New-York tribune., 1916-02-18

the time he received the check that It
would be charged TO the company
account, which VIII De
paid for by the city.
Wasn't il said at the directors
meeting that the S125,O0O would come
out Of the city, and wasn't that one OF
the reasons given TO some OF the a., a.,
rectors who were asked 10 vote TOT ~
81 don't think that that was Salq,
Mr.. Shonts said that Richard X. kog,
ors counsel to the Interborough, would
know more about the transaction, ana
similar ones. than any other official OF
The companv. He said that Mr.. Rogers
would not stand on his right not to
testify because OF his conhuehl'"l IT,
lations as counsel.
A question of Mr.. Colby brought
forth warm defence Of MIR. Rogers.
The witness said he knew him first "a
a boy in college. and when he went TO
Panama as president Of the Panama
Isthmian Commission he took Mr.. Rog-
ers from the law firm of Guthrie, Cra-
vath & Henderson, as the firm was
then known, as general counsel TO the
commission.
"And when ! was leaving" said Mr..
Shonts, president Taft thought so
highly Of his services that he asked
me If there wasn't some way OF keep
ing him in the governments employ
And when he saw ] was taking hlm TO
New York with me he appointed him
president OF the Panama Railroad and
Steamship Company, which is govern
ment owned. He still holds the posi-
ton"
Put $4,000 in Bank.
Mr.. Shonts was then asked about the
second instalment of his bonus. ana
he laughingly told that when he got
the $4,000 he opened bank account
with the Farmers Loan and Trust
Company.
Miles Dawson, actuary TO the commit
tee. had examined all of Mr.. Shonts's
baukbooks. his cancelled checks and
check accounts and that the examlna-
tion showed that Mr.. Shonts had IN,
CURED only expenses of houSeholn
Then the bonus Of $4,000 to Mr..
Rogers was taken up. Mr. Shonts sald
he recommended it, He identified as
his statement entered or the MIN
utes OF the meeting Of the board OF d.
rectors Of the Interboroug Of Septem-
Der II, 1913, giving the reason for the
award. This reason was that Mr.. Rog-
ers had conducted all the negotiations
with the city in the matter OF the dual
contracts without employing any out
side counsel as tremendous saving
to the lnterborough.
"Was that $4,000 wholly retained
by Nj. Rogers" asked Mr.. Colby.
81 think so. lie can answer that
better than L.
"Did you receive any OF it?"
81 did mott" exclaimed the witness,
with a laugh so hearty that the crowd
joined him.
Mr.. Co by then introduced in evil
dence a statement showing that two
months before Mr.. Rogers received the
bonus IL had been allowed by the Pub
lie Service Commission as part of the
S5S9OO0 which the commission allowed
the lnterborough to charge to construc-
ton.
Did you have any discussion with
any representatives of the city with
respect 20 payments in this statement" ?"
asked Mr.. Colby.
Talked with What's His Name
"Yes," said Mr.. Shonts. trying TO
recOllect. II talked with members OF
the Public Service Commission. with
members OF the Board of Estimate, in
cluding Mr. McAneny and Mr.. What's
his-namc. Of Staten Island Cromwell,
suggested an lnterborough employee
and Mr.. What's-his-name, Of The Bronx
I. Miller suggested the same voice.,