Evening Star Newspaper, February 26, 1927, Page 10

t10 * HOLSETO CONTUE PROB OF DSTRCT Gibson Subcommittee to Be Authorized to Function After Session Ends. The Gibson subcommittee of the House District committee, which is making a systematic study of the municipal administration and spon- soring remedial legislation and reor- ganization of work in the interests of economy and efficiency is to be continued on the job du ing the time that Congress will not be in session. This assurance was given in the House vesterday while the second deficiency tion bill was under considera- tion by Chairman Madden of the ap- propriations commiteee and by Repre- gentative Will R. Wood, Republican, Indiana, in charge of the measure. The unanimous demand of the House District committee for this was brought to the attention of the House of Representatives Gibson, Republic- an, of Vermont and Blanton, Demo- crat, of Texas. 1In a brief statement Mr. Gibson said: “We find that on the Police Court docket there are 1585 jury cases pending; that the jury calendar is 16 months behind. The result is that the bootleggers and others violating the laws are able by demanding jury trial to avoid the penalties imposed by law.” In reply to a question from Repre- sentative Cramton, Republican, of Michigan, Mr. Gibson told his col- leagues: “We have two bills now pending be- fore the District committee, one of which has been reported. We have another bill which has been held up by a filibuster on anothér measure during the last two sessions of the District committee and we have not thus far been able to get it out.” Mr. Cramton pledged hearty support to this legislation. Resuming, Mr. Gibson emphasized that the recommendations already made by his subcommittee mean a gaving of more than $100,000 a year in the District. He explained that, work- ing with the co-operation of the Bu- reau of Efficiency, the Gibson sub. committee is only about one-half through its work. Mr. Madden said, “They can be con- tinued in the work and will be, __(Continued from First Page) these specifications?” asked the witness. “Yes,” re replied. “In general 1 suggested a change’ from the stock thing the catalogue showed to har- monize with our posts.” y “When the design for the lights was submitted by the Crouse Hinds Co. I insisted on several decorative details.” This, he said, was entirely motivated by his desire not to have the traffic signal lights interfere with the beau- tification of the city or to be out of :mrmnn)' with the street lighting sys- em. Mr. Gibson Disavow Moller Acts. In almost categorical style Director Eldridge last night denied knowledge or approval of details of the installa tion of the traffic signal lights, con- cerning which Moller had admitted sufficient departure from the regular order of business to cause his suspen- sion. Maj. Donovan, the uditor, was an emphatic witness. One typical high light of his testimony came when he was asked whether he had ever ap. pm\*vd certification of the receipt of items at variance with those called for by contract by the District Com- missioners or had Indicated that \‘nurhm'.'f might be certified despite non-receipt of the items called for in them. He replied: “Absolutely, positively and unequiv- ocally, no.” Denies Knowing of Letter. During the late afternoon hearing yesterday Director. Eldridge, upon be- ing informed of a letter from Col. Moller to K. W. Mackall, engineer of the Crouse Hinds Co., dated February, 1926, calling attention to changes in pecifications necessitated from the layout” for traffic signals originally piotted by Mr. Mackall, because of Director Eldridge's desire to keep the expenditure ‘“‘down to $375,000,” in lieu of the $420,000 progrom outlined by Mr. Mackall, declared he had no knowledge of and gave no approval to such a letter. “‘Have you any doubt after reading that letter that Mr. Moller was leav- ing much in the specifications to Mr. Mackall?"” Chairman Gibson asked. “I think he must have consulted Mackall very closely,” replied Mr. Eldridge. He denied any personal knowledge of the composition or dispatch of any such communication, and also denied knowing that Mackall had mapped out a “layout” of traffic signal lights in this connection. whether the gentleman (Mr. Gibson) gets this permission or not.” He s later that he referred particularly to the Bureau of Efficiency. Mr. Wood said: “I do not want the gentleman from Vermont to be work- ing under a misapprehension. Of course, this work will be continued— there is no doubt about that—but it will take an affirmative act of Congress to continue this committee.” COUNTY CLUB WOMEN'S INSTITUTE SUCCESS Mrs. Ray Is Hostess at Mount Rainier Meeting and State Officers Are Speakers. Bpecial Dispatch fo The Star. MOUNT RAINIER, Md., February 26.—Twenty-two women's clubs of Prince Georges County were represent- ed at a public institute held yesterday At the Cameo Theater, here, with Mrs. on “Finance and Clubhouse’; Mrs. Carl Bhaffee, on “Ideal Club”; Mrs. Naltbie, “Club Program”; Mrs. Nicholl, “Club Relationship.” Mrs. John F. Sippell, Btate director, who presided, spoke on “Club Ethics.” All phases of club ‘work were covered by the discussions, and the meeting was so successful in its scope and interest similar ones will be held annually, it is said. The State president, Mrs. John R. aoxd of Baltimore, was unable to at- nd. GOLD TOWER THREATENED Great Admiralty Needle in Lenin: grad May Fall in Storm. Radio_to Datly R e el R MOSCOW, February 26.