Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-25
ARE FAIR AND SQUARE
Robert Farnham Gives Opinion
of District Officials.
WITNESS IN INVESTIGATION
Commissioners Continue Inquiry as
to Favoritism.
FINANCES OF CHAS. FERNALD
Further Testimony Regarding De-
posts in a Local Bank by Check
and Otherwise.

1T is matter Of general comment
among officials OF the Pennsylvania Rail
| road Company that only fair and square
| treatment is accorded to contractors hav-
| ing work in which the District govern
ment is interested" was statement by
| Robert Farnham jr.. of the Pennsylvania
railroad. testifying before the Commits
sioners in connection with the nvestiga-
ton of charges of favoritism preferred
! against the engineer department of the
| District today.
''rIere are Cities Mr. Farnham con-
tinued lin which the Pennsylvania road
| is compelled TO put up cash in order TO
! secure permits which are justly due it.
! In saving this | do not mean to sling mud
| at any cities ard the Pennsylvania rail-
road does not make a habit of buying
| favors
| Our company has done several million
| dollars worth Of work in the District of
| Columbia and ! have never known it to
| have given > cents for favor In Wash
! inston and am confident that the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad has never paid
tive-cent piece to District official
officials Above Reproach.
| In answer to question by Commits
| sioner Mcfarland Mr.. Farnham said he
never heard of a District official receiving
| a bride or favOrs from AMY source. He
| explained that he has been in almost
daily contact with the officials Of the en-
gineer department for the last six years.
and that he considers them above re-
proach.
Replying TO Attorney Douglas of coun-
| sci for the Brennan Construction Com
| pany. Mr.. Farnham testified that the
DrakeStratton Company constructed the
| Virginia avenue tunnel for the Pennsyl-
| vania railroad. and that the plans had to
! be approved by the District Commissions
erS.
| He said that Charles Fernald former
assistant engineer of highways. who adj
| mitted receiving check for $1,000 from
Jack Wainwright of the Drake-Strattor
! Company. made daily inspections of the
| work to see that the lines and grades
| approved by the Commissioners were no,
| violated.
Before the first witness was called te
| testify today Attorney Douglas announced
| TO the Commissioners that he and his
| clients are satisfied that they have es.
| tablisted their allegations AS to the cor
| ruption of Fernald. and that they will
| nave further evidence in connection
with that part of the inquiry. but in the
| future will confine themselves to the
| charges of favoritism.
As to Fernald's Bank Account.
In compliance with reques; by the
Commissioners at the session last Fri
day Henry H. Mckee cashier of the
National Capital Bank of Washington.
who was summoned to testify as to Fer
maids bank account today presented the
deposit slips relating to Fernald's &C
count.
Fifty-eight slips were put in evidence
! and of that number only six We're for de
| DOSitS Oy check. the remainder being
| casl, deposits. Three Of the cash deposits
| were at least S1.OOO each and more than
| half a dozen amounted to $500. Attorney
| Douglas of counsel for the Brennan
| company Went over the slips carefully
and had Mr.. Mckee explain each. and
| he called the Commissioners attention
| to the fact that nearly all of the check
| deposits were for small amounts and
| the cash for large amounts.
Large Deposits Not Unusual.
| When he completed inspecting the
| slips Attorney Douglas asked the witness
| If such large and frequent cash de-
/ posits were not unusual. Cashier Mckee
answered that such deposits are not un-
usual. according to his way of thinking.
But you are thinking of merchant:
and commercial people when you say
such large cash deposits are not unusual.
| are you not?" Attorney Douglas asked
| For government employe receiving 81:
every two weeks it might be considered
unusual. don't you think so?"
Mr.. Mckee agreed that in the latter
| case it might he construed as unusual
Mr. Mckee then read the amount of the
checks deposited by Fernald. the time de-
posted and the names of the persons
| drawing the checks, as follows: October
25. 1906. 81" drawn on account of the
| United States Treasury, May .. 1906. 81 h
I on account >of Union Trust Company
| April H. 1906 5000 on account of Mrs. A
p. Thomas wife of Inspector Thomas OF
the District highway Department.; May
| II. 1865; $50 on account of Jay J. Nor
row: September g. 1905. $40 on account OF
W. c. r. Hazen. and December p. S25t
| on account of J. B. Wainwright and ST.
on account of 0. b. Helm.
After answering a few questions by At
| torney Laskey. representing Fernald. who
| cash deposits are not looked upon un-
| usual, Cashier Mckee was excused and
| Percy Crawford. vice president of the
Crawford Paving Company. was called.
Percy Crawford Again Testifies.
| Mr.. Crawford was testifying Friday aft
crnoon when the inquiry was adjourned
! until this morning. As soon as he took
the tsand today Attorneys Douglas &
| Baker proceeded with a rigid cross-exam-
| nation.
| L..
was awarded the Crawford Company sew
eral weeks ago and later to the Brennan
| Company after Reimbursement for bids
because Of a protest by the r. j. Beal
| Construction Company, Mr. Crawford said
| he made the estimate for his company's
| bid, and that the day the bids were 10
| have been submitted he forgot to get his
bid in until being reminded by Fernald
| whom he met the morning of the day in
| question. Crawford said he was busil,
| engaged in preparing an estimate for q
/ Baltimore and Ohio railroad contract a,
the time. which caused him to forget the
| DISTRICT bid.
II was entering the Office of Robert
Farnham. chief engineer of the Pennsyl-
| vania railroad. about noon the day in
question when met Fernald coming
out" Mr.. Crawford explained. He re.
| minded me that when he left the Dis
trict building my bid for LIST street had
| not arrived. 1t dawned upon me that I
| still had the bid in my pocket. / hur-
| ried into Mr.. Farnhams office, got the
| bid in formal shape and, inclosing ii in
| an envelope, took 1t to the District build
| ing. | arrived there about AS o'clock"
| The result was that your bid was Just
/ s. lower than that of the Beall Construc-
ton Company" Mr.. Douglas asked.
! Yes. sir witness replied.
Attorney Suggests Coincidence.
| Don't you think it rather strange
| coincidence that you should forget such
| an important matter as a $500 con-
| tract and then accidentally meet the as
sistant engineer OF highways in Earn
hams ONCE. be reminded of your tarli-
| moss and then get in a hid inst eS lnueY