Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-20

MR. COLEMAN EXPLAINS HIS REMARKS CONTRASTING
THE STAR ROUTE PROSECUTION WITH THE INQUIRY
-PosT-oFFICE FRAUDS AND BUILDING-coNTRAC1
FRAUDs-MR. THOMAS WANTS THE COMMITTEE TO
PROTECT HIMSELF AND HIS CLIENT.
The Hill investigating committee met at 10 80
this morning Before the regular proceedings had
been opened Mr.. Coleman called attention to the
remarks made by him yesterday, and said notice
that am reported In some newspapers as having
said yesterday that the cheek displayed by this
defense In asking the commission to limit this
investigation to the fraud in the Philadelphia
post ONCE building is only eQualed by the amount o!
ices taken Oy the government counsel in the star
route case; What supposed said was that it was
only eQualled by the amount OF fees paid to coun-
sci by the government in those cases. And my
aliuston to this fact at all was only to show how
prosecuted the alleged frauds in the Post Ofice
department than they do the frauds connected
with these building contracts. In the one case
the ablest counsel to be obtained were employed
by the government, and In the other the govern
ment does not pay dollar. In the one case the
Whole power OF the administration was employed.
detectives were employed, and more money eXpend-
edtn the effort to convict than was alleged to have
been taken by the defendants until The prosecu-
ton was talked OF as greater conspiracy than the
one on trial In this case access to papers are
obtained with the greatest difficulty, assiSta nee
IS denied IN examining them, permission to
examine into frauds is limited to one contract
out OF SIX, and the committee have already given
notice that they are anxious TO have the investi-
ministrat1on Investigate in q case when they are
anxious to do something and In a case where they
are not.
mans remarks were Intended for influence and
effect outside the room where this investigation is
being carried on. He had submitted to these
had refraned from retorting when remarks were
made by counsel rejecting upon his client (HflD
AND ana ann0yng to himself but now proposed to ask
client in all their rights. .
Some further discussion ensucd. in which Mr..
most respect for counsel and his rights. The sub
ject was then dropped.
PAPERS IN THE CASE OF BARTLETT, ROBBINS 4 co.
Mr.. Coleman called attention to the requisition
made some days since by the prosecution for all
the papers In the case OF Bartlett, Robbins Co.,
and said this requlsition has not yet been fully
to what extent
John b Patterson, Frel W. Flowers and Frank
M1iiiken, clerks In the supervising architects
Office, were sworn, and testified to having looked
through the files OF the office for the purpose OF
obtaining Oh, the papers called ,r by Mr. Coleman.
the subject had been produced.
Mr.. MURCH AS WITNESS
Mr. Murch was then sworn and answered the
usual questions as to residence. occupation, &c
Witness had been a stone-cutter from 1859 to
within six years
Mr.. Coleman.-"Since which time you have been
pOlitican?"
han AnzWsl, nN's hardly politician, though have
MI. Coleman.-"Have you been a member OF
Congress? Remember, you are not obliged to
answer II 1t Will criminate yourself" TLaughter.l
Witness admitted that he had been a member OF
Congress. Witness worked both as JOurneyman
stone cutter and foreman in dressing granite
time he worked there the fifteen per cent contract
was In force with the Dix Island Granite company,
The men were instructed as to the length Of time
they should occupy in cutting each stone. The
superintendent made the estimates and II a man
1ln1shed particular stone In a less time he was
kept jobbing until the estimated time expired.
Witness worked about 140 days upon one stone, and
DeneVed he could have done the work In 40 or so
days.
Ques.-why did you work 40 days upon one
stone?
Ans.-Because was working under instruc-
ttOnS. Witness believed the work under the Is
per cent contracts was much better performed
than under the modified contracts. Witness re-
cited several instances coming under his own OBJ
seryat1On where men were carried on the pay rolls
performing any service. Witness believed that
the modified contracts yielded to the contractors
from two to three hundred 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 q commission OF which
Assistant Secretary French and Mr.. Hill were
members and testified to all the facts Just related
Dy him. and called Mr.. Hills attention to the un.
fairness OF the modified contracts which he (HiID
to postpone the cross-examinatiOn OF Mr. Murch
until tomorrow, to which the prosecution as
sented Several letters and other documentary
evidence relating to the Philadelphia building
were then offered, after which Gen. Stinemetz was
recalled ana questioned as an expert relative to
certain alterations In the plans for the building
Az 1:30 the committee adjourned till 1880 to-
morrow.