—The Ad- miralty Needle, whose 230-foot golden tower, surmounted by 28 columns and 28 statues, is remembered by every visitor to Leningrad, threatens to collapse in the first great storm. Peter the Great started the building in 1705. It was rebuilt, including the tower, in 1806. SHIPPING NEWS Arrivals at and Sailings from New York. ARRIVED YESTERDAY. Brovident, Adame—World cruise. exico—Tampico -ovidence—Marseille hateau Thierry—Cristobal DUE TOMORROW. Ulua—Puerto Limon........ rizaba—Havana . von—Bermuda - E_uanch-,n—lnmerbl\'en : EXPECTED ARRIVALS AT NEW YORK. American_Trader—London ... nionia—Southampion altic—Liverpool - Carmania—Liveroool Canllo—Kingston Gedric—Liverpool Coamo—san J Cristobal —Cristobal Deutechland—Hamburg Piraeus _ . e rdi—Genoa .. favette—\West Indiea crufse. pland—Mediterranean cruise Maracaibo—La Guayra Minnetonka—London ongolia—San_Francisco Nova Scotia—Trinid: s mpie_—Southampton merica—Buenos Aires | Antwer 2 HRER BB T o0 I TR S D DI World eruis tuttg: no—Valparaiso ... uringia- Hamburg oltaire— Buenos Aires Zacipa—Puerto Casti 1 OUTGOING RTEAME SAILING TODA Leviathan—Cherbourg and South- ampton g e s—Plymouth and Havre .. X SRR tenw Plymouth. ‘Boulogne and Rotterdam. .. ... Stockholm—Gothenb: 3 rgensfiord—Bergen and Oalo stitia—3oville and Glasgow Z2Zpp> »Z>r 23k & nnewask =3 »>> il 000 o0 rca—Lives e ador—Crigtobal. bfs. Coripto snd ana. .. uerto Colom- P Foerts 114 H g 8 >r o> > w2k B 235z 3333 5| tions of the contract, with regard to Mr. Eldridge was quizzed closely on the letter sent from the Crouse Hinds Co. to Moller on July 30, 1925, in which reference was made to a long talk had by a representative of that company with Mr. Eldridge and Mr. Madleyelectrical engineer of the Dis- trict, with regard to the local signal lighting proposals, from which the writer “got quite a few details straightened out,” during Col. Moller's absence from the city. ~Mr. Eldridge sald that he “imagined” that this let- ter referred to the second set of specifications for signal light con- racts, and indicated that this hap- pened after the second set of specifi- cations had been thrown open to bid- ding. The second set was awarded April 28, 1926. Quotes Letter’s Contents. Questioned regarding the knowledge he had that Col. Moller was giving in- formation to the Crouse Hinds Co. as to the amount to be ultimately ex- pended for traffic signal lights, Mr. Eldridge denied knowledge of any such | information. Chairman Gibson then quoted ex- actly contents of the letter above re- ferred to, as follows: “From the talk with Eldridge and bracket type of signal.”” then asked what Mr. Eldridge knew of this letter. “It is news to me,” replied Mr. Eldridge. He was asked whether he knew that 99 signal lights were ordered by the first contract for lighting equipment. He =aid he left details to the purchas- ing office. “Did you inform bidders that 99 lights were to be purchased?” Mr. Gibson asked. “I left that to Col. Moller,” Mr. Eldridge replied. . “Did he?” “T assumed that he did,” Mr. Eld- ridge said. “If the amount to be purchased was to be put into the contract, do you not think you would have gotten a better price than by stipulating for two or more, as the contract did?" was the next question. “Yes, T think so,” said Mr. Eldridge. Didn’t Know of Surplus. “Did you know only 76 were in- stailed out of this order?” 'No. “And that 23 more lights were or- dered than were installed?” THE EVENING BTAR, WASHINGTON, D. U, SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 26, 1927. HIGH SIGNAL BIDS ARE BLAMED ON PHRASE IN SPECIFICATIONS they were excluded frqm bidding. Upon their complaint I was called be- fore a committee of Congress night before last, and an investigation of the specifications was made, with the result that the congressional commit- tee decided that I was perfectly justi- fled in drawing the specifications in a manner to guarantee that Washing- ton would ‘get the best possible equip- ment. Patent Articles Not Asked. “There is nothing in these specifica- tions that any manufacturer cannot comply with if he desires. In other words, no patented article is called for. It is probable, however, that the Crouse Hinds Co. of Syracuse, N. Y., and the General Electric Co. of Lynn, Mass., are the only manufacturers who can meet these specifications at a_reasonable pfice. T am giving you all this information so that if you use our specifications you will be fore- warned so as to keep you out of trouble.” Referring to this letter, Mr. Gibson read from page 931 of the report of the investigation into District affairs as published for record of the House of Representatives as an account of the _event mentioned, as follows: “‘Mr. Moller——We do not believe that it is proper or that it is the desire of Congress that we should lay the Dis- trict of Columbia open to being re- quired to purchase anything but the very best available at the proper price. “Mr. Gibson—No; but I think it is the expectation of Congress that you will make these specifications open to everybody. Moller—I can assure you that there is nothing in these specifications that excludes any legitimate manu- facturers of signals.” Mr. Gibson thereupon pointed out that it was the impression of Congress that the bids were to be open to all competitors. Night Session Held. Shortly thereafter the afternoon session adjourned and the committee recessed until 7:30 o'clock last night, when Mr. Eldridge again was called to_the stand. Mr. Kldridge was questioned with regard to a letter recently sent over his signature to Commissioner Dough- erty, stating that any legitimate man- ufacturer of traffic signals can com- ply with the specifications most re- cently drawn for traffic signal lights. Mr. Eldridge said he referred to the specifications most recently made