The Washington herald., 1908-05-28

Charging that the work assigned TO the
Crawford Paving Company under the di-
vided contract OF March 30. 1907, was con-
trary to law, and was given without ne
cessity as 20 the time or occasion. Charles
A Douglas. attorney for p. J. Brennan.
yesterday denounced the engineer depart
ment In the final session Of the investiga-
tion before the Commissioners into the
charges Of favoritism made by his client.
Mr.. Douglas argument brought the
hearing. which has been in progress for
two weeks, to a close. His speech was at
times dramatic.
He said the division of the contract.
which has caused all the trouble at the
District Building recently. was done by
subordinates in the engineer department
for the purpose Of conferring benefits to
the Crawford company.
I'VE claim" said he. that this Lewiston
was done against the manifest interest Of
the District Of Columbia and la violation
Of its citizens and taxpayers"
Mr.. Douglas argument was a fttng
climax to the days notable proceedings.
Each Of the lawyers preceding him had
given lengthy arguments. at times indulg-
ing in personalities. The main issue Of
the Inquiry and the collateral branches
had been covered by the attorneys. and
no one involved in the case had been
spared criticism
Conditions Condemned.
Mr.. Douglas condemned the conditions
existent in the engineers office and Incl
dentally arraigned J. 5. Flannery. repre-
senting the Crawford Paving Company.
for his attack upon p j. Brennan.
ut seems 90 as" said the attorney.
when Mr.. Brennan asked for bread
somebody gave him a stone our con-
tention Is that you Commissioners have
no power to divide a contract In the way
II was done. You can reject any or all
bids, but cannot accept a part and reject
the other part While I am not "A pro-
phet, I Will prophecy that II this mat
ter be submitted 10 the corporation coun-
sci. he will place my construction upon Il.
We all make mistakes and the Comn1is-
sioners Will rise 20 the occasion and rec
tify IT, II a mistake has been made here"
After considering each of the charges
made by Mr.. Brennan. Mr.. Douglas said.
In part:
Il do not mean to say anything re-
fecting upon the integrity OF Mr.. Hunt
nor, OF course. do I intend 10 reflect upon
the integrity Of the engineer Commis-
hfrf eli
here is marked that the engineer Conn
missioner, whether with cause or without
cause, Is hostile to Mr.. Brennan. That
seems to me, and think it seems to all
OF us 70 be obvious.
I do not know what Mr. Brennan has
done TO bring down upon himself and
upon his head the displeasure Of the en-
gineer Commissioner. but It has mallen
upon hyim, notwithstanding. and when
you add TO that fact the engineer OF
highway is an intimate. warm. personal
friend Of the Crawford Paving Company.
II makes a situation that would be al
most unnatural If. in close situations. Il
did not result to the detriment OF the one
and to the benefit Of the otherr. without
any reflection upon the integrity OF either
one OF these gentlemen.
Influenced by Prejudice.
we all more or less. some more and
others less, are Influenced by our preiu-
dices, our bias. our passions. by our en-
mites, and by our friendships Where It
be so in this case, as indeed and in fact
as a truth. this thing does stand out that
the Brennan Construction Company was
the lowest bidder on the entire work. 1t
does stand out that never before in the
history Of this District government. as II
Is now constituted-never before has this
board ever sought or attempted 10 divide
a contract. 1t does stand out that the
situation as is presented here was an un-
precedented one. II stands out that +be
District would have saved on the whole
contract 1920 by awarding it to Brennan
IL does stand out that all Of the contrac-
tors understood that 1t was not going 20
be divided. Notwithstanding the state
ment of Commissioner Biddle that It was
understood exactly to the contrary bv
them.
Not only does It stand out that all OF
the contractors understood It that way.
put the contract Itself would Indicate
that. The specifications indicate and sug-
gest that. And in spite OF that fact. the
unpredental thing happened that the man
"@-S "NN9 NAAN AAlAAAAAtlAb PERSONAL friend of
the engineer of highways was awarded
q division Of this contract, and for the
first time in the history the District gov
ernment started out on a new pathway
and made new precedent.
THE District would have been $3.50 In
pocket If II had awarded this contract
to the Brennan people instead OF dividing
1t between the two.
Il am not going to discuss the oues-
ton OF principals and subsidies or anv-
thing Of that sort. l will admit. for the
sake of argument, that it is a wise thing.
but / deny that Mr.. Crawford was con-
Quoting an infant industry here. Ha had
no idea of leaving the District OF Co
lumbla, and l believe Mr.. Hunt would NOT
have so said, nor would Maj Morrow.
that'it was necessary to award this con-
tract or part of 1t, to the Crawford
Paving Company to keep them from
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