Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-06-21
WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, June 2O.-The findings of
the WATSON court martial have been re-
ceived by the Judge advocate general. The
result has not been made known, bet it is
thought that his sentence is at least dis
missal, otherwise the department com
mander would have acted upon 1t.
TOUR OF INSPECTION.
General Sherman started west to-day on
tour of military post inspection He
would undoubtedly have postponed his de-
parture until after the funeral of Gen.
Ewing, but one days delay in starting
would have disarranged all his plans
through the entire trip, which has been
carefully mapped out, with dates for ar
rivals at certain points, and escorts pro-
vided to meet the party along the route.
Col. Bacon, of Gen. Sherman's staff, was to
have accompanied the party, but decided
to remain here on account of the illness of
his wife.
THE HILL INVESTIGATION.
When the Hill investigation committee
assembled to-day, before the regular pro-
ceedings begun Coleman called attention
to published reports of his remarks yes
terday, in which he is quoted as having
said that the cheek displayed by this de-
Tense in asking the commission to limit
the investigation to the fraud in the Phil
adelphia postofice building is only equal
by the amount of fees taken by the
government COUNSEL in the star route case.''
What supposed l had said, was, that it
was only equaled by the
amount of fees paid to counsel by the
government IN those cases, and my allu-
sion to this fact at all was only to show
how much more energetically this admin
lstration prosecuted alleged frauds in the
postoffice department than they do frauds
connected with these building contracts
1t shows how differently the administration
investigate in a case where they are
anxious 10 do something and in a case
where they are not.
Thomas, in reply, charged that the gen
tleman's remarks were intended for in
fuence and effect outside the room where
this investigation is being carried on.
Coleman called attention to the requisi
ton made some days since by the prosecu-
ton for all the papers in the case of Bart
lett, Robbins 81 Co., and said this requisi-
ton has not yet been fully complied with,
nor have we any means of knowing to what
extent. Three clerks in the supervising
architects Office were sworn and testified
to having looked through the files of the
Office for the purpose of obtaining the pa
pers called for by Coleman and said that
all the papers bearing upon the subject
had been produced. Murch was then
sworn and answered usual questions as to
residence, occupation etc. Witness had
been stone cutter from 1869 to within
six years. Witness worked both as
journeyman stone cutter and as foreman in
dressing granite for the Philadelphia
building. During the time he worked there
the 10 per cent. contract was in force with
the Dix Island Granite company. Men
were instructed as to the length of time
they should occupy in cutting each stone.
The superintendent made estimates, and if
man finished particular stone in less
time he was kept jobbing until the esti-
mated tin g expired. Witness worked about
14O days upon one stone, and believed he
could have done the work in 40 or so days.
Question-Why did you work 40 days
on one stone?
A.-Because I was working under in
strUctions.
Witness believed the work under the Is
formed than under the modified contracts
Witness recited several incidents coming
under his own observation, where men
were carried on the pay roll and paid by
the government when they were not per
forming any service. Witness believed
that the modified contract yielded to tire
contractors from 200 to 800 per cent. of
profit, and were grossly unfair to
the government, based as they were upon
the extravagant prices paid for dressing
stone under the Is per cent. contracts.
Witness appeared before the commission
of which Assistant Secretary French and
Mr.. Hill were members, and testified to all
the facts as just related by him. and called
Hills attention to the unfairness of the
modified contracts which he (HilD then
proposed making.
Counsel for the defense wished to post
pone the cross examination of Murch un-
til tomorrow, to which the prosecution as
sented.