for traffic signal lights. “But the same trouble exists in this Mr. Gibson said. You mean they are ‘written around,” " started Mr. Eldridge. “Yes; they are ‘written around,’" Mr. Gibson stated, this phrase having been used earlier in the hearings to denote that the specifications were aimed at favorable receipt by a cer- tain bidder, as being “‘written around” supplies on hand by that bidder. “Who drew these specifications?” Mr. Gibson asked. Mr. Eldridge replied that they were drawn by Col. Moller after consulta- tion with Warren B. Hadley, the elec- trical engineer for the District, and representatives of the Crouse Hinds Co. and the General Electric Co. Says Hadley Present. He added that Mr. Hadley, in his belief, was present during the draw- ing of all specifications. Evidently striking toward the favor- itism shown the Crouse Hinds Co., Mr. Gibscn asked the witness if he recalled when the General Electric Co. and the Crouse Hinds Co. had representatives in his office together. e s.vl_ld he recalled that instance. ‘Were any of the other companies represented?” “No, sir.” “Who represented the General Elec- tric Co.?"” “I don’t remember." “Did you know that the night before this meeting there was a meet- ing at the Washington Hotel in which Col. Moller and representatives of the Crouse Hinds Co. conferred?” “No, sir.” “Did the General Electric Co.'s representatives make any critictsm of the specifications?” ‘Not that I know of.” “Did you know that they claimed there were 15 points in the specifica- tions that favored the Crouse Hinds Not that I know of,” replied Mr. Eldridge. “I was under the impression that both the General Electric Co. and the Crouse Hinds Co. were in accord were entirely fair and open.” Other Devices Superior. The committee then drew from Mr. Eldridge an admission that the Gen- eral Electric Co. devices for control- ling traffic were superior in some re- spects to those in use here at the present time, notably in the elimina- tion of the yellow light from streets on which trafic had been stopped, thereby allowing traffic on street in the belief that the specifications |" from the Crouse Hinds Co., as follows: Ninety-nine 'on the first contract; 56 on May 18, 1926, by Col. Moller, in a letter to the company: 53 on July 15, 1926, in the same manner, and 24 in December, 1926. Mr. Eldridge produced figures show- ing from the order books in this re- spect the following points: Ninety-nine lights had been con- tracted for under date «f June 1 1925, for which $9,048 had been pai two lights had been contracted for un- der date of February 4, 1926, for which $130 had been pald; 48 lights had been ordered under date of May 16, 1926, and 24 lights had been ordered under date of December 11, 1926. In neither of the last two cases has any pay- ment yet been made. This gave a to- tal of 173 lights, Mr. Eldridge said, and in addition 11 other lights, not ordered, were on hand, making a gen- eral total of 184 to be accounted for. He was asked to check up on the dis- crepancy in figures, and stated he would forward the information from a further check-up to the committee. Denies Giving Approval. When asked what had become of the difference between 173 lights and 232 lights, Mr. Eldridge shrugged his shoulders, !lxhedl ;nd.‘aa‘!trl';'w 5 “Search me. on't Know. 7::1:;‘;{ the rest of the q}xoflllonln‘ he denied that he knew of Col. Moller advancing information to the Cruu‘s‘e Hinds Co. or of falsification of vouch- ers or of the changes in orders alleged to have been made by Col. Mo"er.h é He denied also that Col. Moller ha: his approval to take such steps as Col. Moller had intimated at a hearing Wednesday night. Donovan Ts Called. fct Auditor Donovan, upon be- mg e en. told the committee that he had held the position of auditor since 1919, He sketched for the com- mittee the methods whereby =ma- terials are obtained by the District government through contract. First, he said, the contract i ap- proved by the Commisisoners. Then A ‘requisition - for the materials is {ssued by the office concerned with the purchase. The purchasing officer checks on this requisition and it is then sent to the auditor for account- ing purchases and to have a book: keeping entry made laying aside sucl funds as necessary to pay for the article. Passing through the auditor’s office the requisition is inspected and checked for legality with a view also to the expediency of making the pur- chases, Donovan said. After approval by the auditor and the purchasing office, the purchaslr;‘g officer issues the er for the purchase. O cer of the District of Co- Jumbia i authorized to incur an obliga- tion by ordering any sort of material or supplies, except on requisition and order by the purchasing officer,” Maj. Donovan declared. Substitutions Called Irregular. “Could Mr. Eldridge or Col. Moller order materials directly themselves? was asked. m'-xot unless they violated the regu- lations,” Maj. Donovan said. Referring to a letter of May 18, 1926, in which Col. Moller wrote to the Crouse Hinds Co. instruct- ing the company to vary the shipment of materials from those stipulated in a contract, but to bill them as though shipped in accordance with the origi- nal contract, Chairman Gibson asked Maj. Donovan whether such a letter was in she regular order of business. “It was absolutely out of the regu- lar order of business,” Maj. Donovan declared emphatically. “Did the Crouse Hinds Co. re- ceive a legal order from the purchas- ing officer?”’ Representative Houston of Delaware asked. “Yes, sir,” replied Maj. Donovan. Denies Approving Change. As a result, Maj. Donovan con- tinued, the company was on notice that the order was on the purchasing officer of the District Government, and that the provisions of the con- tract specified that deliveries should be made in accordance with orders of the purchasing officer of the District. Asked whether he had ever inform- ed any one that a departure from the regular order in changing the terms of shipment was permissible or “could be done,” Maj. Donovan declared: “Absolutely, unequivocally and positively, no.” “Did any one ever question you as to whether you would approve pay- ment of a voucher in a situation such as_outlined?” Maj. Donovan then said that such a request had brought up the mat- ter in which the committee was in- terested. Called for Conference. “I thought it was in January, but it may have heen in December,” he said, "when my assistant, Mr. Naylor, came to me and said Moller had told him he had an order for delivery of articles called for by contract and that he wanted to substitute other articles for them. Naylor told him he could not do that, that it was wrong, illegal. Moller told him then, Naylor said, that he had done it in where the green light had shown to use the yellow light to clear the inter- Mr. Eldridge also denied knowledge of this detail. Further, he did not know that on the check-up it was found that there were 23 lights short on this order, he said. Mr. Eldridge here presented figures to show that upon a more recent check-up it was found that there were 11 more signal lights on hand in the | District than had been ordered. These were unused. The check-up had been made in the last two or three days, he said. At this point a discrepancy arose with regard to former figures submit- ted by the committee chairman, show- ing that 78 instead of 76 lights had been installed out of the 99 ordered in the first contract. The questioning then veered to the technical specifica- the ordering of cast aluminum or cast iron for portions of the lighting mech- anism. The point then was presented by Chairman Gibson that cast iron hous- ings for the signal lights had been approved at a cost on the whole bid, which was more costly than the Blue Ridge Co.’s bid for cast aluminum housings, after Mr. Eldridge had tes- tified that cast iron housings for the lights were more economical. Left to Col. Molle On the actual number of items or- dered, it was shown by papers in the hands of the subcommittee chairman that the Blue Ridge Co. bid for cast aluminum was $7,604.04, against the Crouse Hinds bid of $9,049 for cast iron. When confronted with these figures | from the bids received, Mr. Eldridge sald: “This 18 a technical detail I did not go into, and 1 left it to Col. Moller for his best judgment. I felt the colonel was better able to judge as to the switches, controls and lights.” Other variations' in figures with other com- panies were produced, which Mr. Eld- ridge stated had come entirely within the purview of Col. Moller. Pressed for an answer as to what he would have done had he been en- tirely cognizant of the situation, Mr. Eldridge declared he would have stopped certain of the proceedings carried on by Col. Moller. Then, in a dramatic tone, he added: “I would cut off my right hand befare 1 \w:u!d permit anything that was not right.” Reference was made to a letter from Col. Moller to Burton W. Marsh, traf- fic engineer of Pittsburgh, under date of May 12, 1926. The letter stated, in part, referring to electric traffic sig- 2 2 aine—Antwerp e {nnesotan—Cristobal hoenix—santo Domingo §:n Blas—Porto Colombia 333 38 3 22 o N n section before the green light on the street intersecting was flashed. Mr. Eldridge added that the plan was to take out the Crouse Hinds scheme of timing eventually as it becomes obsolete and to replace it at a reasonable cost with the General Electric Co. scheme. 5 Mr. Eldridge admitted knowing something” of the plan of Col. Moller around last November to order 247 lights on a contract naming 48 lights, with an option to get as many more as necessary. “Was that the order which Maj. Donovan turned down,” he was asked. “Yes, that was the one.” Elridge sald that when the ques- tion was raised as to whether the traf- fic_director’s office could order more lights on the contract than called for on the face of it, or charge more to the requisition than called for on the contract, Maj. Donovan ‘“‘went straight “He : ‘'No, by no means!”” Mr. Eldridge declared, He sald that Maj. novan made that , emphatically r, and added that the idea of order- ing 247 lights was Col. Moller's plan. Letter Removal Cited. He denied knowledge of the removal of 75 letters from his office files by Col. Moller, saying that the only hypoth- esis he could assume was that it was done in an effort to cover up some- thing. At this juncture Mr. Eldridge called to the attention of the committee that he had voluminous duties to perform with regard to revocation and restora- tion of operators’ permits, stating that he canceled and suspended on an average of 76 a day, which involved 80 much of his time that the re- mainder of his work was limited. As a result, he said he had little time for the consideration of engineering details of traffic signal systems, since the other work was such as he could not delegate to a subordinate. Mr. Gibson then called the witness’ attention to a letter from Col. Moller to A. F. Hills of the Crouse Hinds Co., in which he asked: “Will you please bill this exactly, item for item, in ac- co ice with the contract, and not in accordance with the material shipped?” Mr. Gibson asked whether Mr. Eld- ridge would have countenanced such an order on the company had -he “T ce nly would not,” Mr. Eld- ridge said. He