Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-13
BRIDGE TRUST PROBE
10 Be DEMANDED
CHAIRMAN RRockWAv, OF HIGH.
WAY COMMITTEE, TO Ask FOR
NECESSARY FUNDS.
RECENT INQUIRY sTiRS
HOUSE TO ACTION
County Officials, Engineers and Trus.
tees to Be Summoned as Witnesses-
Evidence Before Committee Connects
Bridge Men and Lob5yist-RsvsIa
tions Move to Action.

Des Moines, March lS.-As result
of revelations made in the Pierce Metz
inquiry conducted by the house COM
mittee on roads and highways Chair
man James Brockway will introduce a
resolution for an appropriation with
which to make a sweeping investiga-
ton concerning the bridge business
and the manner in which territory has
been apportioned in the state.
The resolution Will provide for abso-
lutte authority for the committee to
make the investigation desired includ-
ing the right to summon witnesses,
take dispositions and secure evidence
in every way possible. 1t is intended
10 summon supervisors. county audi
tors, bridge engineers, township trus-
tees and bridge contractors to testify
Witnesses before the committee yes
terday afternoon swore positively that
Pierce Metz had been an employe OF
the Standard Bridge Company OF
Omaha. They stated that they would
be able to produce contracts signed By
Metz for the Omaha concern.
Metz Denies Charges.
Metz, under oath, told the commit
tee at a hearing held Monday that he
was not and never had been connected
with the Standard Bridge Company.
He was told at that time by Chair
man Brockway tina. his testimony be-
fore the committee was the same as
before any court.
ote at n
the hearing yesterday afternoon by the
presence Of Attorney General George
Cosson and his assistant, Henry Samp-
son. Both were inse}estsd auditors but
neither took an active art In the hear
ing.
Chairman Brockway expects to ask
the aid OF the attorney general in maxi
ing the investigation contemplated. He
proposes to go into every phase Of the
bridge question thoroughly for the pur-
pose of uncoyering the agreement. II
one exists. between the various COM
panies and ontractdes - to territory
and show up the stem by which an
Iapportionment has been made possible.
Subpoena for Auditor.
A subpoena will be issued by Chair
man Brockway for the auditor Of AdaiH
! county TO appear Hefore the commit
tee and bring WITH him all contracts
and correspondence signed by Pierce
/ Metz for the Standard Bridge Com
pany. A special hearing may be held
| in the afternoon to hear the evidences
of the Audubon county auditor on the
question Of the relations Of Metz with
the Omaha cofporasion.
Friday afternoon Thomas MacDon-
aid. state highway engineer 10 ex-
pected to appear before the committed
70 testify concerning Metz and his ops
erations in the bridge business.
Six witnesses were before the com :
mittee yesterday afternoon They were
Charles Lehmkuhl. county engineer o.
Adair county; Herman Gerkin and
Henry Brinton, supervisors of Adail
county; Peter Halgrim, supervisor OF
Guthrie county; Clarence Green, audi
tor Of Madison county: and Gels Bots
ford. secretary OF the Des Moines Com.
mercial Club.
Former Official Testifies.
| Henry Brinton OF Stuart, who sait
| that he had been a member of thu
-Adair county board for seven years
| swore positively that Pierce Metz hat
been a representative of the STANDARD
Bridge Company. and had signed {
contract in his presence for that com
pany. He said the contract was on AL
with the county auditor Of Adair coun
ty.
! He testified that he had met Met
! on the streets OF Des Moines not NOR
! than three weeks ago and on askinl
him his business here had been informed
=, 80, I~
companies and supervisors. Brintoi
said that Metz now lived in Omaha an.
4 that he had met him there In the offic
Of the Standard Bridge Company AM
been conducted over the works by him
i He said that Metz had offered indi
rectly to reward him II Adair count:
would sign a contract again with tn
Standard.
Says Reward Wss Offered.
Charles Lehmkuhl. county enginee
OF Adair county, also testified that h
had been offered a reward II he woul
use his influence to get the Omaha con
Germ contract in Adair county. H
said that the man making the offer ha
previously told him he ought to be o.
friendly terms with Pierce Metz
Lehmkuhl testified that he resented tn
offer and was informed by the repre-
sentative that the Standard Bridg
Company would wipe the zone hors
county OF Adair on the map" He sal
he started to throw the man out Of tn
Office and was told that it was only
joke.
Il He also told how Adair county ha
signed q contract with the Atlanti
Iron works which had been transferre