The Washington herald., 1908-05-20

With the ubiquitous Mr.. Sidney Bisber
involved by the testimony Of one witness
Of having sought 10 keep away eOmped-
ton from public work in the District Of
Columbia; with Commissioner 8Iat. Nor
row stating emphatically and insisting
that it go in the record that P. J. Bren-
nan was liar, and with the testimony OF
Joseph Bradley. Of the Columbia Sand
Dredging Company, that A. L. Thomas.
inspector of the Engineer Department OF
the District, had taken sums Of money
from various contractors, il may be said
that yesterdays investigation into the
charges against the Engineer Department
of the District Of Columbia was highly
sensational
The board room Of the Commissioners
was filled when the investigation was re-
sumed, and all Of the leading actors in
the sensational drama were present,
many Of them represented by able
counsel.
1t cannot be denied that so far as Com
missioner Maj. Morrow and his questions
10 witnesses went. there was a decided
feeling that he took advantage Of every
statement made TO remove the onus from
Charles FeFnsld. Indeed. the charge was
directly made.
OF oo,.reo
cusation. and with some heat re1oined
that he was trying, not to defend
Fernald. but TO defend the engineer de-
partmert from unfair criticism and un-
just discrimination. And, incidentally. he
called Bir. Brennan a liar ard otherwise
indicated that he felt no fear from any
quarter.
Hints at Asphalt Trust.
| @. Il. Perry johnson. secretary Of the
Brennan Construction Company. brousht
Sidney Bieber's name on the boara- ae
came to the stand with discrimination on
his face; it seemed as If it was I'D to
him 10 make unpleasant revelations and
he made them.
! He declared the Crawford Construction
Company had sought 10 effect a eombina-
tion between the two paving companies
in the District, the sole object Of the com
bination being 10 get larger pay from the
1 District Of Columbia for the work done.
He averred his company had declined TO
enter into any such deal, but in reply had
told the Crawford Company that the
Brennan plant was for sale for the sun
OF s50o.Ooo. When this deal fell through.
so he said. Sidney Bieber came TO him
and told him that if the Brennan com
Dany would refrain from bidding on a
District job then pending, which involved
hundreds Of thousands Of dollars, it could
get bonus OF 81, 600
| o. II. Perry johnson testified that Sid
ney Bieber offered the money to him.
and he believed, to the best Of his knowl-
edge. that Mr.. Bieber was acting in be-
half and with the authorization of the
Crawford Construction Company.
The testimony, the statements OF Wit
nesses. ond Of counsel point plainly 10
the fact that the present Investigation
into the letting OF public work contracts
in the District has not come any too soon.
About the whole investigation-eondu
much more loosely and unconventionaIly
than a similar probing In a court OF law
would be-there is an air Of something
hidden. of knowledge in the possession Of
some OF the witnesses, and. perhaps. OF
the spectators which. if developed, VIII
make this hearing yet more startling and
sensational.
EarnoV1 Il TUfa..-SnE
In the meantime. one OF the most inter-
ested of the followers Of this hearing
is Charles Fernald. who, in company with
hts counsel. sits of in the corner. and
| listens intentiy to the testimony. appar-
emily never missing a word, He is a heavy
set man of distinctly Teutonic cast. He
| has irOn-gray hair and a heavy military
mustaehe, shading a heavy jaw. His
eyes are deep set IN his head. and he
! froWns often as he listens, and the iron
gray hair. cut pompadour and bristling
all over his head, seems TO bristls again
as he hears his name on the lips Of Wit
nesses in connection with this or that
charge OF graft
| OF the Commissioners, the most active
is Commissioner Mai Morrow, who IS
assiduous in following the testimony and
in consulting with Corporation Counsel
Thomas. It is he who does most Of
the questioning OF witnesses, although
Commissioner Macfarland also takes quite
hand. and Commissioner West some
times interjects a question OF two.
But Commissioner Mai Morrow is the
active one. and, although ne specifically
denies any intention Of coming 10 the
rescue Of Charles Fernald. formerly one
Of his subordinates. the general trend
Of the questions he hurls al witnesses
savors strongly OF a desire 10 lead the
testimony in q direction where the skirts
Of the engineer department may be freed
frcm blame.
The Afternoon Session.
Joseph Bradley, Of the Columbia sand
Dredging Company, was the first witness
called to the stand at the afternoon ses-
sion. He said he had grievances against
/ the engineer department. and created a
mild sensation when be said Brennan
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