Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-04
CONSPIRACY TO MULCT
GOVERNMENT ALLEGED
Three Arrested in Connection viii,
Offer to Land Ship Contracts
at Excessive Figures.
EDWARD l.. TRAVIS INVOLVED
Former Law Partner of Congressman
kitchin and Campaign Manager
for Senator Overman Said to Have
Traded on Previous Connections.
TBy Associated Pre,,1

Il
WASHINGTON August S-Eyid.,
connecting at least one minor ortic,al
OF the Shipping Board with an allcs.,
conspiracy to obtain contracts fror,
tho Shipping Board at extra h y,
prices has been gathered by govern
ment secret agents. 1t became Know
to-day.
This was disclosed as 4 result Of thu
arrest In Washington OF Edward I,
Travis. OF North Carolina manager vi
Senator Overman's campaign for c,.c-
ton several years ago. and Selir, r..
Joseph and Leon 81. Green. Travis was
1T ono time law partner Of Congress-
man Eitchin. Of North Carolina
The technical charge against the
men is that OF conspirins 20 obstruct
the draft by getting job for Green
which would place him in deferred
classification. More generally. how
ever. IT Is charged that they, acting
in connection with government ,m.
ployeeS. promised TO get orders fer
between eighteen and twenty four
ships at price OF sl95 a ton, which
is considerably higher than most con-
tracts provide. with 4 view to divi..ins
the bonu4 Several government en-
plorecs are under suspicion of having
agreed to associate with the men
COMPANY REPORTED
OFFER TO GOVERNMENT
The ship contracts. which never
were actually negotiated. were to have
been given TO the terth Amboy Dry
Deck Company. Of Perth Amboy. n. },
which aided the government in IN
ring down the men after they urs
said 10 have made proposals rhmr
seemed improper to company c-.cia.s
Joseph. II is charged. approached tho
dry dock company with the story tnar
close friend OF his in New York.
whom he said was nephew of Cab
met member. wax in position 20 get
millions Of dollars worth Of contracts
from the Shipping Board at high ri:es.
The company notified government Sc
cret agents. who assigned Richard +.
Mcdonald TO represent the Perth Am
boy company IN an effort to discover
the mems game. He was said Ia have
found that the alleged Cabinet MEM
bers nephew" was Green. 1t was pro-
posed. it was said that JOSEPH was TO
receive $3.50 ton each skip for
which orders were obtained at ?,,ce4
above the average. while Green wa %
get 30 cents a ton. and IN addition
pany. at Blk salary. This position
would have made him practically ~.
empt from the draft. it is charged
Green referred TIE Forth Annoy
company's supposed representative 20
Travis. in Washington. who was said
to have posed having .reat IN.
fucnc- with the Shipping Board lie
also mentioned his former connection
with representative kitchin and Sea-
ntor overman. II ir charged
Several months ago. 1t was said. he
three mer under arrest wore involved
in another EFFORT TO get ship contracts
on n commissioned basis, but werr
unsuccessful.
For his lates, efforts. Travis was TO
have received fee OF 100000. i, Is,
charged. -
Information leading TO the arrest o.
the men was obtained originally by
the navy intelligence deoat inert
which later was assisted by Depart,
ment OF Justice agents.
Other shipbuildng contracts are he-'
ing investigated.
In connection with activities ~ co..
tingent-fce agents. 1t has been report
ed for some time that secretaries o:
members Of Congress acted as infor-
nation agents OF the COMMISSIONERS
men. although as yet no evidence war-
ranting prosecution has been Developed
against these secretaries.
United states Coinmi sson.r Richard
son fixed at $1,000 each the bal; boiIs
for Travis. Joseph and Green.