The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-08-02
WASHINGTON.
NEWS GATHERED ABOUT THE
CAPITAL CITY.

WARRINGTON, July 30.-The. Hill
investigation was resumed this morn
ing. Hill was recalled by Coleman
and questioned in regard to contract
for elevators. He said he had invited
competition by circular letter. Five
elevators were removed from ap-
praisers' stores at New York, because
they were worn out, and replaced
with new ones. superintendent of
Buildings Jackson reported the ele-
vators worn, and witness acted upon
that report. He made no personal
inspection of old elevators. He in
yited proposals for replacing these
elevators from another firm besides
Hall & Co. He concurred in the re-
port of the committee of ex-
perts on elevators without having
made any special personal inspec-
ton of the different elevators. Hill
was examined at length as to the con-
struction of different elevators and
as to the alleged superiority of Hall
& Co.'S machinery. He considered
the Hall & Co. elevator had merits
not possessed by other elevators, its
principal advantage being in it's con
struction.
Totten objected to the examination
as irrelevant, and Coleman said he
desired to test the knowledge of the
elevators to show that he had ap-
proved the report of a committee of
experts without knowing anything
of the different elevators. Hill said
his information and observation on
the subject was that the Hall eleva-
tor was the best, and that was the
reason it was adopted for general use.
Coleman said he proposed to show
that witness had fraudulently given
Hall 81 Co. the contract for the ele-
vator for the Chicago building, and
that he has acted independently of
the specifications. Coleman asked if
witness had not made report, May
20, 1879, to the secretary of the treas
TRY in regard to the Crane elevator,
and Hill said he did not remember,
but if there was such report it
would be on file in the office.
Coleman offered in evidence a
letter dated May %, 1879,
from r. T. Crane, Chicago, to the Sec
rotary of the treasury, in regard to
the contract for the elevator for the
Chicago building, in W hich he claimed
his company had been illegally and
wrongtully detained faom bidding on
that work. Coleman also submitted
a report made by him on the same
subject. in which he argued against
receiving a second set of bids for this
work, on the ground that great haste
in putting in the elevator was neces-
sary. Hill said the elevators were
used in the Chicago buildings in hoist
ing material some time before the
building was completed. He admit
ted that it turned out there was suffi-
Gent time to have readvertised for |
bids without delaying the work on |
the building.
TEXAS PosTMAsTERs.
The president has appointed the
following postmasters: L. 5. Garrison,
Dallas, vice Amos A. Whissen, sus-
pended; Harris w. Rankin, Hemp
stead, vice II. L. Rankin, deceased.
GONE TO LOUISVILLE.
The president and party left for
Louisville this morning, via the |
and Ohio railroad. 1t has
1een virtually decided to re-commis-
ion Samuel Hayes, present incum-
)ent of the st. Louis postoffice.
TILL THERE'S MORE TO FOLLOW.
Before leaving Washington the
Gresham decided upon the names of
lumber of gentlemen who will be APP
pointed pOstmasters at the presidents
,ffice during the presidents absence.
,lanks having been signed and left !