Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-23
PUBLIC HEARING ON CHARGES
FERNALD CASE AND OTHERS TO
BE CONSIDERED.
District Commissioners to Investi.
gate Complaints Of Con-
tractors.

As result Of charges made by P. J.
Brennan of the Brennan Construction
Company that favOritism has been shown
certain contractors doing District work,
and charges to the effect that Charles
Fernald had accepted money from con-
tractors, which charge resulted in the
latter's dismissal as assistant engineer
Of highways, the Commissioners will give
public hearing in the board room of the
District building next Tuesday morning,
at which Mr.. Brennan and other contract
ors who have criticism or complaints to
make will be given an opportunity to for
mally lay them before the full board OF
Commissioners.
This course was decided upon by the
Commissioners at a board session today.
1T was adopted upon Commissioner Nor
rows recommendation. He says he is
possessed of information that insinuations
of favOritism have ben rumored by other
conf ractOrS than Mr.. Brennan. and for
that reason he would like to have the
whole matter thrashed out to the salts
faction Of every one.
At this hearing the Commissioners will
give MIR. Brennan chance to be heard
anew in the matter. In making this an
nouncement today, Maj. Morrow said:
;. Il desire to make my position clear that
gineer department there is no one more
interested In finding them out than am,
nor Is there any one who would favor
taking more drastic action to put stop
to them than 1 will"
! r....- Alleged Resentment.
Maj Morrow also said relative to the
charges OF favoritism brought by Mr..
Brennan:
Il know that Mr. Brennan has this
year been harboring this resentment
against the Office and has been talking
with a great many people of this decision
as a raw deal and regret that he has
seen flt to consider it in this light. His
attitude and statements are directly re-
spOnsible for the charges made in connep-
ton with the recently opened bids for
the paving of 1st street, and in the dis
cussiOn in connection with this matter he
invited our attention to some grave ir-
regularittes charged against Mr. Fernald
and which have resulted In Mr.. FernaId' s
separation from the office.
The statements which Mr.. Brennan
has made about Mr.. Fernald may be
true. do not believe that they are, nor
do believe Mr.. Brennan believes they
are. They were. however, of such q
character that the Office could not over
look them, and Mr.. Fernald's resigna-
tiont was requested and accepted.
1T is stated that the Commissioners
revoked an award to the Crawford Paw
ing Company recently protested aPainst
by the Beall Construction Company, and
suggest that this revocation was on
account OF an frregularity in opening
the bids, rather than upon the probably
adverse ruling of the controller that
might be expected In the matter the
District auditor having, subsequent to
the Commissioners decision to award
this contract to the Crawford Paving
Company, stated to the Engineer Com
missioner his doubt that the controller
would pass payments under this con-
tract where the formalities of public
advertisement had not been followed"
Results in Investigation,
I'm regard to this particular case wish
to state that when the charges Of the
Beail Construction Company of favoritism
were received by the Commissioners an
investigation, by the Board of Commits
sioners was at once made. at which Mr.
Beall and Mr. Smith Of the Beall Con-
struction Company were present, as were
Capt. Markham, Mr, Hunt and Mr.. Fer
maid of the engineer department and also
Messrs Joseph and Percy Crawford OF
suit of this investigation the Commission
ers issued an order awarding the contract
to the Crawford Paving Company, the
lowest bidder.
by reason of the probable adverse ac-
ton OF the controller, as outlined above
and at the suggestion of the District
auditor. and for no other reason the
awarding the contract to the Crawford
Paving Company. and the work Is now
being formally advertised. for new pro.
posalS."