New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-17
PANAMA CHARGES UP
Hearing at Var Department on
Com plant Against Goethdts.

washington. Oct ls-Irnfafr methods improper
influence and the offering of 10 per cent com
mission 10 a government officer by a prospective
contractor some OF the charges that inquired III
a hearing at the War Department to-day in the
complaint against Lieutenant Coloncl George w
Goethals by William F. Brothers. president OF tho
Balanced Crane Cable Company Of New YORK MI:
Brothers alleged unfair methods in the award OIL
a contract for cranes for on the canal IN
spector General Darlington presided at the near
ing. which was in continuation Of an investigator
begun in New York.
{. B. Stricken an engineer on the canal since
January 1905 who had been detailed to inspect the
plant OF the Balanced Crane Cable Company oe-
MED having said ANYTHING about using his influence
have Mr.. Brothers's device accepted oy inc
canal commission. He made an unfaForapie lefoI'
on the device to Mr.. Williamson. ms superior 'ii'
GER He had mentioned to Mr. Brothers the names
of Robert ". Hunt & Co, the Osourn Engineer ie
Con,nenv and the Pttsburg Testing Laboratory as
engineering experts did not lead him 10 peheNe
that he would be favored by consulting any one
of them.
Alonzo NJ Lawson, who went to Panama III ui'
interest Of Brothers's company denied telilhg MI
Rro+bers that ,r,proper influences at worH
against him He said he was TO receive a salary
OF So a week and his expenses, but had not re-
ceived cent Of salary.
Mr. stricker said that when he asked Mr.
BROTHERS If he was personally acquainted with MI
Williamson Of the canal company MI brotHei .
replied:
Il will take care OF you with 10 per cent anu
you can do with it you like"
Mr. stricler said he answered: MI bro'hsIs 3
Won misunderstood me. l do not stand for any
thing of that kind, and neither does MI Nllilain-
son"
f L. AverilI the Washington representative u
Robert W Hunt & Co, testified that Mr. StrlcKleI
informed him in a letter, which was placed III e'l
dence that the company Of which Brothers was
president had crane device which vas mechan-
icaIly defective but might be made satisfactory
10 the commission Acting that suggestion, ne
wrote TO the Hunt company that there might De
business there for them
r. G. Donaldson, attorney Of this city 'esu-
fed that on October 9 he received a letter from
the Brothers company saying that they would De
compelled TO put certain correspondence IN evl-
dence unless Alonzo Lawson should go before
General Darlington and say that Colonel Goethals
induced him and Bard withdraw the company S
affidavts and protest. with the understanding that
the reasons for the request were that they wished
TO en1body the Companys design in the general
specifications on their return from the 18TH
mus to Washington. This correspondence was
between Donaldson and the company, following
Mr.. Donaldson's interview with Mr.. Brothers and
the government representatives Immediately after
their return TO Washington from Panama.
Mr.. Donaldson added that man named Teitsort,
who said he a personal representative of Mr..
Brothers. called him yesterday and practically
repeated the statement made by Mr.. Brothers in
respect TO Lawsons testimony.