Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-18
BROTHERS OFFERS BRlBE
Canal Engineer Says Contractor
Would Pay Him Ten Per Cent.
COMPLAINANT IN BAD LIGHT
New York Man who Brings Charges
Against Goethais IA Himself
Accused of Decidedly
Irregular Methods.


WASHINGTON, oct 1L-Unfair meth
DDS, improper Influence and the offering
Of a 10 per cent commission 10 a govern
msnt officer by a prospective contractor
are some of the charges that figure in q
hearing at the War department today in
the complaint against Lieutenant Colonel
George W. Goethals by William r.
Brothers, president OF the Balanced Crane
Cable company Of New York.
Mr.. Brothers alleged unfair methods
In the award Of contract for cranes for
use on the isthmian canal. Inspector Cen
eral Darlington presided at the hearing,
which was in continuation Of an inyesti-
ration begun in New York General Gar
Ilngton will later report to the secretary
Of war. Mr.. Brothers did not appear to-
day. but his counsel win file a brief with
General Darlington.
strickIer Denies Charge.
C. B. STROLLER. an engineer in the
canal since January, 1905, who had been
detailed to inspect the plant OF the
Balanced Crane Cable company, testified
that he had not made any statement to
Mr.. Brothers about the specifications
for the crane as he knew nothing about
them. He denied having said anything
about using his influence to have Mr..
Brothers device accepted by the canal
commission. He made an unfavorable re-
port on the device of Mr.. Williamson. his
superior officer. He had mentioned TO
Mr.. Brothers the names OF Robert w.
Hunt g. Co, Osborne Engineering COM
pany and the Pittsburg Testing Labora-
tory as engineer experts, but he did not
lead him to believe that he would be
favored by consulting any one OF
them.
Alonzo NJ. Robson, who went to Panama
in the interest of Brothers company.
denied that he had told Mr.. Brothers
that improper influences were at work
against him. He said he was to receive
a salary of SOS a week and his expenses,
but had not received a cent Of salary.
Brothers Offers Bride.
Mr.. Stricken. recalled, said that when he
asked Mr.. Brothers II he was personally
acquainted with Mr.. Williamson of the
Canal company Mr.. Brothers replied:
II will take care of you with 10 per cent
and you can do with 1t as you like"
Mr.. strickler said he answered.;
Mr.. Brothers. you misunderstood me. 1
do not stand for anything of that KIM
and neither does Mr.. Williamson"
F. l.. Averill, the Washington representa-
tive OF Robert w. Hunt & Co., testified
that Mr.. Strickler informed him in a letter
which was placed In evidence that the COM
pany of which Brothers was president had
a crane device which was mechanically de-
fective, but might be made satisfactory to
the commission. Acting on that sugges-
tIon, he wrote the Hunt company that
there might be business there for them.
Threat from Brothers.
r.. Golden Donaldson. an attorney OF this
city, testified that on October 9 he received
a letter from the Brothers company stating
they would be compelled to put in evil
\ dence certain correspondence unless Mr..
lawson should go before General CARING
ton and say that Colonel Cocktails induced
him and Bard to withdraw the company's
affidavits and protest, with the under
standing that the reasons for the request
were that they wished to embody the COM
paLy's design in the general specifications
on their return from the isthmus to Wash
ington.
This correspondence mentioned in the
letter, was between Donaldson and the
company following Mr.. DonaldsOn's inter-
view with Mr., Brothers ard the govern
ment representatives Immediately after
their return to Washington from Panama.
Mr.. Donaldson added that a man named
Teltsort. claiming to be a personal repre-
sentative of Mr.. Brothers, called on him
(Donaldson) and practically repeated the
statement made by Mr.. Brothers In re.
spect to Lawson's testimony.
Mr.. Donaldson said he was not disposed
TO mold anyone's testimony. Mr.. Donald
son did not wish to put in evidence his
special effort was made to have him do so,