Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-09
The sEiiI investigation.

THE BARTLETT, RdDBIhS & co. CONTRACTS.
Mr.. Coleman opened the Proceedings Ia the Hill
Investigation this morning fy the presentation OF
number OF tho Blrtiett, Robbins & Co. contracts.
AS he offered the first .ract he EXPLAINED
that the defense did not claim that
tie contracts were not all right. They cid wish
to show tha: they had bean awarded without
advertisement, and some OF them without compe-
t!ton; that Bartlett, Robbins & Co. got nearly all
OF them, and had been corruptIy ana unlawfully
favored in the award OF contracts for supplying
heating apparatus for the public buildings OF the
United States.
Mir. Totten asked II the counsel proposed to fol-
low up this evidence by evidence that Mr. Hill had
been briOed. 1t made no difference otherwise how
many contracts Bartlett, Robbins Il Co. received.
II they held al OF them it only tended to show
es;iy.
Mr.; Coleman was astonished that good lawyer
snouio expect him to show that money had actu-
ally passed between the contractors and Mr.. Hill.
Ii he cOu1 so present the facts as to lead to the
Inference that money must have passed he would
have accomplished all that he expected in this in
Mr.. Totten objected, because the proposed evil
dence would not make out the charge.
sn, Mr, coleman called upon the gentleman to say
Mr.. Totten.-"I appearfor everybody defending
against this assault you are conducting"
NJ. Coleman insisted upon an answer and Mr..
Totten SAID that he represented Bartlett, Robbins
Co., Mr. Hill and the DIX Island Granite Co. He
mad represented the last name1 company Tor many
years.
Mr. COcman.-''That is all want to know-how
many o! these contractors are interested in MIR.
dllS delense to the extent OF providing counsel"
COST OF THE CONTRACTS.
The prosecution then put in evidence showing
that Blrtlett Robbins & Co. or Bartlett, Hayward
& Co had received 10 contracts for furnishing
heating apparatus for public buildings during the
p"rsaG rom 1878 to 1883 at an aggregate cost OF
SiH,111, upon which there WIS extra work
amounting 10 Sl09,SiS Contr acts were also put
III evidence to show III. during the same period
Ghe totat cost OF all contracts awarded to other
nrnS Tor supplying heating apparatus was $780,
OOo,upon which the extra work amounted to Sc, 600.
Nj. Coleman then offered in evidence the pro-
posalS upon which contracts were awarded For
tle supply or heating apparatus for the bureau
Robbins and Co. bid $3l, ,44S, while Bashor & Co
Ola $'u,o4, the contract being awarded to Bartlett
tobbins & Co. number Of similar cases were
inStanced
"HERE IS A CURIOSITY"
said Mr.: Coleman. SIT shows how the Secretary OF
the Treasury has been coming to the relief OF the
defense" He then read from the back of letter,
from M. Hill to Secretary Folger, dated after the
nilng or the charges in this case, submitting a
statement In regard to heating apparatus for the
charleston, W. Va, court house. the following en-
dofseintnt by Secretary Folger: upon the facts
iouni In the within statement decide to accept
the proposal OF Bartlett. Robbins & Co. as surest
and best for the interest of the government"
"b'1ng him in," exclaimed Mr.. Totten; 'shere is
chance Tor the gentleman to bring another speci-
hcatiOn.'
Mr Coleman remarked that he supposed the
Secretary had endorsed the paper in that way to
show his approval OF what Mr.. Hill did by doing
the same thing himself.
Charles p. Wannell then took the stand to tden-
ufy a number OF vouchers showing payments to
Bartlett, Robbins & co. and Bartlett, Hayward &
Co,
CONTINUED IN THE SECOND EDITIoN.l