Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-04

the estimate for installation exceeding
expectations of the Office by approx
mately 5000. he had conference
with Mr.. Donovan. auditor, ana MT
Hargrove, purchasing officer. III
which I exnlained to them the situa.
ton in which we were placed.
He told them il would be Impossible
to install more than Is traffic lights
and sought their advice about cancel
ing the % remaining signals. Col. Mol
Ter declared in the affidavit HE also
told them. he declared. that IT was
highly desirable to get some isolated
signal lights. =.
II then asked the auditor to permit
me to substitute signals OF TINS type
in place of the signals that would not
be possible for us to install with oul
available funds Col. Moller con
tinued, land he stated that while this
proceeding was irregular, II had never
theless been done before and that as
long as | certified 1.-The vouchers FOR
payment, no question would be raised.
This, virtually is what Col. Moller did
he states. Maj. Donovan denied the
statement later and before the com
mittee and this angle became one OF
the important phases in the sub-com
mittee's investigation.
AT another point in the affidavit Col
Moller alleged: II have always kept
Mr.. Eldrige constantly informed as to
just what / was doing and what pro
posed to do, and the reason therefor
I lunched with him daily for this pur'
pose, as it was difficult to find time
for conferences in the office. MIR. Ed
ridge, therefore, was thoroughly ia
miliar with all of these matters, and
after discussing them, he had always
indicated his hearty approval:'
This also had been denied by Mr.
Eldridge.
Denies Excluding Bidders.
Although he had the assistance oil
an expert from the Grouse Kinds Co
in drawing up the specifications foI
the first signals here, Col. Mollei
reiterated there was nothing in the
specifications which would exclude
any legitimate bidder. No samples
were required to be submitted with
the bids.
Despite the fact that the Districts
proposal called for two or more lights
none of the manufacturers knew how
many lights were to be needed, al
though it was a matter of genera
knowledge to all bidders that Con
gress had provided $4,000 for the
installation and that this money
would have to be spent on the order
in question, Col. Moller points out
Approval was given by Auditor
Donovan also, according to Col. Mol
Ter, for billing the Potomac Electric
Power Co, for items provided by TIN
Grouse Kinds Co. near Scott Circl'
and the same procedure also was fol
lowed at the time to provide for pur
chase Of flashing motor to operate thu
fire signal. ''No order was ever is
sued to the Grouse Kinds Co. or on tn
bracket arms, pole clans, cable o.
flashing motor" Col. Moller said, bu
the items were billed by the electri'
power company. which did the install
lation work, as an installation charge
This phase was never inquired int
| in detail by the subcommittee ant
comprises virtually new charge
against Auditor Donovan.
Says Donovan Changed Later.
Some time later, Mr.. Donovan. ir
| the presence of Mr.. Eldridge, repudi
ated the verbal permission to change
the items of the first contract and in
formed Col. Moller that the act wal
| Illegal and might result in my goine
to the penitentiary," Col. Moller de
clared.
II became thoroughly alarmed. due
to this reputation, Col. Moller states
| and Immediately decided to remove
| correspondence between himself and
| the Grouse Kinds Co, thinking 1t pos