The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-07-11
The Hill Investigation.

The Hill Investigation.
WASHINGTON, July 9. - Coleman
opened the proceedings in the Hill in.
vestigation by presenting a number
of Bartlett, Robbins Il Co's.contracts.
AS he offered the first contract he ex.
planned that the prosecution did not
claim that the contracts were not all
right; but they wished to show that
they had been awarded without ad.
vertisement, and some of them with.
out competition. That Bartlett, Rob.
bins & Co. got nearly all of them, and
had been corruptly and u~nlawfully
favored in the award of contracts for
supplying heating apparatus for
the public building Of the United
States.
Totten asked if counsel proposed to
follow up this evidence by evidence
showing that Hill had been bribed; it
made no difference otherwise how
many contracts Bartlett, Robbins
Il CO. may have received. 1t only
tended to show that they were good
men and did their work hOnorably.
Coleman was astoniShed that a
G cd lawyer should expect him to
show that money had actually passed
between the contractors and Hill. II
he could so present facts as to lead
to the inference that money must
have passed, he would have accom-
plished all he had expected in this IN
vestlgation.
Totten objected because the sup
posed evidence would make out
charge.
Coleman called upon the gentle
man to say whom he represented.
Il appear for everybody" he re-
piled, defending against this assault
you are conducting"
Coleman insisted upon an answer
and TOtten said he represented Bart
lett, Robbins & Co., Mr.. Hill, and the
Dix Island Granite Go. lie had rep
resented the last named company
many years.
Coleman-"That is all. want u
know how many of these contractors
are interested in the Hill defensev
the extent of providing counsel.
The prosecution then put in evl.
dence showing that Bartlett, kopoln'
& Co., or Bartlett. Howard Il Co. le.
ceived 10 contracts for FURNISHING
heating apparatus forpublic buildings
from 1876 to 1883, at an aggregate
cost of $417,1l1, upon which tnele
was extra work amounting to SlNH'
848. Contracts were also put IN wv
dence to show that during the Sanne
period the total cost of all the cor
tracts awarded to other firms supply
ing heating apparatus was sl'V'wJi
upon which the extra work amoaa't"
to $4,000. Coleman then ottereu ~. In
evidence proposals upon whlcn WV
contracts were awarded %forsuppl.in5
heating apparatus Il the bureau
engraving and printing in TINS citS
Robbins Il co. bld s5i't ths
while Basther & Co. bid S3C;o-o, oM
contract being awarded to bal.iH%
& Co. A number OF slll nnri.
cases were instanced, "lIere is a Gu, w
said Coleman, "it shows h w.
Secretary of the Treasury I d.
oeen coming to the relief OF tne .t tS
He then read a back lg 1,sr
rom MI. Hill to Secretary fosu
lated after the filing of the clalsIt
this case, submitting a staIenitms
n regard to the heating appal" urt
or the Charleston West Va.) coult
louse. The following endorseu;S
" Secretary Folger upon the ia'''"
ound in the written statement: Of
II decide to accept the proposal, rest
Bartlett, Robbins 4 Co., as tne SUM- aay.
nd best for the interests OF lne
rnment." ,u..ton
Bring him in," exclaimed io,'cu
here is a chance for the gtnlle9"
D bring in another specification, the
Coleman remarked he SUPPOSE in
ecretary had endorsed the pap1i If
hat way to show his appross. same
hat Hill had done by doing 1he '"D
hing himself. ol the
Charles z. Waunell then tooN cI.
and to identify a number Oh rtJett.
IS, showing payments to bai Hay-
obbins & Co., and Bartlett ''
ard e. Co