New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-05
GENERAL PAGAM
IS NOT ACCUSED
Papers in Court Not In
tended to Charge Wrong
doing on Italian Official.

General Pasquale TONI, chairman
Of the Italian military mission in this
country, expressed surprise and regret
at what he regards as the erroneous
Interpretation given in a number Of
newspaper publications 70 pleading
fled in the Supreme Court, which in
tcrIretation seemed 20 him 70 imputc
vrongdoins 20 his predecessor. Cen
cral Carlo Pagan, in the making Of a
contract for the Italian government
With an American manufacturer.
Recently Frank T.. Webb brought
suit agsins John & James Dobson,
Inc, alleging that he was entitled TO
compensation from them for having
mcde a sale Of 100000 blankets 10 the
Italian military mission at the rate OF
l2ia cents for each blanket. Some
newspaper reports describe the com
plant as alleging that General Pagan
had received q sum equslling ? u cents
Of the purchase price Of each blanket
as remuneration for himself. This was
based upon the following paragraph in
the Webb complaint:
That the plaintiff allowed the pur
chaser 2i2c on each blanket from his
compensation and commission. so that
the net price 70 be paid 20 the defen
dant for said blankets would be $685.
per blpAet."
General Back in Italy.
General Pagan has returned z
Italy 10 take up other duties undei
the Ministry Of War, but his success
sor, General Tozzi, when the matte
was brought 20 mis- attention, indig
nartly denied that there was any trutl
whatsoever in the story or that there
was the slightest ground for castini
any reflection upon the integrity o
his predecessor or any Italian arm!
officer
THE transaction" ne explained, 81
fully shown By the records Of Il,
mission. Mr.. Webb first offered q
furnish the blankets al 81 each, bu
General Pagan refused TO pay tina
price. Later lIr. Webb reduced III
price by 2i2 cents. making Il 1897 z
at which price General Psgani signc'
a contract 10 purchase.
I'm fact, far from receiving any com
pensation for himself, General Pa
gam was so Jealous in protecting IN
interests Of the government that he &c
cured the mentioned reduction in price
+ Jhe ga cents represents only a re
duction in the price Mr.. Webb wa
/ willing 70 take, and, according TO tn
lawsuit. IN which, Of course, the gov
eminent has no interest, his commi :
sion as salesman was 10 be reduced b.
that amount. After the contract ga
entered into IL was annulled by Gen
eral Pagan himself, "a ne was unwil!
ing 10 concede 70 Mr.. Webb an eXten
sion Of time for delivering tho blan
kets, As had been requested By aim.
Contract Speaks for Itself.
The contract speaks for itself Her
is the clause fixing the price Of IA
blankets. which reads as follows: Tn
party Of the first part hereby cove
/ nants and agrees TO sell 100000 dsr
gray blankets, 90 inches b. &C inches
weighing 8i2 pounds each and 10 b
like and equal in all respects TO tn
sample heretofore delivered By sal
party Of the first part 20 said party o
the second part, at the sum OF 1897 !
each
Usually" General Tozzi concluded
lit Is difficult 20 prove negative. bu
IN this case there is ample material a
hand; but apart from this. / doub
very much if Mr. Webb will say tina
there ever was the slightest lmpro
pr.ety in his transactions with Genera
Psgani."
Harold r. Lhowe, attorney for III
plaintiff Webb, in commenting yester
day on the paragraph in the paper
filed. said it was inserted with othe
statements 10 show that Webb did 70
violate his commission with the Dob
son firm by selling the blankets at les
than 81 each. The word purchaser
in the paragraph" said Mr. Lhowe
referred 20 the Italian Government
and not 20 General Pagan"