added that Col. Moller, had no authority to make such a re-’ quest of the company. Upon ques. tioning, he then denied knowledge of E. C. Graham of the National Electric <'in the District: | “These specifications were drawn in ! such a manner as to insure our receiv- ling bids from only it of electrical traffic signals, and a number of the smaller manufictu ers have complained bitterly of reliable manufac- | the | were not true that 232 si Supply Co. ever having gone to Maj. { Donovan with Col. Moller with regard to the contracts. Comparing items in letters and in he fi the past with the auditor's approval. ‘When 1 learned this, I immediately sent for Col. Moller and Mr. Eldridge. “I told Col. Moller in language which might not sound good here in the presence of ladies what I thought about such a proposal. I recalled to him an indictment of a Government official here some years ago—his name will do no good now—in a somewhat similar case. “Moller admitted at that time that he was wrong in stating that the auditor had authorized him either to substitute one item for another or to certify a voucher as if goods had bean recelved which had not been received.” This admission, Donovan added, was in the presence of Mr. Eldridge and Mr. Hargrove, the pur- chasing officer. The same day, Don. ovan continued, he told.Eldridge he had lost faith in Col. Moller and sug- gested that Mr. Eldridge take an in- ventory of his materials to check-up on receipts. Donovan himself ordered a check-up of records in his office. Wanted to Increase Order. When Donovan around the first of December last had refused to allow an order for 247 lights to be placed on a contract calling for 48 with an option for 50 per cent in addition at the same price and a further option of as many more as were deemed necessary, limiting the order to an increase of only 50 per cent hecause of a ruling a year ago by the con. troller general against blankeét options for additional supplies, the auditor sald, Moller came to him and argued “as persistently and forcibly asa man. could” that the District purchase as many additional lights from the Crouse Hinds Co. as possible. “T told him of the ruling of the controller general,” Donovan said, “and refused to allow it.” At a shortly subsequent time, Dono- van said, in conversation with Eld- ridge, the latter had declared that the General Electric Co. signals could be used just as well as the Crouse Hinds signais In the general scheme of sig- nal lighting here. The General Elec- tric signals could also be installed in co-operative series, Donovan said, with the product already installed. Donovan then notified Eldridge that to purchase additional lights, it would be necessary to submit new specifica- tions and call for new bids he said. Visited By Graham. It was regarding this matter, that E. C. Graham, of the National Electric Supply Co. came to Maj. Donovan, to| ask about the decision. Mr, Graham told him, Donovan con- tinued, that the decision meant the taking away of a good deal of business from the concern he represented, but specification for local sign: Mr. Gibson then asked if f light upon being shown the decision of the Gene Donovan said, he MEXICO-WELCOMES “FAIR" U. S. INQUIRY Borah’s Proposal for Trip by Senators Raises Appre- hension, However. By the Associated Press MEXIOO CITY, February Universal, commenting on Borah’s proposal to obtain fi information in Nicaragua and Mexico by a Senate committee, vesterday hinted at a widespread apprehension among Mexicans that after Congress adjourns the Washington Government may take vigorous steps in its Mexican policy. The paper says the reason that Mexicans have not received Senator Borah's proposal with antipathy s that it is plain the Senator is attempt- ing to prevent President Coolidg from using presidential omnipotence in foreign affairs during the coming recess of Congress. Any fair and impartial investigation in Mexico will demonstrate the justice of Mexico's position in the question of her relations with the United States, the newspaper says. It adds, however, that any senatorial commit- tee must come to Mexico merely as travelers without official status, with out the idea that they are empowered to_summon Mexicans to testify and with no more power than an: of journalists or business men the country to make observations. “An investigation by impartial per- sons acting in good faith, without official character and with scrupulous respect for the patriotic sensibilities of Mexicans,” would vindicate Mexico's attitude and would destroy the falsitles of much anti-Mexican propaganda. in the United States, El Universal says, “but neither in the proposed arbitra- tion of Mexican-United States ques- tions, nor in its proposed investiga- tion, will anything be permitted, not even the appearance of anything, against the national decorum and complete Me: n sovereignt said, whether Col. Moller had sent him to see the auditor, whereupon Mr. Graham stated he had talked with Col. Moller but the latter had not requested him to see Donovan. Upon examining a voucher for the original order of 93 signals here, Donovan said that if only 76 signal lights had been shipped, the certifica- tion being that 99 had been received, statements on the voucher signed by A. F. Hills, secretary of the Crouse- Hinds Co., certifying the voucher true as billed was “incorrect and untrue.” The exact wording of the certification by the shipping company w X certify that the above bill is_correct and just and that payment has not been ‘received.” Tells of His Stand. Another voucher, dated November 23, 1926, which Chairman Gibson later announced had been