Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-10-10

Continued from First Page)

10 MN ny SSuo'o' S
Interested. He repeatedly said that
the inquiry was SO quickly caiiea
that he had not been prepared 10
combat the charges made. saying on
this point:
Was unprepared to Meet Charges.
II know nothing about this inquiry
until | came up from the isthmus 10
take a rest. When l arrived IN New
Orleans | was hit in the face win
tho charges. have had to get my
information from Washington as to
the details. but will be able 70
prove the absolute lack OF foundation
for any claim that there has been
'fayoritism shown in the bidding Tor
the galloway system on the 18TH
mus"
Colonel Cocktails said that II had
been intimated that there might D.
controversy over the awarding OF the
contract IL it were not given to the
Lidgerwood company.
Put It Up to subordinates.
~ saw that trouble was in the
air" he said. 80 I turned the mat
ter Of the bids over to Major Sell
berts. H. II. Rousseau and such other
persons as they might call in"
Colonel Goethals read letters from
Mr.. Rousseau. reporting the hearing
given to bidders and recommending
another advertising for bids.
The bidders were notified that no
awards had been made. III letters
showed. but that the bids would not
be formally refused until Spencer
Miller had been given an opportunity
to explain a matter in connection
with Mr.. Miller. Colonel Goethais
said. Mr.. Rousseau recommends
that it would be to the advantage
OF the government II the Lidgerwood
company could be granted the con-
tract. This was not satisfactory,
Colonel Goethals testified. so all the
bids were rejected.
Denies Any Collision.
"If an attempt has been made to
prove collision between tn Lidger'
wood company. or any other COM
pany and myself, deny any founda'
ton for it," said Colonel Cocktails.
I'VE are not expert galloway men,
and are not expert in many other
lines. When We want to get mate
rails We consult as far as possible
business men who are experts"
The charges that the specifications
A. ,o~oud t;d hoA Hnitai the
bidding to two compa MES, was then
taken ND with Colonel Gcethals. and
he named nine other companies
which he said were competent to be
bidders.
'Tf any one can show me that l
have Disseminated in favor OF the
Lidgerwood company I want to be
shown continued Colonel Cocktails.
"A matter l want placed on record
is the visit to my office of Mr.. Wood
of the Nsw York Galloway & Engi.
neering Company.
Ueed Strong Language.
"Mr. Wood asked if it would be
OF any use for his firm to bid on
other works. He said he had been
told On the isthmus that his frm
could never do any work down therN'
I told aim that his informant was
a damned liar and that in case his
informant came to MY office would
tell him the same hing"
After stating in behalf of the New
York Cable & Engineering Company
that there never hal been any ques'
ton raised against the integrity oil
either Colonel Goethals or Major
Siebert. Senator Slater asked Colonel
Cocktails il, after the first bids had
BEEN opened he had expressed q
preference for the Lidgerwood com
pany.
Colonel Goethals replied that the
letter was in evidence and shovel
that he had not.
An adjournment was then taken
until tomorrow.