The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-01-23

- AS~*A AZ tA1t sSGGtiOIy dHO
1t was not fair to Carter that he
should not be paid for it. Mr.. He'd
den had instructed me to give Mr..
Carter a liberal classification. When
we came to this piece of work, I
told Mr.. Hedden that there was a
chance to even up for Carter, and I
gave him loose rock classification to
the amount of about 1900 yards"
Q. "Was Mr.. Carter aware of
this transaction?'
A. "Not that I know Of"
Q. "Did Mr.. Hedden order you,
specifically, to make this particular
classification for Mr.. Carter's bene-
ft?"
A. "He did not"
Q. "Did Mr.. Hedden know that
you were doing it,"
A. "It was understood.
We will not say that the forgoing
questions and answers are in the
exact language used, nor are they
in the order in which they occurred.
There was other talk which had no
real bearing upon the inquiry, in
which neither the Secretary nor
members of the board took any
part. We can, however, vouch for
the substantial accuracy of the in
terview, as between Mr.. Stealey
and the Secretary. And, may add,
if our memory serves us correctly,
Mr.. Stealey stated that he did not
consider that in making the esti-
mate as he did, that the District
was being wronged, or anything
more than justice done to the con-
tractor.
Mr.. Hedden made substantially
the following statement:
did not order or authorize Mr..
Stealey to make any false classical
tion. I told him to keep track of
all classified material in Mr.. Cal
ter's work and explained that, if
the Board of Directors ever saw fit
to make an allowance to Mr. Carter,
we would then have the figures
upon which calculations could be
based. 1 did not tell Mr.. Stea1ey to
give Mr.. Carter a liberal classifca-
ton, but did tell him to give Mr..
Carter all he (Stealey) conscien.
tiously could.
THE TRIBUNE submits these facts
just as they have come to light.
We were unable to ascertain, and
do not suspect, that there was any
connivance with Mr.. Carter, the
contractor. Nothing was said by
Mr.. Stealey that would indicate
that Engineer Hedden was to re-
ceive any pecuniary benefit, or that
Mr.. Stealy expected any himself
In looking for motive, we can
find none except it might by a de.
sire to do actual justice to Mr.. Car
ter by evading the terms of the
contract. We perceive that there
was room for misunderstanding be-
tween Mr.. Hedden and Mr.. Stealey
1t was understood by both of them
that Mr.. Carter was moving hard
pan and loose rock for which, under
the terms of the contract, he would
receive no classification. Mr.. He'd
den told Mr.. Stealey to keep track
of it. Mr.. Stealey saw an opportu
nifty on the section where materia
was properly classified, to make ;
loose rock classification which
strictly speaking, was not justified
He may have made the classified
ton and pat it into the estimate, il
the belief that such was Mr.. He'd
den's policy, while Mr., Hedden''
idea was simply to make notes O
all classified material in order tha
the Board of Directors would hav
the information if it should b
needed.
: Whether or not such a misunder
standing occurred, we are not as
suming to say. We merely sugges
the possibility of it. Over agains
this suggestion stands Mr.. Stealev'