New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-15
NATIONAL CAPITAL TOPICS.
BEFORE MR.. spRINGER's COMMITTEE.
THE TESTIMONY OF RICHARD t. MERRIcK-coLoNEL
BLISS MAKES AN ANNOUNCEMENT.


BLISS MAKES AN ANNOUNCEMENTS.
WASHINGTON, June 14.-Before Mr. Spring
ers Committee to day. Richard Merrick continued his
testimony in reference to the case against Senator
Kellogg. He had spoken the day before as II MI
Hutchinson tine foreman Of the Grand Jury In July,
1892 In error In saying that Colonel Bliss nad too
the jury that Mr. Price would be called as witness IL
being well known that Price was not available as VIII
ness and now wished to say that Mr. Hutchinson re-
affirmed that he correct Mr.. Hutchinson In con-
versaon Friday night insisted that he did not misap
prehend Colonel Bliss and that all the members OF the
Grand Jury understood that Price to appear before
them well the trial. and had adjourned over one
day wait for him Price in fact not available as
witness until the latter part OF December, 1882 The
witness refused to release Price from the Indictment In
the Corpus Christi and San Antonio until he agreed
TO disclose what he knew respecting Brady and Keoggs
connection with that route, ;whereupOn Price laid
written statement before Mr. Merrck, containing what
he knew on that subject Colonel Bliss in meeting OF
the Government counsel at the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
house. maintained that the statute Of limitations barred
indictment of Kellogg the transaction between Price
and Kellogg having .takenl place on May 1S, 1879 and
the consultation being in December 1892 The witness
said that held that the time OF the payment Of the
and drafts given to kellogg was within the limits OF
the statute. Mr. Ker had agreed with Mr. Merrick
The Attorney General then had Mr.. Woodward secure
fuller affidavit from Price January g. 1882, informed
whereupon Colonel Bliss declared that he would not con-
tinue IN the case, II Price were called.
MI Bliss who was present interrupted the witness to
say that only absent from the trial on Wednesday
January 1888 and the witness remarked that he FOUND
Mr.. Bliss at the Post-ohce Department preparing 10
leave the case He demonstrate Land Colonel Bliss com
planned that the second affidavit OF Price was not shown
to HIM. Didn't say said Colonel Bliss, that the In
dictment would relieve Brady"
II Colonel Bliss said that" replied the witness,
probably answered that it would only involve Brady
Nothing was said at that time about the effect the
number of times the witness, while he had thought
that Kellogg ought be indicted, did not think Il ex-
pedent the trial until after March A. 1883, be
cause the fact of tie IN the Senate would affect the
minds OF the Jury The witness declared that he was u
able for the result OF Kelcggs trial He sus-
peced that strong influence used to prevent conYc
lion but had evidence that such the case 1t
generally thought that the Administration dd NOT
desire the conviction OF either Dorsey Kellogg The
witness denied that Colonel Bliss consulted him as to
proposed arbitration of the cases. or that Colonel Bliss
ever proposed to let Dorsey go.
Mr. Ker interrupted the witness say that he stood by
his statement that Mr.. Merrlck had SAID TO hm bliss
wants to let Dorsey 60" Then Mr.. Merrlck sald,
Mr. Bliss did say on one or two occasions that II DSsey
nothing that he did in the trial to protect Dorsey ana
had said In opening the that Dorsey was the centre
Colonel Bliss then referred to Mr. Bliss testimony in
which lie said that counsel for the defence during the
he was credited with saying that the Dorsey was
prove that no such interview read in court That
statement OF Mr.. Ker," he said warmly Is entirely
In the session to unload on me was begun propose 10
meet those making it, 1 will put in testimony some
letters that people have forgotten nave ever peeh
written"
day to listen any further testimony that Mr. Bliss
desires to give.
THE BROOKLYN PUBLIC BUILDING SITE.
REPORTS OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE OF INYEsTI-
CATION.
WASHINGTON, June 14.-In the House to-day
Mr. Hopkins from the Committee Public Buildings
submitted report upon the investigation in regard to the
selection OF site for public building in Brooklyn The
report Is accompanied by resolution declaring that the
charges Of corrupt cousve action the part Of the
Secretary of the Treasury of his subordinates
have not sustained and asking that the committee
be discharged from the further consideration of the
matter The report was laid for future action.
The report expresses the extreme difficulty which the
committee experienced in arriving at any conclusion as
to the value Of the site chosen. The estimates range
from $3.50 600 Sl5OOOO The would be about
$500 OOO and this the committee thinks would be fair
price While the committee thinks that the price agreed
upon hig prepared to that it was exor
bsnt all the attendant circumstances, and seven
of the witnesses pronounced the site 10 be good and suit
able OF them saying that was very suitable and
"einently suitable One called It fair CHOICE and
one said that II good any the Square Nine de-
cared the site 10 be unsuitable, some saying that was
Every Objectionable incOnvenient and obscure
There q wide disagreement as 70 what site snoud
be chosen The committee examined the proposed site
and concurred in tie belief that while 1t was suableor
suitable Either toe Dutch Church property the Myrtle
ave property the Mechanics Bank property would be
the opinion OF tue committee preferable toahe location
chosen.