The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-13

of the messages that he evidently got 1 got several code messages at the Wardman Park and he asked me what the meaning of it was. He was little mixed up, I guess. in trying to go back and find what the words were and de. cipher them.
 The party had enjoyed the hospitality of Tacoma, Seattle, Portland, Spokane, before the back-stairs negotiators came down to the heart of the business. While recreating themselves at Hayden Lake, near Spokane. Hurley, Forbes and Mortimer took a little walk and talked things over. The bureau was going to build three hospitals in the re- zion of Hurley's business operations at American Lake, Washington; Liver more, Cal, and St. Cloud, Minn. San Diego also was a possibility. Direct testimony again:
 MT. Mortimer: The direct conversa- tion out at Hayden Lake, which was brought up by Mir. Hurley in Forbes presence and my presence, was that by the linking together or the borrowing of money from the Thompson Black combination to finance any deals that would be necessary they were to share 331a per cent without taking any of the work that is, on Livermore or American Lake, St. Cloud, Minn., or any contract that they would get.
 Major General O'Ryan: That was for staying out of Hurley's territory :?
 MT. Mortimer Yes.
 Split Into Thirds
 Colonel Forbes, director of the Vet erans' bureau, was to get a third of these profits, leaving a third to Hur- ley. Mortimer had alreday been prom ised B per cent of the profits on any hospital contracts which he might land for the Thompson-B Black company. And he twas to be taken care of out of the Thompson-B Black 33h per cent"
 The testimony continues:
 Mir. Mortimer: They figured on this basis, Senator, that each million and a half dollar hospital would have $780, 900 profit in it. They figured on a 10 per cent net.
 The Chairman: On each one of the (three) hospitals?
 Mir. Mortimer: On each one of the hospitals.
 Which, on paper, meant $150,000 for Hurley or his company, $150,0O0 for Forbes, and $150,0Q0 less 35 per cent commission to Mortimer for Thompson and Black.
 This agreement was no sooner con- cluded than Mortimer had the first of his disagreements with Forbes. It arose out of matter which has no re- lation with government or company business. Mortimer left the party for Minnesota. His trip cost him S5.4OO. Forbes and Sweet had their railroad transportation from the government otherwise Mortimer paid. He footed the hotel bills at San Francisco and in the northwest, and cannily kept the re- eeipts as partial proof. When no hos pitable burger of the cities on their tri- umphal march favored with "parties," Mortimer gave them. Did your ex- penses include alcoholic Equors!" the Senate investigators inquired. "Oh, sure" replied Mortimer.
 By the end of July, 1922, Forbes was back in Washington. This joy ride to the Pacific coast was perhaps his last carefree party" Already that trans action known in the unofficial annals of our government as the Pontiac Deal' was under way. The President source of Colonel Forbes prosperities and glories, had heard of that medal presentation to H. F. Alexander and had taken it unkindly. Mortimer, though he still talked business with Colonel Forbes, was working up toward a dra. matic explosion. The clouds were gathering about the Forbes adminis- tration in the Veterans bureau. In Mo- vember they burst.
 The fourth installment of Will Ir. wins story will appear in The Age. Herald tomorrow