found among the papers which Col. Moller had taken from the files and later turned over to the committee, calling for payment of $8,848.50, was shown to Maj. Dono- van, This voucher had not been paid, Donovan said, because, although it had come through the auditor's office once, it had not been returned with the proper certification. - Here, upon invitation by the com- mittee, Maj. Donovan interjected a general statement of his position in the case, “An auditor,” he said, somewhat like Caesar's wife—ahove suspicion. Naturally, it hurt when the statement was made by Col. Moller regarding authorization ~given him and which he later denied in my pres- en It would have heen impossible for any auditor to have told any man he could be a party to falsification of accounts in a manner amounting to an act or criminal deception.” , He added that the integrity of cer- tificates, on which the whole scheme of governmental expenditure s based, is a serious matter and proceeded to quote a concluding paragraph from an investigation made by him of a matter of false certification in 1916, when he was secretary to the Board of Commissioners. Reveals His Creed. “In concluding this report,” Maj. Donovan quoted verbatim. “it is well to call attention to the fact that the millions _of dollars annually appro- priated by Congress for the expenses of government are expended on the faith of certificates such as those quoted above. “No more sacred or solemn obliga- tion rests upon those charged with the administration of government than to keep inviolate the integrity of every certificate carrying the expenditure of government funds. “That, gentlemen,” concluded Maj. Donovan, “has been my creed.” Chairman Gibson here stated that he desired Maj. Donovan to be assured that no reproach had been directed to. ward his office, but that he had been called for the purpose of allowing the record*to show the complete circum- stances of the case “I am heartily sorry for Col. Mol- ler,” Mr. Gibson said. Questions Other Contracts. Representative Hammer of North Carolina at this point questioned the witness regarding Mr. Graham, asking if he were not the head of the school board and at the same time representa- tive of an electrical firm selling sup- plies to the schools. Mr. Hammer contended that a public official dealing with himself in a pri- vate capacity was violating a funda- mental law, but Maj. Donovin re- plied that he did not believe any con- tracts here were entered into except on fullest and freest competition, de- ‘claring emphatically his belief that it was_impossible for one to use his of- ficial position for personal gain under the system in force. “But the question is whether he violated the law,” Mr. Hammer said. “For it is fundamental that a public officer cannot trade with himself." He also_brought the name of Com- missioner Rudolph into the record with regard to his functioning as a Com- missioner while the District traded with his hardware firm, the stock in which firm he held in the hands of a trustee, Pays Tribute to Hargrove. Maj. Donovan in concluding paid a tribute to M. C. Hargrove, purchasing officer for the District. ““No man stands higher in honesty fn the United States today than Mr. Hargrov he said. After Mr. Donovan had stated in re- ply to questions from Mr. Hammer that he had not referred the Moller incident to the Commissioners, be- lieving that it was sufficient to report it o he head of he bureau in which Moller was located, ‘Mr. Eldridge was asked whether he had taken up the matter with the Commissioners at the time. He said he had not. The committee-then recessed until 10:30 o'clock this morning, instructing that Mr. Naylor, assistant to Donovan, and Warren B. Hadley, electrical en- gineer of the District, be called. - CORRECTION An item in our advertise- ment last evening read, “Girls’ Coat and Frock heneath, $10.00.” The advertisement should have read, “Girl's Coat or Frock beneath, $10.00.” “ Lansburgh & Bro, -~ Gth, 8th andyE Sts.. “should he ASK IPEACHMENT OF INDIANA JUDGE 253 Petitioners Take Hand in Court’s Row With Editor Accused of Contempt. By tha Aseociated Press. INDIANAPOLIS, February 26— The over an Indiana editor's criticism of a Circuit Court judge and the actions of the “judge in citing the editor for contempt and preventing the circulation of his news- paper yesterday hecame the property of the Indiana General Assembly. Impeachment of Judge Clarence W. Dearth of the Delaware County Cir- cuit Court was asked in a petition presented to the House of Representa tives by Representative John Scott, Republican, Lake County. ! Petition Signed by 253. The petition, which bore the names n{‘Z 3 residents of Delaware County, leged Dearth “re- hange of thought and opinion and has restricted the right to speak, write or print freely on any subject,” and aleo appointed a jury commissioner who was not qualified. George R. Dale, the editor, who has been three times cited for con- tempt by Dearth and several times convicted of criminal libel in his court, now is in Greenville, Ohio, where he will remain until some legal restric- tion is put upon Dearth or he is ex- tradited into the judge's jurisdiction. Dale conferred ‘at Greenville with his attorney, Thomas V. Miller of Muncie, and with his wife, who is publishing his weekly paper in his absence. ~ The editor has been in Washington reinstating an appeal be- fore the United States Supreme Court from an opinion of the Indiana Su- preme Court, which sustained Judge Dearth in a contempt case of three vears ago. controversy ings. Last week's edition of Dale's paper, which is ecirculated on Saturday, car- rled an anonymous letter placing the blame for two murders upon Judge Dearth and the Muncie mayor. It alleged they permitted unlawful con- ditions to exist and that these brought about the homicides. Judge Dearth ordered the newsboys selling the papers into his eourt, seized their papers and warned them not to again circulate Dale’s paper. The impeachment petition was re- ceived in the House of Representa- tives without comment. 