Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-09
ROW IN CANAL HEARING
Author of Investigation Says
Witness Is Periurer.
SCENE OF MUCH DISORDER
Maj. Darlington Represses Brothers
Tendency to Argue.
NO SQUARE DEAL, IS RET0RT
Man Who Prefers Charges Against
Army Officers Threatens to
Withdraw From Case.
SCENE OF MUCH DISORDER
NO SQUARE DEAL, IS RETORT
Special D:spatch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. October 9-The Panama
canal invest ga ion. which is being held
IN the Army building. was temporarily
adjourned amid scene of much confu-
sion and excitement this morning after
the witness on the stand. Spencer Miller
of the L!dg1rwood Manufacturing Com
pany. had been accused of perjury by
William F. Brothers, who preferred
charges against the canal engineers.
The examination of Miller had been
concluded when Brothers announced that
he wished to ask some questions. He
started in with long question in argu-
mentative form. which Maj. Darlington
who is conducting the hearing, objected
to.
You must ask questions, not argue,
said Mai. Darlington.
At this Brothers jumped to his feet and
exclaimed:
IF this is to be a one-sided investiga-
tion 1 am going to withdraw. l have
brought charges and l am prepared to
substantiate them.
Darlington Represses Brothers.
Mai. Darlington raped for order and
said:
lowed. only questions.
Brothers protested that he was arguing
only to explain his question. Thereupon
Miller broke in with the statement that
lie would answer one question and no
more.
Il have been on the stand for five days
in suit between my company ana a
firm about a plant of Mr.. Brothers, and
1 will not be questioned at length" he
said.
At this Brothers exclaimed:
Il will withdraw from this case. And
/ wish to say that l charge TINS witness
with perjury right in this room.
Maj. Garlington's gavel started banging.
Every one stood UP.
You cannot make such indiscriminate
charges here" declared the presiding Of
| ticer.
II am here to sustain them" Brothers
retorted. Il want it to go on record tha,
I charge perjury"
But Maj. Darlington banged with his
gayel and called out:
THE hearing takes a recess.
| This stopped the stenographer from
taking anything down. Brothers left the
room.
After about half an hour the hearing
was resumed. Brothers had quieted down
and listened to the testimony without OBJ
lection.
Reason of Inquiry.
Inc inquiry mas DeeIl III pIo5ICSS III tHc
army building here for several days. 1t
was begun for the purpose of looking
into the merits of alleged discrimination
by the canal commissioners in awarding
contract for cable ways on the isthmus
which had been preferred by William A.
Brothers.
Brothers, who is president of the Bal
| anced Cable Crane Company of New
York. alleged that the isthmian canal
| commission, in issuing specifications for
cable ways, had Disseminated against his
company and that improper methods had
been employed in preventing him from
receiving the award.
Col. George w. Goethals. general di-
rector Of the Panama canal work. and
several other army officers and engineers
already have testified before the in
spector general
Col. Goethals in his testimony said that.
| for good and cufficient reasons, the spec
ifications were SO drawn that Brothers
could not bid. He said the cable device
offered by Brothers was believed to be
imperfect. and that the commission could
not afford to experiment with 1t.