Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-07-10
MORSE DEFENDED
BY EX-LEG|SLATOR
Carlin of Virginia Testifies at
TriaI-Says SchWab
Lauded Plant.

Charles C.. Carlin. representative in
Congress from Virginia from 1907 to
1919, testified today for the defense
at the trial of Charles w. Morse, his
three sons and four others before JUS
tice Stafford and jury in Criminal
Division l. Mr.. Carlin declared that
Charles NJ. Scwab. director general of
the Fleet Corporation in 1918. con-
sidered the Virginia ship plant the
best in the country" Mr.. Carlin said
that Mr.. Schwab after a careful in
spection of the plant remarked to
Charles W. Morse. When you are
would sell il to me-, and turning to
Charles Piez. his assistant. directed
the granting of an additional loan to
the company.
On that occasion. according TO the
witness, Mr. Schwab asserted that ii
appeared that more than 100000
Piez. was contending that not more
than S250,000 had been spent by the
company.
Wilson at Keel Laying.
The witness told of numerous con-
versations with officials of the Fleet
Corporation to get them to pay the
Morses for the increase in wages
ordered by the Macy scale. The re-
suit of his conversations. the witness
declared was talk, talk, talk. and
1t has not been settled yet" The
fleet officials insisted that the com
pany owed money to the government
and Morse claimed it was the other
way round.
The examination of the witness was
tod
Lambert of counsel for the defense.
Mr. Lambert led the witness through
the steps taken by Mr.. Carlin in the
interest of his constituents. the peo-
pie of Alexandria; to have Morse
Mr.. Carlin told of the laying of the
keel of the first boat, at which Presi-
dent Woodrow Wilson was present
and of the presence of the late Sen
ator Martin of Virginia. then ma
jority leader of the Senate, at the
inspection of the plant by Director
Schwab. Mr.. Carlin said as early as
January. 1919. he began his efforts
70 get an adjustment between the
Virginia company and the Shipping
Board.
Present 155 Photos.
After Introducing about IFS photo
graphs showing the progress on plant
and ships at the Alexandria shipyard
Attorneys Nash lockwood and Will
ton j. Lambert. for the defense sub
mitted evidence showing that an Of
fer of sS.500.000 had been received in
1918 for the steamships Huron. Min
neapolis. Binghamton and ST. Paul
which were listed as assets of the
United States Steamship Company. a
Morse corporation. This was to off,
set the claim of the government that
the Morses We're operating on shoe
string and did not have assets when
they represented to the Fleet Corpo-
ration their ability to carry out the
contracts to build ships. The Fleet
Corporation vetoed the acceptance of
the offer of purchase, it was testified
The next witness was Daniel H.
TIlIlgan. t one time general auditor
OF the Noank plant of the Groton
ron Works He testified as to wage
increases at the plant which. he said
were ordered by the Fleet Corpora
tion. Vouchers for payment of the
Increases By the government were
submitted to the Fleet Corporation,
but were not paid, he said.
On cross examination, however. Mr..
GIlIigan admitted that subsequently
prosecution also brought out that the
Fleet Corporation made pay roll pay
mentS based on estimates submitted
by the Noank plant. Attorney Turner
also had the witness admit he was
not familiar with the terms of the
so-called adjustment contract be-
tween the Fleet Corporation and the
eminent agreed to pay 100000 in
stead of 100000 on four hulls and
s450,oo0 instead of 100000 on four
other hulls.
l;illigan had been a witness for the
prosecution.