The San Francisco call., 1903-09-27

What was the rule or method for ac-
quiring a patent device for the Govern
ment?" asked Mr. Woodwork.
Il could not say. l do not know" was
the reply.
Mr.. Erwin continued:
I believe the first 1000 time indicators were
made in Reading. Pa, and perhaps 100 were
sent to this coast 1 believe that they were
Mr.. Richardson's estimate was that the device
could be sold TO the department for about four
dollars .apiece-that was simply his estimate as
to the probable cost. That was also the price
named in the contract for the 1000 devices.
The actual cost of making the device to the
Postal Device and Improvement Company was
about SO 80 each. 1 received fifty shares OF
stock in the original company short time be-
fore we LETT for washington, but do not re-
member the exact date My fifty were ex-
changed for 100 of the company's and l
was given 500 more. The company paid my
this work for them. Mr.. Richardson, who was
with me- paid my expenses. 1 presented my
claims to the Government for the expenses
due in the Government work l was not
paid anything for my. services. What did
1 do not know that Mr.. Machen received any
stock or ever held any interest in the Mon
tague Letter-box Device Company or in the
Postal Device and Improvement Company Nor
do I know that Mr.. Beavers received any stock
in either Of these companies
RICHARDSON COMPLAINS.
On May 81, 1900, / left San Francisco again
for Washington TO inquire into the reason for
the delay Of the Government in adopting the
device and took memorandum which Mr.
couldn't get answers his letters to the de-
Partment concerning this device and he re-
quested me TO go to Washington and make the
inquiries as suggested by his memorandum
We had found that the cost of the larger sizes
Of the device was greater than the companv
had figured, and Richardson proposed that 81
Government for the dfferent sizes but If was yas
afterward cut down to 81. 81 25 and 81 so for
the different sizes, beginning with the smallest
gave Mr. Machen Mr., Richardson's memo
Fanou 6n among other r things @ in memoran
Mr.. Machen to order 1000 of the devices
gram on June II. 1900. conveying to Richard
son the same information officially conveyed to
him by the First Assistant Postmaster General
received letter from him when 1 was in Jer-
sey City, 1t read: Your telegram received.
have the people at Reading ht up one of the
boxes and forward Il as a working sample
I have no recollection OF having done any
thing in these matters since June. 1900. On
July 1. 1900 I received orders from the depart
nlent to proceed to Manila. The first of the de-
vices was not installed until later in that year
My trip to Manila occupied 105 days, and l did
not assume the duties OF my new position until
l returned about the first or second of Novem-
Der of that year.
SACRAMENTO GETS THEM.
The witness, continuing, said that 1t
was at the urgent solicitation of the post
master at Sacramento that he wrote to
the department recommending the use of
the time indicators in Sacramento and
that not more than 100 were sent there
The witness never heard of any other
similar invention, except one in the East,
which was to be set by the carrier him
self and was not automatic in any sense
Mr.. Richardson had informed him with
in two or three months past that some
1000 shares had been issued In the name
of Harry Seeger and that they were in
tended for Mr.. Machen, and some 1000
in the name Of McDonough for Mr. Bea-
vers.
The witness said that he had a suspi-
cion for the past two years that stock
had been issued to Beavers and Machen.
That surmise was based on what Rich
ardson had told him. Richardson had
been complaining that Mr.. Machen was
not answering letters that had been sent
to him by the company, and he, Richard
son, said that he wondered whether Ma
chen and Beavers didn't want some more
stock. The witness did not interest him
self in the matter and made no inquiries,
but from what Richardson said he sur
missed that stock had been issued to Ma
chen and Beavers. Witness did not know
at the time that the giving of stock to
Machen and Beavers was a violation of
the law.
Mr.. Woodwork read the statute prohib-
iting the giving of anything to a Govern
ment official or member of Congress for
the purpose of having any contract made
with the Government. The penalty for
giving or receiving such bribe was impris-
onment for two years and fine Of $10,-