1,000 FACE DEATH AS FISHING FLEET IS LASHED BY GALE Page.) Blamed for (Continued from | dova by the forestry vessel Chugach. Rost's mother lives in_ St. Louis. The gasoline vessel Virginia, which had been reported missing while searching for the Imp, returned safely to Cordov: Manned mostly by sturdy Scandi- navian seamen, the halibut boats are well accustomed to the gales which often lash the jagged Alaskan coast, but seldom have they seen a storm such as tossed them helplessly about the sea today. Most. of the stocky little vessels Winter in Seattle and Ketchikan dur- ing the annual closed season, from November 16 to February 16. Through- out the other nine months of the vear the crews are at work 16 hours a day, braving the severest of weather. A majority of the boats sell their catch in Alaskan towns, from where the fish is shipped in cold storage to the States. But some journey to Seattle, where the prices are higher. The halibut vessels are powered by gasoline or semi-Diesel engines and are from 20 to 120 feet long. The average crew is about four, although some of the vessels carry as many as_20 fishermen, None of the craft, so far as is known here, is equipped with a radio transmitter. As a result of the storm. virtually the entire halibut industry. of the Pacific Coast. representing an invest- ment of $3,000,000, is at a standstill Due to the northward movement of the halibut at this season of the vear, the coast fleet was concentrated with- in a few hundred miles af Seward, when the storm arose. During the Summer the halibut feed on the banks off the coasts of Oregon and Washington. moving to- ward Alaska in the Fall. From November to April thev are found almost exclusively in the waters he- tween Juneau and Kodiak, with Seward the center of the industry. Midnight February 15 signalized the opening of the halibut season. ,The annual exodus to northern waters he- gins each year about 10 days before the opening date. A battle for strategic positions adds thrills to the race of the smaller ves- sels, and sudden storms, sweeping down from the Arctic, often drive the boats to sheltering coves and harbors. More than $6,000,000 worth of hali- but was landed in Alaska, British Co- lumbia_and Puget Sound last vear, with 250 boats taking part. e CHARGES FALSE ARREST. Mrs. Dorothy N. Smith today filed suit in the District Supreme Court to recover $50.000 damages from Ray- mond V. Sinclair, a member of the traffic squad of the Police Depart. ment. She charges a false arrest Feb. ruary 21. Mrs. Smith, through Attor- neys Fralley & Purceli, tells the court that she was trying to find a parking space during a shopping trip near Thirteenth and F streets when she was accosted by Sinclair in the pres. ence of a number of people. She vs the officer got into her car and com pelled her to drive to the first precinct station, where she was detained for nearly an hour, Mrs. Smith was accompanied by her two children, 10 and 6 years old, and declares the policeman had no war- rant for her arrest and did not prefer ;tmy charges against her at the sta- ion. DEATH TRAP AT STILL. Shotgun Device Guarded Moonshine Plant in Garage. LEXINGTON, Ky., February 26 (#). -——A moonshine Il guarded by a death trap was seized and destroved | by prohibition agents at Catlettsburg. Ky., Thursday night, it was announced at district headquarters here vester- day. The agents, R. Lee Stewart and W. C. Manning, said that the still, located in a garage, was protected by a shot gun designed to shoot any one at tempting to open the window. The agents went in the door. CLOTURE RE SOUGHT ON BUILDINGS BILL Senate to Vote Monday on Lenroot Petition to Hasten Measure. The Senate will vote Monday on the motion of Senator Lenroet. Repub- lican, of Wisconsin to apply the cloture rule to the public buildings bill. If the cloture motion, which re- quires a two-thirds vote, is carried, each Senator will be limited to one hour of debate, which probably will bring the building-program measure to a final vote within a few hours. This is the fourth important meas- ure on which the cloture rule has been sought recently as a means of saving bills in the closing days of the session. banking bill and other cloture mo- tions are to be voted on this after- noon for the Boulder Canyon bill and the measure to provide retirement pay for emergency officers of the World War. The public buildings bill, authoriz ing $25,000,000 to acquire land in the Pennsylvania avenue triangle in this city, has passed bhoth Senate and House. All that remains is for the Senate to concur in the House amend- ment adding $100,000,000 to the build- ing program in the States. If this 2mendment is concurred in the bill will not have to go to conference. Senator Lenroot did mnot file the petition for cloture until after he had made frequent efforts during the past 10 days to obtain action on the House amendment. PROBERS DEFIED AGAIN BY INSULL AT SLUSH QUIZ (Continued from First Page.) $65,000, was contributed to influence the nominations of various persons for various local county offices, and I firmly believe that it was used ex- clusively for such purpose.” Borrowed From Power Co. “The sum of $172925.19 was con- tributed during the period of a few