Evening star., 1923-05-29
ADMIRAL BOWLES
At MORSE HEARING
Testifies for rosecution in
Matter Particularly ReIat-
ing to Alexandria Plant.

Admiral r. T. Bowles. United States
Navy. testified for the prosecution at
the Morse trial today. He was in
charge of the construction division
of the fleet corporation and said
Morse eagerly" sought a contract to
build steel ships for the government
at the yards of the Virginia Ship
building Company at Alexandria, Va.
The admiral sought to discourage
Morse, and gave his view that the site
was not suitable. He told Morse that
the location of shipyard at Alex
andria would be disadvantageous to
both Morse and the government
Witness rejected the proposal to
give Morse a contract to build twen-
ty-four steel ships at Alexandria, Va.
He also disapproved an application OF
the Morse's for a loan.
Witness Cross-ExamIned
On cross-examination the admiral
said he had no resentment against
Morse at the time of refusing the
contract, or now. He admitted there
had been a conversation with Morse
at the latter's initiative concerning
Bowles promotion to the manager
ship Of the fleet corporation.
The witness denied that he had
asked Morse to use his influence with
William G. McAdoo, former Secretary
of the Treasury, to secure the promo
ton for the admiral. Asked why he
rejected the proposition to build
ships at Alexandria, he stated, it was
because of his general knowledge of
The business.
Not Influenced by Conditions.
Witness declared that the fact that
hi iTnN- II l.
sary men assembled to build ships
and that vessels were actually
launched would make no difference
in his opinion.
Witness said he did not recoIlect a
conversation with Morse in which the
admiral had threatened TO hold up
payments of money to the Morses be-
cause of their failure to answer H.
letter of Admiral Cats. He could
not swear that he had threatened to
keep Morse from getting any more
contracts. but had no recollection of
such conversation.
Civil Engineers Testimony,
Mr. Berg, a civil engineer visited
the Alexandria site at the direction
or Admiral Rousseau of the Shippfns
Board in November, 1917. and reported
that the site was admirably suited
Tor the location of a shipyard" Berg
SAID charles w. Morse accompanied
ton, which was driven by one of the
three sons. The witness declared
however, that his report was based
on his own Judgment. Mr. Berg said
Morse had informed him that he need
ed no funds from the feet corpora
tion TO carry on the work at Alex
andria.
On cross-exam!nation by ATTORNEY
Nash lockwood, the witness said
he could not remember Morse making
the remark without first refreshing
his memory from the report he had
made to the government.
The witness declared that Morse a I
no time had claimed that the title to
the yard at Alexandria was perfect
and had offered to anchor the steamer
Charles w. Morse near Alexandria
when the housing facilities in the
town became acute.
Dates of Negotiations.
George 8. Radford, a former naval
constructor, who was in charge Of
the contract division of the Fleet
Corporation during part of 1917 and
1913, testified that Charles W. Morse
began negotiations for a contract for
the Virginia plant on November II.
1917, being accompanied by former
Representative Carlin of Virginia. On
some later visits to the Fleet Cor
poration Offices Morse was accom-
panied by some of his sons and
Stuart @. Gibboney of counsel for
Morse.
Varying proposals as to the number
of ships to be built were made, Rad
ford said, the totals running from
thirty down to ten.