New-York tribune., 1918-03-06

cases Mr.. Robinson held that the excep-
tional nature of the work and the capa-
ollity OF the men justified the increased
salaries.
Senator Johnson brought out the fact
that. though Mr.. Goodcnough was for
merIy receiving $4,000 and a bonus
that made his income from Stone &
Webster about $4,000, he is now re
cc!ving $4,000 on the government pay
roll and still receives the Stone &
Webster bonus of $4,000 or $4,000. so
that his total pay is now around $50
600. MIR. Robinson took the entire re-
sponsipility for Mr.. Goodenough's sal
airy. and conceded that the latter would
have done the work at any salary
Defends Big Salaries
He was of the opinion that if the
Emergency Fleet Corporation reduced
these or other salaries the American
international would absorb the differ
ences and continue to give the men the
same income, as he did not think that
reducing salaries was q means of speed
ing up the production of ships.
In answer to the point that fire.
qucntly has been made that under the
contract the American International,
while it could not profit from lavish en-
pcndltures, had no incentive to keep
down the cost OF the work. Mr.. Robin
( son insisted that it did have such an
incentive. If the company should ex-
/ erclse It's option at the termination of
the contract to purchase the plant from
the government, the price it would have
to pay would depend to some extent. he
thought, on what the plant had cost the
government. Senator johnson was of
the opinion that in an appraisal the
cost of the work would not be an eLe-
ment.
Senator Nelson refused to accept
without reservation Mr.. Robinson's
testimony, on the point Of patriotism,
That Stone d Webster, as their bit.
mad, with patriotic purpose, done two
large jobs for the government, one at
Rock Island and the other at Water
| town, n. Y, the former involving the
expenditure of more than $4,O0O,00O,
without any profit or compensation
whatever-at actual cost. 1t seemed
too rare and good to be true, but Mr..
Robinson asserted that these contracts
| had been entered into with that un-
derstanding the firm simply vol
unteered its services.
The Senators were interested in in
quirlng whether any persons holding
stock in the American international
!
| tracts or in concerns supplying ma
terals.
Mr.. Robinson said that Frederick
Holbrook, of the firm Of Holbrook.
Cabot & Rollins, which has the contract
for the Quitting piers at Hog Island,
about 81 500 900, was also vce-presi-
dent of the American international
Corporation proper, but that the deli
cate question involved in this double
relationship had been taken up with
.he Emergency Fleet Corporation be
fore the sub-contract was let
The General Electric Company has
the CONTRACT for the turbine engines
COR the Hog Island ships, and c. A.
Coffin, of that company, is also vice
president of the American lnterna-
tional. The Westinghouse Company is
/ the only other company in America ca
pable of supplying the turbines and
Guy f. Tripp, of that company. is also
a director OF the American Interna-
tional, so that double relationship
was inevitable in this respect. These
were the only two cases of the kind
sought by the Senators that Mr.. Rob-
/ ;nson knew Of
!. "We have used the same degree of
honesty and fidelity in this work as if
we were doing it for ourselves" de-
clared Mr.. Robinson, who was through
out vigorous and non-apologetic wit
ness.
Appeal to the Press
Senaeor Johnson created a little stir
just before adjournment by asking Mr.
/ Robinson whether he was responsible
/ for kilograms newspaper men had re-
ccived from the American international
/ Corporation urging them to attend the
hearing to-day. Mr.. Robinson an
swered that he did not even know that
such telegraIns had been sent. A copy
will be placed in the record tomorrow,
when the Investigation will be resumed.
! 1t reads as follows:
AT O'Clock Tuesday Afternoon in
the room, OF the Senate Committee on
( Commerce the investigation of the Hog
| Island shipyard will b. continued. The
: principal witness will be y. p. Robin
son, who is in actual charge Of the OPP
! eratlons at the yard as president of
( the American International Shipbuild-
ing Corporation, a subsidiary Of the
American lnterna tional Corporation.
He will be followed By other witnesses
We ask that your paper give the hear
ing the widest publicity consistent with
It's news value and ir consideration of
the fact that the corporation against
which criticism has been made is en-
titled by the law of fair play to have
IN opportunity of answering the at
tacks. 50 that the truth may be shown.
The corporation has absolutely nothing
to conceal It welcomes the opportu-
nifty to make public its record. 1t wants
the people of the country TO know what
efforts have been and arc being made
TO supply the most pressing national
Hecd-shps.
"ANFRICAN INTERNATIONAL
CORPORATION"