months preceding the primary, and all of it was borrowed by me from the Commonwealth Edison Co.. pend- ing reimbursement of the company from my own funds as soon as. I could conveniently arrange for it. “] was absent from the State of Tlinois _on a_trip about March 17 to May 12, 1926. June 30, 1926, T gave the Common- wealth Edigon Co. my pérsonal check for $190,000 to repay sald amount of 9, which 1 had so borrowed, together with other items of indebted:- ness owing from me to the company. This check was on the Illinois Mer- chants' Trust Co. of Chicago. and I now tender the check to the commit- tee for its inspection. A Furnished Cook County $65,000. “All of the $65.000 contributed to influence the nominations for local offices in Cook County was furnished by te partly from my own funds and partly from money which I borrowed at the time and have since repaid.” With the exception of $15,000 which Mr. Insull.contributed to the cam- paign of George E. Brennan, Demo- cratic candidate for the Senate, the $172,925.19, which he testified he con- tributed for the purpose of influencing the senatorial nominations went to aid the campaign of Col. Frank L. Smith, Republican, Senator-designate and Senator-elect from Tilinois, who. so far, has been denied a right to be seated in the Senate. The contribu- tions made by Mr. Insull to Col Smith's campalgn have been the principal point of @ttack made against Smith, who atghe time of his campaign was chairman of the Illi- nois Publie Utilities Commission. The Reed slush fund committee was authorized to investigate the Penn sylva Illinois and other primary mpaigns on May 19, 1926, Refuses to Answer. Senator Reed asked Mr. Insull whether he had borrowed any of the $65.000 which he contributed to cam- paigns for local nominations from the | Commonwealth Edison Co. On advice of counsel Mr. Insull de- clined to answer that question. ““The committee directs you to an- swer,” said Senator Reed. “I refuse to answer.” Senator Reed obtained from the witness a statement that he had not personally followed up the money which he had contributed to the vari- ous campaigns and that he did not | know of his own personal knowledge | how the money was expended. “All you know is that you gave this money to certain persons chiefly | through Mr. Schuyler, to be used for certain purposes?’ asked Senator Reed. “That's correct,” was the answer. Mr. Insull said that he would not name the persons to whom he had Downtown 3% 4% SI:;III‘I T?u:e Accounts Deposits of _ The indiv in ten, can service. ONE DOLLAR, or mo John B. Cochran. Pres. Cloture was adopted on the | to Europe from | ; On | for a §100 prize. HOUSE NAVY PLAN PASSES IN SENATE Bill, With $450,000 Amend- ment for 3 Cruisers, s Ready for President. The naval appropriation bil} is ready to he sent to the Presidenteshe Senate having taken final legislative action late yesterday by concurring in the House amendment making $450.- 000 available to begin construction of three new cruisers, The act of 1924, providing for the light crulser program, gives the Presi dent discretionary power as to whether he will use the money to be gin the cruisers. When the naval supply bill first passed the House. the new cruiser item was beaten. The Senate then in serted $1,200.000 to start work on the cruisers. When the bill was put be fore the House again Thursday for the adoption of the conference report the House approved the cruiser item after reducing it to $450,000. Senator Hale, Republican, of Maine, and chairman of the naval affairs com- mittee, asked the Senate to concur in this House provision yesterday and his motion was agreed to without debate. CROSS MADE SHERIFF FOR FAIRFAX COUNTY Deputy and Jailer Succeeds Alli- son, Who Died After 23 Years in Office. Special Dispatch to The Star FAIRFAX, Va., February 26 Judge Samuel Brent of the Circuit Court yesterday appointed Harvey M Cross sheriff of Fafrfax County to succeed .James R. Allison, who died Sunday, after 23 vears' service Cross is a deputy and the jailer, ap pointed 15 years ago by Allison. His father was jailer and sheriff. He will hold office until January 1, 1828, un der the appointment. He is one of four who had announced their cand: dacy for sheriff at the August pri ma McLEAN HIGH SCHOOL T0 ENTER ORATORY RACE Special Dispatch to The Star. McLean, Va., February 26.—The High School will enter the oratorical contest sponsored by The Washington Star. Contestants will be drawn from the senior, junior and sophomore classes. Miss Proctor of The Star visited the school Thursday morning to make arrangements, and a photograph was taken of all contestants. Miss Snead, Miss Casteleman and M Matheny will be in charge of the local elimina- tion contest, to be held the last of March. Winning essayists of Prince William, ~ Arlington, Farquier and Fairfax Counties and Alexandria City will contest in Alexandria on April 13 | The senior class has selected Rev. A. H. Shumate to deliver its bacca- laureate sermon. contributed the money for the local campaigns. Senator Reed called the attention of Mr. Insull to a bit of advice which he had given Mr. Insull at the hearing last Monday. It was that Mr. In- sull while in Chicago should obtain from the persons to whom he had contributed the $40.000 for local cam- paigns consent to give their names to the committee. “Have vou made any effort to ob tain such consent?” asked Senator Reed. “No, sir,” was the answer. Safe and S THE IDEAL SAVING PLAN —for young married couples is the one we feature. By our plan you de Dosit ‘witn us each pay dav a fixed portion of sour earnings. 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