The Washington herald., 1908-04-22
MIR. MOrrow's Statement.

to explain what they knew of the allelged
irregularities.
MIR. MOFFOv's Statement.
Later in the day. Commissioner Morrow
issued the following statement:
| To the Board of Commissioners. Recent charges d
fayortism IN connection with the opening of inf0ra
bids for paving First street were investigated by tn,
Commissioners and foInd 20 he gruundless. but dlr
ing the investigation charges 81 more serious uatBr
/ were made against Mr. Femsd assistant engineer
IN the surface division by the Brennan Cousfr7ctior
! Company These charges stated that Nr Fernsld
i had received from the McAiullen and AfcTemofl
4 Construction Company lsge sum Of money, and q
second sun Of money from the Drake and Strttou
company the former being direct contractors for Dis
met WoIk' ana the latter being contractors for the
/ pennsylvania Railroad Company and in no Way
/ directly concerned with Distriet disbursements.
have carefully and eIhsustiuy investigated these
charges and have determined the following facts:
/ Respecting the charge of Mr.. Brennan pertaining
to the receiTs % money hy AIr FeTuald from the
AlcNIulleu and 8IcDermott Construction Company.
am unable 70 discover any facts 10 substantiate suc
charge.
About thirty months ago Mr. FernaId received
siGu0 from Mr. Wainwright. superintendent Of the
work Of the Drake and Stratton Company. con
tractors for the Pennsylvania Railroad and engaged
upon the construction Of The Virginia avenue tunnel
| This sum 0f money was handed 20 Mr. Feranld on
Christmas Eve by Mr. Wainwright. az whicn time
Inc CoulIdCt OF tne DIake ana NIrart0n COMPANY
With the Pennsylvania railroad was either entirely
OF essentially completed.
In presenting this sum Of money TO Mr.. Fernsld.
Mr.. Wainwright explained that i was his personal
GIT, and not one Of the contracting company Of
which he superintendent and was offered in an
probation Of engineering advice given him by Nr
Fernald upon a number Of occasions but notably
two, upon which two occasions the engineering ad-
vice Of Mr.. Fernald had saved his company many
thousands Of dollars Mr. Wainwright explained to
~k-M l. If
dertaking Of the contract work for the PENNSYLVANIA
Railroad by the Drake & StTatton Company and
that his father had placed him in charge Of this con
stTuction more or less as "tTy-0ut - 8 test Of
his abilities. and that at the time Of his Offering
the aforementioned sua Of Mr. Ferusld the work
had been successfully finished a very satisfactory
profit. much credit for which he attributed to the
advice Of Mr. FeTnald. above indicated. II may be
proper 10 state my understanding that the personal
resources Of the Mr. Wainwright in question are
very large
Mr.. FernaSi made the serious error Of accepting
the large gift Of Sl.00 fTea Mr.. Wainwright al
though doing az the urgent solicitation Of the
latter. in which acceptance it is my belief that Mr.
Fernald had no thought Of improper motives, the
Drake Stratton Company not being or having
been contractors subcontractors for the District
and their work the Virginia avenue tunnel being
as stated, entirely or essentially completed
In this connection il further disclosed that
Mr.. Fernaid had at a later period borrowed the sum
Construction Company giving his personal note
therefor. Mr.. Brennan old personal friend
Of Mr.. Femald and the latter had been in Mr.
BrenDan's employ from May, 1901. 20 July 1905
which period IS the sole interruption Of Mr. Fer
maids services with the District for q period OF
more than twenty years
am firmly convinced that in neither of the trans
actions outlined above did Mr.. Fernald contemplate
any wrongdong. and so acted only through failure
TO appreciate that his position Of responsibility and
possible future relations with these contractors made
the acceptance Of such fayors serious errors.
A Veteran EmPIOye.
Mr.. Feruald has been continuously emploved In
the District service for period Of more than twenty
years excepting for period Of little oyer two years
about five to seven years ago during which time he
was connected with the Brennan Construction Com
pany as superintendent IN this period his services
have been Of great value TO the District Especially
within the last few years in the work connected with
the elimination of grade erssings his attention to
the great detail Of the work and his application
during long hours and for continuous periods without
leave Of absence have been notable.
However. it is believed to be fundamentally neces-
sary. IN the conduct Of muBicis-z operations that
all employees Of whatever grade should be held to a
strict appreciation Of the fact that financial obiga
ti0ns Of any nature with individuals or firms con
ducting work for or in connection with municipal
ity should be absolutely forbidden In view how
ever, Of bis record and services I move that Mr.
FerDalds resignation be requested and accepted to
take effect at ence. JAY J. MORROW.
Major, Corps Of Engineers, Z. S. A. Engineer
Commissioner, d. c.
Dlr. Fernald. at his home, 1i5 Fifth
street southeast, made this statement last
night:
I appreciate the fact that I may have
made judicial mistake In accepting a |