Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-10-06

,.s,;,e steps taken curing the
.,ns and days prior TO The aciua'
h, .-,,ion of the contract between the
60 States government and the
'.;..d States Harness Company were
.-,;..ed before Judge Baker in the
So States Court in Mar.insburg
-, thursday afternoon by the govern
n,nt as evidence of the harness COM
.,,, officials in arranging to get con-
~ the army surplus harness.
49,. steps, chronologically arranged,
,,usd the connection Of the harness
,onv officials with the Government
', diserent stages OF the discussion
-, indicated, according to Attorney
I Henifan, who submitted it for
-. Government, that Lieutenant Col
,,.l George B. Goetz, Of Charles
r,vn. and Major Henry w. Benke, Of
Kansas. working as the representatives
;,side the service, with Major Joseph
r BYRON as the outside representa-
live formed plans to get control OF the
harness surplus on contracts which
yer. against public policy, which were
croper subjects for the renovation
exclamation of President Harding and
which also violated Section 11S OF the
Criminal Ode, on the ground that en-
cloves of the Government assisted in
making contracts with the government
when they were interested in or re-
ceiyed from such action some remuner-
ton as a result of the contracts.
These steps, as submitted by At
tornev Henifan, were:
Nav 7, 1920, Lieutenant Colonel
Goetz asked for shipment of four
sets OF harness to his factory at Ran
son for the purpose Of experimental
ton.
Tune 18th Col. Goetz makes a re-
port on the estimated cost of rebuilding
government surplus harness for COM
mercal purposes.
June 18th Col A. W. Yates, chief
Of surplus property division, for
wards TO E. c. Morse, director of sales,
the estimate OF Col. Goetz with the
hint that an arrangement might be
made whereby the entire surplus
might be taken over for rebuilding on
the indicated bass.
July 9th Col. Goetz writes to Col.
Yates saying that he was unable to
arrange conference with Major Byron,
but that he thought an arrangement
could be made whereby the surplus
could be disposed of to "our mutual
advantage"
July 10th Captain Azel F. Cochran,
Of Chicago, recalled to the u. S. service
for thirteen days. Capt. Cochran was
later named an officer in the harness
concern
July 20, Major Byron makes a prop
osition to the government to recon-
Sruct considerable quantity of har-
ness, on the basis of minimum guar
antee to the government per set with
supplementary agreement to give
the government sixty per cent of all
above that price, the company to pay
all costs of rebuilding.
July 3, Captain Cochran resigns.
September list Major Byron SUBJ
mlts detailed estimate of prices for
rebuilding.
September 3rd, formal agreement be-
tween Coetz, Byron, ETC., for a corpora
lion to take over the surplus harness.
September "a, first contract formal
Eentered into between the corporation
and the government, supplemented by
Two later contracts.
Inc government claimed that two of
IKE company officers, Benke and
'oetz, were still in the service when
me contract was arranged. Colonel
uoe'z was advised on September 1st
NAT his services were no longer need
co. but the government said he did not
receive the notice until September Sd.
The government charged that these
Hen used their knowledge, gained in
government employ, as to the needs,
"a advised the government in a way
which would be an actual and material
.'neht to the officials. Attorney Heni-
I'm implicated Col. Yates in the al
'sea fraud, although making no
special charges against him other than
ue mutual benefit" declaration con-
@lhed in the letter to Col. Yates from
coI' Goetz; but Col. Yates was warmly
.e.ehded by Attorney Hogan, for the
"'ehse, who read several testimonials
20 The efficiency Of the officer as seen
h., .