Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-13
GREtNE-GAYNOR TRIAL
Major Gillette Gave Further
Testimony Today.
DEFENSE CR0SS-ExAMINED
Some Interesting Revelations in Car
ter's Methods.
THE COST OF IMPROVEMENTS
How Contractors Were Handled-Sa-
vannah River Work Analysed
Bidders in Collusion.

Bidders in Collusion.
SAVANNAH. Ga. February 13.-Major
Gillette was again on the stand when the
Greene and Gaynor trial was resumed to-
day, and Mr.. Osborne continued his cross
examination for the defense.
Major Gillette was asked about the scour
to the channel of Savannah harbor as a
result of the improvements made by Greene
and Gaynor, but did not think the greater
depth won through the jetty work was ma
terial. Mr. Osborne then asked him If he
had not served on board In 1901 that had
, reported upon the Savannah harbor in ef-
feet that the channel had been deepened
one foot. This report he was asked to
read, and did SO, whereupon he said that
1t was his opinion that the increase in
depth had been brought about rather by
dredging than by the scour. He had signed
the report, but that did not necessarily i'm
ply that his own opinion was not one of
dissent
The adding of one foot to the Savannah
harbor channel was minor matter wasn't
1t! asked Mr.. Osborne.
1t would cost half a million dollars IN
add SUCH a depth wouldn't it?"
One Foot Would Cost $4,000, 900.
1T would cost about 100000 in the
way improvements were paid for in savan-
nah ha rbor'
protection against the teredo plentiful in
Savannah harbor, was dwelt unon Ma,
Gillette finally admitting that brush maj
tresses would withstand the ravaees of the
insects TO a greater extent than log mat
treSses.
Inc matter of a contract In 1899 for i'm
IN = hn C.x-o
gusta was brought up by Mr. Osborne who
showed by the witness that Hunter & Fry
ol Memphis got the award and that A. j.
Iwiggs OF Augusta was a bidder Then
Huhter d Fry. whom Maj. Gillette did
not know IN the actual carrying out of the
contract, notified him that TWfggs would
represent them In doing the work and that
a. certain Atlanta bank would act as their
nscai agent In receiving checks in pay
ment. p'
$50 one contractor apparently turned
over his contract to another who had been
a competitive bidder?'
Nothing to Excite Suspicion.
The successful bidder had the other do
the work.
WAS there nothing in that to excite your
suspicion?''
Nothing said Maj. Gillette THE prices
We're low and the work was properly done
l had a suspicion that Twiggs had corner
the work was to be done, and that Hunter
& Fry found 1t desirable to make an ar
rangement with him."
1t was apparently the Idea of the counsel
for the defense to show that something like
the practice of competitive bidders being
really in collusion, as claimed by the gov
ernment obtained in the operations of
Greene and Gaynor under Carter, really
was not unknown under Maj 0sllette's ad-
ministration.
Private Understanding.
Twiggs continued the Hunter and Fry
contract, from which the latter withdrew
shortly before it's conclusion. Mr.. Osborne
tried to draw from the witness that this
was through private understanding
Maj. Gillette had with Twiggs.
Maj. Gillette objected to the term "pri-
vate understanding saying that 1t was a
matter taken up with the chief of engi-
neers and the Secretary of War who ap-
proved. Maj. Gillette thought he had Sc
cured better results through this arrange
ment with the Twiggs than would nave
been the case hau bids been advertised for
and the contract awarded.
Touching upon the 1902 contract the
big contract" of the Savannah harbor,
Mai. Gillette testified that mattresses of
type No. l cost IS per cent more than No.
3. Mr.. Osborne asked If he had ever con-
structed the mattresses He had not but
still knew approximately the cost. Maj.
Gillette said it his opinion that in 1884
Loblolly pine could be secured for practi-
cally nothing, so the cost of logs used in
the mattresses was scarcely to be consid-
cred then.
Statement Provoked Laughter.
A laugh was ELECTED by a statement from
the witness that Col. Medrm Qeading
counsel for the defense) told me few days
ago that he himself had sold pine lands in
Georgia at 10 cents an acre., this being
radically opposed to the point of value of
pine timber that had been raised by Col
Meldrim's associate.
Major Gillette insisted that he did not
know specifically the differences in cost of
the several designs of mattresses. Some
years ago, he said, he had satisfied himself
that the log mattresses were about twice as
costly as the brush mattress used by Greene
and Gaynor under contracts that gave the
engineer the right to say which design
should be used. bids being submitted on
basis OF supplUng the more costly. whereas
because of collision, the engineer had later
decided on the cheaper form.
Mattresses Full of Holes.
Asked if he saw Greene, Gaynor or Carter
at Cumberland sound, when he made his
first trip to inspect the work in progress
there under the contract let by Carter,
Major Gillette said he had not, and that he
did not know that Greene, Gaynor on Carter
had seen the mattress which the witness
had described as full of holes a mass Of
brush and unworthy the name of mattress
at all. His statement of three days ago
that his walking through 1t was like going
through a thicket was read to him, and
he was asked II he adhered to 1t.
He answered that the language was per-
haps picturesque but answering Mr.
Osbornes word, not exaggerated" What
he meant, he said was that he had sunk
to his waist. He weighed, he said, about
225 pounds, and admitted that there was
at least enough brush to bear up the bind
ing poles that secured it. He did not de-
sire. he said, to modify his evidence on
this point.
Asked If he had not heard sworn testi-
mony that the men making the fascines in
the mattresses had broken the chains used
III choking them. he answered in the af-
firmative. and said he had seen the fiimsy
chains used and that he had heard the
saxna witnesses testify that the fascfnes
themselves had had their ends twisted
81, something that no man On ea1th could