
probable. Next in order were n number of
contracts fcS onTes nnt---Sults which Mr. Cole
man sc1d had been made 18th Damon upon
verbal authority and without advertisement.
| He also read DamOn's card, wherein he
describes himself as builder Jf safes for the
| Treasury department
He has had that upan his letter heads for
fifteen years." said Mr.. Totten.
| "Theu it is time he gave some one else
chance" replied Mr.. Coleman.
MIR. Mclean, of the architects Office, testi-
fed that Mr.. Hin had continued tho practice
of his predecessor Mr. Potter, in procuring
safes. The prices paid by the government
were much lower than tho market prices.
Fourteen safes were furnished after adver-
tisemont for the Philadelphia postollicc by
.I | 4, n olt v.ag IN ynGt
bidder. That award had been made since the
beginning of this investigation.
A proposition to submit in bulk n mass of
vouchers lod to passage between the Goun-
sol. Mr.. Coleman would not say that there
had been u divide between Mr.. llll and
Damon, but the buginess had been done in
such way that II was possible to have made
such divide and no other person could have
known of it. The work should have been
advertised for; but there was Il reason for not
doing 1t, which was that a secret divide might
be made possible
Mr.. Thomas replied that tho gentleman
might Rtay here u month"; but the evidence
he could put in would not support his charge.
Tho proof was the other way, that there had
been no divide
Mr.. Coleman said he could go into tho sub
icct of elevators of plumbing, of any branch,
and show that there was always one man (as
In the case OF Bartlett, Robbins d Coz
with whom the supervising architect did
business in such manner that divide was
possible without any one else knowing of it.
The committee decided to allow Mr. Coleman
to prepare an abstract of the vouchers to be
used in evidence. The chairman then read
tho following letter:
| MAGNOLIA, MASS, July 10, lSS3,--Hon. John G..
Now chairman, Washington, u, C.--Sr: hnvc
the honor 20 acknowledge the reUeptGt this place
late last evening OF your telegram saying the COM
mitlee desired my presence III Washington early
this week. This simmons is bnscd, assume upon
belief or suppostion on the pnrt of the commit
tee that am able TO give testimony relating to the
changes against the supervising architect now bG-
ins investigated, and such impression, venture
to assume further, arises out of the publication in
tho st. Louis Past DispdiCh OF what purports to be
an Interview with me, which Isnpposed had been
disposed oi TO your committees satisfaction, | beg
now 10 repeat what said to you while in Wash
ington In reply 70 your verbal request or sugges-
tlOn that should appear as witness before your
committee, viz. : that had no knowledge or In
formation whatever touching the subject matter
OF your investigation, ami If was tOappCar beor
your committee such would be my statement.
have no desire to appear in Contempt of your conf
mitteS, and have nothing 10 avoid In this matter,
except n useless and expensive journey, trust
under the circumstances, your committee will
kindly relieve me from the attendance demanded
Your 0bedlent servant, WILLIAM II. BLISS.
Mr.. Coleman read, in reply an editorial
article published in the st. Louis POst-Dis-
patch, Of July Ii, stating that :" the trust
worthy aud guilelesi reporter who inter
viewed Mr.. Bliss is willing 10 make affidavit
to its accuracy" Tho editor also remarks
, upon Mr. Blsss failure to point out any de-
fccts in the report during his stay in st
Louis and charge him with attempting to un'
load upon the reporter Mr.. Coleman added
that this article was entitled to credence
equally with Mr. Biss's lettor.
An atlempt was made by the prosecution &c
take up the charges of corruption in conneC
tiOn with the construction of slate roofs fol
public buildings, but no progress was made
aud the committee adjourned.
New Patents.
There were issued from the patent Office
yesterday 1873 patents, 20 designs, 20 trade
marks, ii labels, and reissues of patents fol
, the week ending July II. OF this numbol
400 patents and designs and 80 trademarks
, and labels were issued to citizens of th,
J United States, and 3jpatents and designs anC
10 trademarks and labels to citizens Of foreign