Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-05
A HISTORY OF PROPOSALS
Wherein Certain Parties Acted as
Egureheads.
IN FORMS OF BIDS
One Man Was UseA Merely as Mat
ter of AccommodaAon-Did Not
Know Defendants.

Mccauley. vice president OF the Savannah
Bank and Trust Company, was called TO
the stand upon the resumption OF the
Greene and Gaynor tnlal In the federal court
this morning. He testified relative to GER
tain proposals upon which he had appeared
for Greene and Gaynor guarantor. One
of these was on behalf of W. H. Walsh a
foreman for Greene and Gaynor. McCauley
did not know Walsh at all, but signed as
personal favor to Gaynor. who assured
him that he would incur no responsibility,
as Greene and Gaynor would protect him
in the event OF such necessity.
One proposal was for w J. Wheeler, an
other foreman of Greene and Gaynor. and
McCauley appeared upon that also as guar
antor.
District Attorney Erwin said that these
foremen and others were but figureheads.
the real bidders being Greene and Gaynor.
and that Carter only had this variety of
bids submitted In order TO deIude the War
Department at Washington into the belief
that they were bona fide and that they
came from different persons.
The proposals on the contract for 1892 on
the Savannah harbor for 81. 10000 were
read The proposals were from the Nation
al Dredging Company. F. Sanford Ross
w. F. McCauley and the Atlantic Contract
ing Company Mr. McCauley was shown
the bid of Ross and his own bid. in which
IT.
which he had signed favor TO John T.
Gaynor He was asked If the figures in
serted in the bids were not in the same
handwriting. Mr.. McCauley answered that
the handwriting was similar but the de-
tense objected on the ground that the dis
trict attorney had not qualified the witness
as an expert. The objection was sustained.
On Bid for Accommodation.
The bids for work on retaining walls at
Brunswick were shown the witness.
charles c. Ely was the successful bidder
and McCsuley was guarantor lie said he
was on this bid merely as matter of ac-
commodation. He said he did not know
Greene and Gaynor in the contract
+ 1t had already been brought out that
the work on the Ely contract had been
done by the defendantss plant and the
checks Endorsed over to them
Inc district attorney read Il letter from
David B. Howell of New York to Carter,
In which Howell stated he had received the
specifications too late to arrange for sure
ties, but would send in his proposals in
formally and If successful would arrange
the bond. His bid for facing WAS 81 cents,
but the contract went to Ely at 1874
Mr.. Osborne, for the defense. objected
saying there was no evidence to show tfiat
Garter was at fault in this matter. The
court held that the letter could not be al
mitted unless other evidence along the
same line was submitted. The district ar
that Howell was a responsible contractor
and had done work on the Savannah river
and was known to be a responsible con-
tractor. Carter recommended the accept
ance of the bid of Ely and the rejeetloB
OIL the bid of Howell, saying that Howell
had previously JAILED in a contract on the
Savannah river and had not rendered
proper security in this instance The chief
of engineers approved the recommendation
Sharp Cross-Examination.
Mr.. Erwin introduced vouchers TO show
that Howells contract had been satisfac-
torly carried out. Thereupon Mr.. Osborne
called upon the district attorney to produce
a letter written by Maj Gilmore. then engi-
neer In charge. to Howeiis sureties, show
ing the work was not satisfactory.
II know of no such letter." said the dis
trict attorney.
Mr.. Osborne cross-examined Mr.. Nc
Cauley sharply. Though the witness had
stated he was Ill in bed when the proposal
on the big contract was brought 10 him to
sign, Mr. Osborne asked if there had been
any collision between him and one Schim-
merhorn Of Brooklyn, as agent for the
american Dredging Company. in submitting
his bid for the 1892 contract.
This Mr. McCauley answered mo" He
said also that his bid was not collision
with number of others, whom the counsel
for the defense named; in fact, that X was
collusive with no one.
His hid, he stated, was not a personal one
but was made for the Savannah Dredging
Company, of which he was officer. This
was at the solicitation of Jacob Paulsen or
Savannah, president of the dredging COM
pany in which Greene and Gaynor held one
third of the stock.
Questioned by the court. he said he had no
other pecuniary interest in the bid than
that given by his ownership of shares III
the dredging company, and had signed tho
bid at Paulsen's solicitation. so that Paul
sen might be able to sign as a bondsman
which he could not have done had the bid
been put in the name of the dredging COM
pany. McCauley stated he would not have
expended penny personally In the carry
ing out of the contract.
Col. John Tweedale on the Stand.
Col. John Tweedale. U. S. A, retired. was
called. He was chief clerk in the War De-
partment from 1892 to 1899 He testified
relative to the advertisements for proposals
from the Savannah district. and stated the
army regulations strictly forbade Carriers
practice of advertising for less than thirty
days for proposals. but the jury was in
structed to disregard this statement. He
identified various papers that had passed
through his hands.