New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-24
THAT PATENT OFFICE JOB
BEGUN BY SENATE
COMMITTEE

CONTRACT. WAS INTRODUCED by JOSIAH
Quincy. WHO SEEMED soLcrTors OF
TIE coMrAxY's rAHE-MARvINs
REMOVAL. Due TO HIS "oH-
srRUCTION"
washington. Feb. 23-The Senate Committee
an Printing consisting IF Senators Gor'nan'
Ransom and Manderson. acting under a Senate
resolution this afternoon began the inNcs,IhA-
ton If the charges made i'm the public press
relative TO the awarding Of IN" contract for the
printing of THE Patent Otiice Gazette ana
other matters. Commissioners seymour OF the
Patent Office and Josiah Quincy We're pre'eh'
the former having with him representative De
Forest, Of Connecticut.
Mr. Seymour the first witness. lie
brought with him certified copies Of tho records
Of his Office. and correspondence in refut2ton OF
the charge that there had been any irreGuiarlN
in the letting of the contract. The only companies
with whom he communicated in regard 10 pro-
posas for the work were the National Limo
graph Company and the Norris Peters Company
both Of this city The reason the contract was
confined to them was because the work had TO
be done in Washington. under the supervision
of the Department. The difference in the prices
of the two bids amounted to $i,7O5 on the years
work.
Between July II and July 90 when the bond was
approved Mr. Seymour said. the lithographic
company did the work under a verbal agreement
although no contract had been made or BOND
given To questions Of the committee suggesting
a want of authority to DO business in tins way,
Mr. Seymour answered by saying the contract
had been fulfilled in all respects as to its terms
except as to a delay of twenty-four days in one
Issue of The Gazette" and delay in another
matter. The first two or three numbers OF The
Gazette were. he said. somewhat inferior TO
those published by the old company.
In his cross-examination. Senator Henderson
asked some questions that were pointed and
Main Nv these questions he sought to bring out
The connection with the whole subject of josiah
Quincy eX-Assistant secretary OF STATE. IL Wi'
shown that Mr.. Quincy had introduced MI
Knnnev Of the National Lithographing Company,
10 Mr. Seymour. and that he had interested MINI
self in the affair. and after they secured the con
tract made statement concerning their reSpoh-
sibiity. ,r, 60. r.os
ELECTED that the method of paying Tor pruning
was changed from monthly instruments 10
neriods Of much shorter duration. ana that al
one time the company had some trouble IN get
ting It's money. as result or when ;dr. U"' ~,
called upon the Commissioner in its behali. ne
was at that time. Mr.. Seymour thought, SUI
Assistant Secretary of State.
Mr. Henderson was curious about what he
called Mr. Quincy's activity in getting this con-
tract and having the people paid in advance,
and asked the Commissioner If he could give any
reason for this activity.
Il don't know Of any reason, responded MT.
Seymour, except on the score of friendship; he
appeared to be friend of Mr.. kenneys
The Commissioner said he knew nothing OF
Mr.. Quincy's motives.
Mr. Henderson insisted upon knowing why
Joseph b. Marvin. chief Of the DraughtinS Di-
vision. was removed; and Mr. Seymour While
asserting that he removed him solely in the
exercise Of discretionary administrative func-
ton. said:
l-reu hat
had INSTRUCTED the Office in carrying out Its
policy of awarding this contract TO this COM
pany."
The Commissioner said he gave Mr. Marvin
no specification TO this offence. but did SEND
a letter to gentleman in Massachusetts. who
was a friend of Marvins. giving him the
reasons. 49,,
After close questioning Mr.. Seymour admitted
that he disc ed MIR. Marvin's case with MT |
Ouincy as e. y in July or August when he |
told him he intended TO remove Marvin but uio
not wish to offend Mr.. Russell. OF MassachuSettS
my object in talking with Quincy, saiu C, sne
Commissioner. was to whether Mr.. Russell
was interested as much in Mr.. Marvin as was
represented for did not like to oppose him"
Mr. Seymour denied that Mr.. Quincy had any |
thing 10 do with the National lA;hographlng |
Company or with the contract 1t received
In the further course of his testimony Mr.. |
Sevmour said there had been numerous com
plants about the lateness OF the publication OF !
1.-THE Gazette" and the inferiority OF the work. |
but this was soon remedled. ana complains
which came chiefly from patent attorneys ceased
altogether in August.
As TO the charge Of favoritism, Mr.. Seymour |
said he directed that some Indulgence should be
shown the new company until II got us work !
started when just good, if not better, work |
than had previously been required should be IN /
sisted upon Mr.. Seymour denied all the news
paper charges in toto. and will at future meet !
ing present a written statement and submit 70 |
another crOss-eXamnatiOn.
The committee adjourned until tomorrow |
morning when Josiah Quincy will take the |
stand.
AMENDMENTS TO THE BRIDGE BILL.
Washington, Feb. 23.-Several amendments were
this morning adopted by the House Commerce Com
nittee TO the New-York and Hudson River Bridge
bill They offered by Mr.. Quigg Htep,
n ". Section 3. which reads that no railroad
shall connect It's track with the bridge or its ap-
proaches" was amended by striking out the words
Tor it's" Mr.. Quigg said that there was some doubt
whether the bill. Il stood. sufficient to pre-
vent railways having their ternlni In New York
from connecting with the bridge approaches Hence
the amendment. .
Another amendment fixes the location Of the
bridge between \inetecnth-st. on the south ana I
the north. instead OF the proposed
boundary of SlXtysiXth-st and seventy flrst SITS.
The words in money" were inserted after the
amounts So5OOO 800 90 and $lOJOCO. the sums to be
expended for the first three years ana thereaiteT
r. spectiyely in the construction OF the DrlIge.