New-York tribune., 1908-10-10
CANAL TO OPEN In 1918
TOTAL COST, $3.50, ,0o0, 900.
Colonel Goethals at Hearing Marked
bu Dramatic Incident.

A prediction. made ny Congressman James n
Tawney. before the Fire Underwriters Assoclatloh
Of the Northwest at meeting IN Chicago that the
Panama Canal would be completed in six years at
a total cost Of S256 OO0000 shown yesterday 10
Colonel Goethas, chief engineer of the work VINO
IS attending the hearing in the Army Building
That's true said the colonel / expect the
canal to be open to navigation 10y January !, lsl9
unless unforeseen contingency arises lhe
cost to be what the Congressman has named. MI
Tawney pointed out that the sum necessary 10
complete the greatest engineering feat OF modern
times would prove TO be less than the anhual dp
preparation for the army and navy
The court of inquiry which is hearing the charges
of favortism advanced by William A BrothefS
against the Isthmian Canal Commission IN It's
award of the contract for installing the came way
device to be used in building the Gatun dam iochS
suffered a shock yesterday when the complalhaht
dramatically accused witness OF perjury anu
the court OF unfarness. jumped to his feet ana el
the room The witness was Spencer Miller, chlei
engineer for the IddgerwOod Manufacturing "o-li-
pany the successful bidder.
Major General Darlington, who is conducting the
inquiry was examining him. and was helnS IRE
quently interrupted by questions addressed pS ~
Brothers to the witness. He fnally ashe" -'Ii
Brothers insist talking all the tiiiie anu
Mr.. Miller said he would answer one o. MI D'0
ers's questions. and only one
Then only one side of this case is to be hearu'
said Mr. Brothers II withdraw from the meet
heard any way. l prefer charges and don eeI
a chance to prove them. What I want is 10 sun
nit proofs that this witness has perjured hiIfSel'
Keep quiet" shouted General Darlington. You
cannot make indiscriminate charges mere.
Il am here to sustain therl,' said Brothers EN-
phatically II accuse this of perjury and
1 prove it,
Mr.. Miller smiled good naturedly as Mr.. Broth
ers gathered together his books ano papers ana
prepared to leave the room. As he walked away
+l,o E-o- -,er- said
side of this case is being heard. 1 want 1t TO
appear the minutes that 1 charge the witness
with perjury. I will submit a written statement
setting forth the position take anG ] want II to
go the record"
Mr.. Brothers was greatly excited and It was
impossible for General Darlington to obtain order
until the complainant had left the table and q
recess had been declared. Mr. Brothers. when he
reached the door, retraced his steps and sat down
again The inquiry resumed shortly.
Spencer Miller when asked after adjournment
in the afternoon whether he would take any action
as result of the perjury charge. said: Never. 1
feel complimented. l stand with Colonel Goethals
now; both rasCals. I wouldn't think of answering
anything that might say.
Colonel Goethals a witness for a good part
of the time L have been charged with false
statements he beGcn "by Mr.. Brothers l am
also practically charged with corrupt practices by
Mr. Slater counsel for Mr.. Wood, president of
the New York Galloway and Engineering Com
Brothers," And just before adjournment was taken
he said: ''I did not know anything about this in
qIiry, and was unprepared for it The charges hit
in the face when 1 landed in New Orleans on
my way home for a rest" He emphasized the last
word and smiled.
The climax his testimony came when he de-
scrbed the visit of Mr.. Wood his Office in the
canal He said Mr.. Wood entered my office
and made insnuations which had ever
made to before He asked # il would be of
any for his firm to bid other works. He
said he had been told the isthmus that his
firm could never do any work down there. I told
him that his infornants damned liars, and
for him tell them I said SO
Il desire to say said ex-senator Slater at this
point that in behalf Of the New York Galloway
and Engineering Company, which l represent
alone in this case, there never has been any ques
aion raised against the integrity of Colonel
Goethals Major Seibert."
Congressman, was read in court FOR Mr Brothers's
benefit. as the latter had not been present when
the colonel testified Representative Pratt re-
called to the stand and asked: Did you ever say
that Mr. Brothers insane
No" he replied, 4 said that he excited
over the loss of the contract. That is as far as
would go
The hearing Will be continued this morning at
$50 o'clock when Major Seibert and Mr.. Schenck.
one of Brothers's witnesses, viii be present to
testify