The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-08-17

Inspector Was Offered $4,000 10 Pass
Inferior Gluntlet5.
WARRANTS MAY CE ISSUED
Major Strong Declares Government Is
Determined 10 Break Up Collusion
Between inspectors and Contractors.
some sersatIonaI Evidenee.

oOiiN ONif'fA ~tS'''i -
Philadelphia. Aug Major +. s.
Strong. q. $ 4, heard testimony at
the SchuylMu Arsenal to the eject
that direct brides had been offered to
a government Inspector to pass army
supplies that had been previously re-
iectod as not meeting contract specill-
cations.
: nsatlonal evidence was given by
INSPECTOR Robert Charlton, who said
he lad been offered "A bribe Of $4,000
bv a former contractor II he would
pass inferior goods.
81 am convinced" said Major
stroug chat interior furs have been
passed by the inspectors. and that
the government has lost thousands oil
dollars ln this way Just WHO the
present contractors are DO not care
10 sa but I have examined enough
witnc.sDe so far 10 assure me that th'
mrs that have been sent 10 the arsenal
have not been nap to the required
standard The investigation shall be
thorough. and 10 the evidence gather
warrants such action there will surely
be arrests The government Ia deter
mined % break mp COLLISION between
inspectors and contractors, II such col
fusion exists
Replying tO question from Major
strong Charlton declared that brides
had been offered 90 him, although ne
denied that be- had ever received any
present or reward for passing goods Of
inferior quality His testimony impli-
Gated Joseph Loeb. Of Loeb. Upper 4
Co.. So North Daricn street. and Tn"o-
dore r. Sicfcrt. a furrier, Of I2lO Wal
nut street
Siefert was named In Charlton's tes-
timony as the representative Of Max
Trlfort. who held a contract for sup
plying gauntlots for army use. Charl'
ton stated that an offer Of $1,000 was
made to him II he would be less strict
I'm his inspection OF the goods fur
nishcd by Trifcrt
"Where was this offer made?' asked
Major Strong.
AT the Hotel Hanover" replied
Charlton. q happened to be there and
Siefort told me if the gauntlets were
rejected it would mean loss Of $4,000
10 his firm. He suggested that | might
have $1,000 if the gloves were passed"
When Edwin f. Beckett, an exam
iner Of miscellaneous goods. was inter
rogated by Major Strong. he said that
g. per cent Of all goods examined by
him had been rejected, but had been
taken back and passed at Charlton's
orders.
Il was told not to be 80 strict" he
said. II was TO take goods on their
face value and to have nothing TO do
with specifications
Testifying TO a contract for leggings
held by a New York company. Beckett
said he rejected between GO per cent.
and ~ per cent. of the output but
under Charlton's order the leggings
were passed.
AlHllI ENlUHh NtAAA W AAAs A'A'ANh = -
establishment and proceeded TO ex-
anime the accused man. Siefert stated
that IL was true he had met Charlton
at the Hanover on one occasion, but
denied that he had offered him any
bride or had even mentioned such a
thing.
Charlton's testimony was read, and
at its conclusion Siefert entered an
emphatic denial to everything that the
inspector had said.
Charlton testified that you offered
him two $1,000 bills" said Major
Strong. If he passed the gauntlets
made by the Triferts. Is that true?
Yes or no.
mo" came the reply 81 never had
two $1,000 bills in my possession at one
time as long as | have lived. | never
carried $1,000 in my pocket at one
time"
Did you ever hear OF the Trlferts
making such an offer or attempting to
bribe an arsenal Inspector asked
Major Strong.
Siefcrt thought a few moments and
then replied: ION one occasion
heard Charles Trifert say he would APP
proach Charlton through George Sterr
Republican leader of the 2Sth ward.
Sterr knew Charlton and had sufficient
pull to have some influence with him.
think Sterr said he could have the
goods passed"