The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-17
CROOKED METHODS COMING ID LIGHT Graft Is Not Unknown on Canal
 Work G0ETHALS UNDER FIRE Unfair Methods, Improper Influence and the Offering of 10 Per Cent Commission To Government
 Official Is Charged.
GoETHALS UNDER FIRE

Washington, October 16-Unfair meth ods, improper influence and the offering of a 10 per cent commission to gov ernment officer by prospective contrac- ! tor after some of the charges that figure in hearing at the war department to- day in the complaint against Lieut.. Col. George w. Goethals by William F. Broth CTS, president of the Balanced Crane Cable company of New York
 MT. Brothers alleged unfair methods in the award of contract for a crane for use on the Isthmian canal. Inspec- tor General Darlington presided at the hearing which was continuation of an investigation begun in New York. Gen eral Darlington will later report to the Secretary of War,
 Mr Brothers did not appear today but his counsel will file a brief with General Darlington.
 since January, 1908, who had been de- tailed to inspect the plant of the Bal anced Crane Cable company, testified that he had not made any statement to MT Brothers about the specifications for the crane as he knew nothing about them He denied having said anything about using his influence to have MT. Brothers device Il.
 Alonzo M. Lawson, who went to Panama in the interest of the Brothers company denied that he had told Mir. Brothers that improper influences were at work against him. He said he was to receive a salary of $65 a week and his expenses but had not received a cent of salary.
 MT. Stricter, recalled, stated that when he asked MT Brothers if he was personal ly acquainted with MT. Williamson of the o1n taff Mr.. fa1. x.rtIl take care of you with 10 per cent and you can do with it as you like.
 Mir Stricter said he answered: MT. Brothers you misunderstood me l do not stand for anything of that kind and neither does Mir Williamson
 F. L. Averill, the Washington repre- sentative of Robert W. Hunter company. testified that MT. Stricter informed him in letter which was placed in evidence that the company of which Brothers was president had a crane device which was mechanically defective, but might be
 made satisfactory to the commission Atcting on that suggestion he wrote the Hunt company that there might be busi- ness there for them.
 R. Golden Donaldson, an attorney of this city, testified that on October g he | received a letter from the Brothers com pany stating they would be compelled to put in evidence certain correspond ence unless MT. Lawson should go be- fore General Darlington and say that Colonel Goethals induced him and Bard to withdraw the companys affidavits and protest with the understanding that the reasons for the request were that they wished to embody the company's design in the general specifications on their re- turn from the Isthmus to Washington. This correspondence, mentioned in the letter, was between Donaldson and the company following MT. Donaldson's inter- view with MT. Brothers and the gov ernment representatives immediately after their return to Washington from Panama MT. Donaldson added that a man named Teitsort, claiming to be a personal representative of MT. Brothers called on him Donaldson) yesterday and practically repeated this statement made !, by MT Brothers in respect to Lawson testimony.
 MT Donaldson said he was not disposed to mold any ones testimony. MT Don aldson did not wish to put in evidence his correspondence with MT. Brothers and no special effort was made to have him do so.