The Washington times., 1908-04-22
MAJOR MORROW
s SCORES BRENNAN
Contractor Said to Have
Made Charges He Could
Not Prove.
Fernald Appears Satisfied
With Treatment He
Has Received.

z. J. Brennan, of the Brennan Con
struction Company, whose charges TO
The Commissioners resulted yesterday in
the enforced resignation of Charles
Fernald. assistant engineer of the Dis
trtct OF Columbia, was unqualifiedly
condemned and criticised today by Com
missioner Morrow because OF his activ-
ity in making charges. many Of which
he could not prove, in connection with
District contracts.
Commissioner Morrow said today that
he had known for some time that Bren-
nan was not only dissatisfied, but was
doing much wild talking about the way
he had been treated in the matter Of
contracts
I have heard" said Major Morrow.
that Mr. Brennan has been going about
town making charges Of faVoriIism in
connection with the various contracts
which have been let by the District
government. AS 4 matter Of fac,, every
contract which has been let for street
work of any description has been drawn
up and given out under my. PERSONAL
supervision, and there has never been an
opportunity for fayoritism. The charges
made by Brennan. therefore, are ground
less.
Brings Up Ferna1d Case.
1t developed today that Brennan has
been sore for long time. because he
was not getting as much District bust
ness as he thought was due him, and
TO prove his charges OF favOritism he
called the Commissioners attention 10
the fact that Fernald had accepted a
present of 5000 from Mr.. wainwright,
superintendent of the Drake * Stratton
Company. He also called attention to
q 500 loan which he had personally made
. ~ "a J.
Fernald has been paying interest At the
rate of 5 per cent
Brennan Their charged that other con-
tracing firms had found il profitable
To make presents to District employees
When called before the Commissioners
yesterday afternoon Fernald admitted
having accepted The $1,000 from Vain
wright, aud pleaded guilty to having
borrowed $500 from his former employer,
brennan.
The latter also charged. however
that the firm OF McMullen 6 McDermOtt
had paid out money for improper pur-
poses. Mr.. McDermott Of the firm, de-
mauded that the Commissioners give
him hearing this morning, and his re-
quest was granted Brennan was there
TO press his charges, and Fernald also
was present.
Denies Presents to Employees.
McDermott denied with emphasis that
lie had ever paid a District employee a
cent and Fernald on his part insisted
that he had. never received any money
from McDermott Although the confer
ence was held behind closed doors it
is known that hot words were passed
between McDermOtt and Brennan, and
the latter left the building before the
others did.
At the conclusion of the conference
MAJOR Morrow gave out the following
statement:
Interrogation was made OF Mr. Bren-
the Brennan Construction Company. OF
Dredging Company: Fred Smith. Of the
r J. Bean Construction Company. and
Robert Farnham, local engineer Of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
Nothing further than is shown in
TO the board Of Commissioners yeste err
day was adduced at the hearing. The
statement Of further dismissals being
probable In the Engineer Department Is
entirely unfounded and there does not
appear 10 be any basis for assuming
any indisCretiOn on the part Of any
other District employe."
FeTnald refused TO discuss the merits
Of the case in any way when he left
Commissioner MOrTOws Office, appar-
emily feeling satisfied that he had been
treated fairly and that he had no crit
ieiSm 70 offer because he was forced
out OF the engineering department
Throughout the entire building there
we're expressions Of sympathy for Fern