Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-16
PROBES THE CHARGE
Inspector General of Army
Hears of Canal Cranes.

A hearing was held by Gen. Darlington,
inspector general Of the army. today on
the charges preferred against Lieut. Col.
George W. Goethals by William +. Broth
ers. president of the Balanced Crane
Gable Company of New York. alleging un-
fair methods in the award of a contrac
for cranes for use on the isthmus of PAN
anna.
G. B. StriCkler an engineer Of the Pa
cihc division of the isthnlian canal since
January. 1908. who had been detailed to
look over the plant Of the Balance Crane
Cable Company. testified that he had not
made, any statement to Mr. Brothers
about the specifications for the crane. az
he had not seen them and knew nothing
about them.
. He denied that he had said anything
about using his influence to get Mr..
Brothers device accepted by the canal
commission. He later made verbal re-
port to his superior officer. Mr.. William
son. which was unfavorable to the crane
OF the Balanced Crane Cable Company.
He had mentioned to Mr.. Brothers in
New York the names Of Robert w. Hunt
Co. Osburn Engineering Company and
the Pittsburg testing laboratory as en-
to believe that he would be favored by
consulting any one. He said he did not
encourage Mr.. Brothers to bid.
Alonzo NJ. Lawson a Witness.
Alonzo M. Lawson. formerly employ ed
by Mr. Brothers to go to Panama in
the interest OF the Balanced Crane Cable
Company, told of occurrences on the 18TH
mus In relation to Mr. Brothers first bid.
when all the proposals were rejected by
the canal commission. He understood
from members of the commission at
Panama that the Crane device of Mr.
Brothers was not satisfactory. He de-
MED that he had ever told Mr.. Brothers
that improper influences were at work
against him.
Mr.. Brothers was constantly intimat-
ing" he said. that all government in.
huences were hostile to him and that for
thirteen years he had been trying to get
to the point Of submitting bid to the
government.
Mr.. Lawson caused something of a SEN
sa;ion by saying he had recently been
visited by Mr.. Teitsort. stating that he
was a representative Of Mr.. Brothers. who
said Mr.. Donaldson of Cole & Donaldson
attorneys Of this city, had been told that
unless he could get hold Of the witness
and influence his testimony in this case
publish some correspondence between
Donaldson and Brothers which would
scandalize Mr.. Donaldson. Mr.. Lawson
said he was TO receive a salary Of SOS a
week and expenses. but had not received
a cent in salary.
Quotes Gen. Goethals.
Mr.. Lawson testified that he heard Gen
Goathals say at Panama in relation to
Mr.. Brothers that ''he would not stand
for any bluffs from this or any other
man." Gen. Cocktails. who was present
at The hearing. questioned the witness to
bring out some other details concerning
this conversation.
The witness stated that he had been
told by Mr.. Bard. another employe of The
Balanced Crane Cable Company. that Mr.
Brothers had connected this case up in
such a way as to show that Mr.. Stricken
was playing double with the commission.
drawing pay both from the commission
and from Hunt e. CO.
Mr.. Stricken being recalled stated that
he had asked Mr.. Brothers whether he
was personally acquainted with Mr.. Will
hanson of the canal company. and Mr.
Brothers replied:
81 will take care Of you with 10 per
cent. and you can do with it as you
like
II said: Mr. Brothers. you misunder-
stand me- do not stand for anything
Of that kind and neither does Mr.. Will
Local Man Testifies.
r. l.. Averil. the Washington repre-
sentative Of Robert w. Hunt & Co., was
called to the stand. He had been in
formed by Mr. strickfer in a letter
which was placed in evidence that the
company of which Mr.. Brothers was
president had device for the crane
which was mechanically defective, but
might be made satisfactory to the COM
mission. Acting on that suggestion. he
| wrote Hunt & Co. that there might be
business there for them.
The witnesses were cross-questioned by
| Samuel Bell Thomas attorney for Mr.