The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-07-10
TELEGRAP 7IC
The Hill Investigation.

Washington, 9,-Colemsn opened the
proceeding in tie Hill investigation oy
the presentation of number Of Bartlett,
Robbins & Co.'s contracts. As he offered
the first contract he explained that the
prosecution did not claim that the con-
tracts we're not all right. They did wish
to show that tLey had been awarded
without advertiser snd some without
competition that Bartlett, Robbins u
Co. got nearly all Of them, and had been
corruptly and unla Wfuily favored in tha
award of contracts for the supplying of
heating apparatus for public buildings Of
the q nited States
Totten asked if counsel PROPOSED TO fol-
low up this evidence by the evidences
that Hill had been bribed; it made no
ference otherwise how many con tracts
Bartlett, Robbins s. Company re-
ceived; if they had all Of them, 1t only
tended to show that they we're good men
and did the work honestly.
Coleman. was astOnished that good
lawyer should expect him to show that
money had actually passed between toe
contractors and Hill. II he could so pre-
sent the facts IS to lead to the inference
that money must have passed, he would
have accomplished what he expected in
this investigation.
Totten objected because supposed evil
dence would make out the charge.
Coleman called upon the gentleman 10
say whom he represented.
Il appear for every body, defending
against this assault you are conducting.
Totten said he represented Bsltlett,
Robbins & Co., Mr.. Hill and the last
nsmed company many years.
Coleman, 'Ihat is sll l want to know
how many of these contractors are in
terested in the Hi ! defense TO the ex, ent
Of providing counsel
Prosecution thsn put in evidence show
ing Bartlett, Robbins & Co, or Bartlett,
Howard y Co., received nineteen con-
tracts for furnishing heating apparatus
for public buildings from 1876 to 1888,
at an aggregate cost of $417, Ill, upon
which there was extra work amounting
to $l09. 848. Contracts were also put 10
evidence to show that during the same
period the total cost of all contracts
awarded to other firms supplying heating
apparatus, was $4,000, upon which the
extra work amounted to $500. Cole
man then offered in evidence
the proposals upon which contracts
were awarded for supplying the heating
apparatus for the bureau Of engraving
and printing 10 this city. Bartlett, Rob
bins & Co. bid S31,448, while Bortbur s
Go. bid $30,5Z6, the contract being
awarded to Bartlett, Robbins s. Co. a
number Of simil ST cases were instance
"Here is curiosity," said Coleman, ''it
shows how the secretary ofthe treasury
has been coming to the relief Of the de-
fense." He then read let er from Mr..
Hill to Secretary Folger dated after the
fling of the charges in this case, sub
hitting q statement in regard to the
heating apparatus for the Charleston,
West Virginia, court house, with the
following endorsement by Secretary
Folger: Upon the facts found in the
| statement decide to accept the proposal
of Bartlett, Robbins & Co, as the surest
and best for the interest of the govern
ment."
Bring him in" exclaimed TutteD,
here is chance for the gentleman to
bring another specification"
Coleman remarked thst he supposed
the secretary hnd endorsed the paper in
that way to show his approval of what
Hill did by doing the same thing HIM
self
Charles P. Wannell thea took the
stan to identify the number o. vouchers,
showing the payments TO Bartlett, Rob-
bins & Go. and Bartlett, Hayward s. 90.