The Washington times., 1923-11-14
;A S HIS
EVIDE nee
MEANL !
FALSE
Attorney Admonishes Accused
Director 70 Be Calm IN
Presence Of Accuser.
BY WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON
1ntsrnafionaa News Services

BY WILLIAM *. HUTCHINSON,
1ntsrnafiouaH News Services
Col. Charles r. Forbes, former
director of the United. States
Veterans Bureau, today branded
as lies al charges of graft and
corruption in the award Of hos
pitaI contracts during his admin
istration.
Testifying before the Senate
investigating committee, Forbes
twice shouted .slie" to accuse
lions made ~ Elias =. Mortimer,
Of Philadelphia, bis chief accuser.
Forced II Quiet Forbes.
on one occasion Forbes was -
overcome with anger. the commit
tee vas forced - quist him MORT
n1er sat directly oppoztte Forbes and
the Two men gIarsd ~ "a other
FORBES Also branded ~ lie.
MOrtirner's testimony hs laaa
loaned the former 1ct0k sOOV
in e0nnecfion with the awarding
az b contract.
EFT is absolutely d llosN Kas
Forbes. tense reply.
Forbes denial Of graft, corruption
or favoritisrn Ia awarding contracts
followed the reading of sections Of
previous testimony given by MOrti-
naer. in which the PHILADELPHIA
charged he obtained q list Of hos
pital sites In advance 80 that the
Thompson and Black Company. Of
st. Louis would have an advan-
Calls Testimony False.
s.Ares these statements Of MOrti-
ner's correct?'s asked Col J. ..
Easby-Smith. Forbes counsel.
saThey are absolutely false.
Forbes replied in steady tones.
"WaA there ever any confidential
lists OF hospital sites2''
There never was and he knows
it." said Forbes shaking his finger
AS Forbes attempted to speak
again his counsel interrupted him
to admonish. Don't get excited,
:sWhy was there no confidential
1ists?''
SAYS Lists Were Advertised.
because they were advertised In
newspapers and other publications
thirty DAYS before any contracts
were awarded Forbes replied
aWas there any arrangement CIV
| ing q preference to one contractors"
Absolutely none,'' Forbes shout
ed. glaring at Mortimer. All con-
tracts were awarded on . COM
petitiv0 basis"
sWere any advances copies Of
specifications given to any con-
| tractor?'.
ssNot to my knowledge. and I
am sure the army and navy engi-
neers in charge did their work
honestly"
Calls Mortimer Liar.
mortimer says that one group
~ contractors received an advantage
over ali Others" Forbes was told.
arr Mortimer states that, he states
II az q lie,' Forbes shouted.
FORBES then told Of his first
meeting with Mortimer and his
wife and their friendly social HE
at a washington hotel. -.
'Did you find Mr.. ana mrs
Mortimer agreeable social com
panions?"
Found Them Agfee@Dle'
..I did," replied Forbes, then
telling of meeting the couple at
card parties and dinners.
Forbes then told of meeting Syu-
ney Bieber, Washington1an. he
later found that he had met
Bieber thirty-two years ago Wnen
he was & fourteen-year-old drummer
in the marine corps.
Tells OF Pacific Trip.
Forbes was asked about the
Pacific coast trip with Mr.. and Mrs.
Mortimer.
Forbes said:
MORTIMER told me he had never
been to the Pacific coast and would
like to GO. told him there would
he a lot OF men in my party, but
had no objection to his coming"
Anything said about expensesY
Nothing 2 said Forbes. 'MilltEan,
of the Veterans Bureau, was with
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