Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-26
THE HILL INVESTIGATION.
OF Secretary F0lger and NIr.
HILL


Testimony Of Secretary Folger and Mr.
Hill.
Upon the opening of the session OF the Hm In.
vestigating committee this morning Mr.. Hill asked
TO correct his testimony relative to the require
ments by the accounting officers OF the Treasury
touching bondsmen. They do not require articles
OF association OF corporation to be filed The re-
sponsibility OF bidders is examined into.
Mr.. Coleman.-Who has told you since last night
that the accounting ocers do not require articles
OF association to be filed?
Ans-The chief clerk called my attention to the
matter and said was in error.
MI Coieman.-That is not an answer. asked
did he tell you that they did not require them7
Ques-Now, where are the articles which you
said yesterday had been filed?
6ont think they ever eve have been led
pany is myth, and that Damon takes the con-
tract and does work for the department which he
Ans.-I know just the contrary: that it is an in
corporated company, and has been doing business
Ques::-what is the name Of the firm over the
door where these shutters are nader
Ans.-I don't know.
hdes OF such company or its actual existence7
AnS.-There are extracts from their meetings
attached to some OF their contracts.
By Mr.. New.-Have you ever seen their articles
Of Incorporation?
Ans.-No, sir.
Mr Coleman.-wIll you show me the certificate
OF the accounting officer of the Treasury of the
Responsibility or reliability Of this United States
company
Mr.: Coleman examining the bondsy-If these
ponds require two sureties and Mr.. Damon is an
omcer OF the company, then they have but one
law.
SECRETARY FoLaER AS WITNESS.
Secretary Folger was then sworn.
Ques by Mr.. Alexander, OF the committee.-Mr
Hill stated in his examination that he had shown
to you paper in which the Manly Cooper COM
pany allege that they had been approached by
George L. Damon with an of1er OF s4,5OO to with
draw their bid?
Ans-He did not show me the paper. He said to
me that Manly, Cooper & Co. had told him that
some higher bidder had approached them with
some oner to withdraw their bid
Ques.Did you understand that it was an offer
to buy of Manly, Cooper & Co.?
ora ~ h that It was proposition
withdraw their bid. ~
Ques.--How did it come up!
AnS.-It was mentioned as one of the facts relat-
ing to the application for an extension OF time for
ta 91esMr . Hlll was asking your advice as to ex-
Ans-Yes; at that time we concluded to extend
Ques:-Did you know Of any stated amount being
offered?
AnS-No.
Ques.-Dld Mr. Hill show you Mr.. Damon's writ
Ans.-1 don't remember
Ques.-Did any other conversation occur at that
time In relation to the awarding Of this contract?
Ans.-lnasmuch as the lowest bidder had at that
time been awarded the bid, no injury had been
done the government, and we did not deem it ne
had been mada ns
vious to the test, and as it was rea-
sonable to suppose the lowest bidder would have
bribery was ordered.
BY Mr.: Coleman.-Did Mr.. Hill tell you that
complaint had been made to him by MI Kelley.
co: to withdraw their bid?
Ans..The amount Of s4.50o was not mentioned,
mentioned. I think this conversation occurred
pending the postponement of the test
Ques.-Did he make this statement to you in
Ans.-He reported to me verbally. He came to my
asSed aeS ana an t1ea 1nat Manly Cooper Co. had
Of 1a To Be
as a reason for granting the extension.
Ques.-!n making this verbal statement, did Mr.
Hllt mention the name OF the party making the
Ans.-No; he spoke Of 1t, as one of the bidders
1t having made an ofrer to Manly. Cooper & Go. to
There was at that time no question of rejecting
the bid I certainly understood that If the shut
ot to S'd Co. stood the tes they
In reply to further questions, Mr.. Folger said !:
knew before the contract was finally awarded
Ihao eneH NMduiy, COOpeT q CO. ~ shutters did not
meet the requirements OF the specifications in
thickness Mr.. Hill made no written report on
the subject l would not undertake to say that
ne SAID they pledged themselves to finish shutters
as required within twenty-four hours, and that it
should not Interfere with the execution of the con-
tract, nor do remember that he told me the shut
terS OF the next lowest bidder were also thicker
tnan called for by the specifications.
MI. Coleman then stated that owing to the fact
that no assistance-as often requested-had been
furnished the prosecution for the examination OF
papers and accounts, Gen. St1nemetz had been
unaDle alone TO prepare all the evidence which
they wished to present in the Bartlett Robbins
case. The prosecution, however, were ready to 90
not reQuir" much time.
NEW CHARGE.
Counsel then read as specifications under the
general charge OF fraud and corruption, that Mr.
HILL as supervising architect of the Treasury in
March, 1877. promised and agreed with James NJ.
Wilbur, then having a claim against the govern
ment to the amount Of $4,000 for furnishing illu-
minating tiling for the New York post office, to
pass said claim II he (Wilbur) would allow him
(HilD 10 per cent of said claim
Further, That MIR. Hill knowing L. G. Cannon to
De associated as cOpartner in the firm OF SimOns
Johnson GO. In the transaction OF business re-
iatng 10 the traic In building materials said Hill
knowing this fact, refused to dismiss said Cannon
from his position In the architects Office but per-
mitted him to remain and to use his influence in
securing contracts for his firm
THE BARTLETT, ROBBINS 4 co. CASE
Mr.. Wilbur was about to take the stand when
Mr.. Thomas asked, and was permitted, to put In
the answers OF Bartlett, Robbins & Co., and OF Mr.
Hill to the charges preferred in that case
The answers were then read
CONTINUED IN THE SECOND EDIT1ON1
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