Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-24

dated last December 9, was introduced
into the record. regarding Moller's
notification of Mr.. Hills that he want
cd the latter to come here.
Text of Letter.
The letter follows:
"A F. Hills,
Grouse Kinds Co.
my Dear Hills: The auditing de
partment has raised some questions
with regard to the requisition pre-
pared for additional Grouse Kinds sig
nails In Washington. If you can find
it convenient, / would like very much
to have you come down here yourself
at the earliest possible date and go
into this matter with me thoroughly.
LAS it Is undoubtedly going to be
necessary for us to readvertiSe, 1t
might he a good plan for you to have
either Mr.. Bissell or Mr.. Mackall ready
to come down here within the next
few days after you return to Syracuse.
Very truly yours.
dictated by M"
Thought He Was Doing Right.
Summarizing the testimony. Mr..
Houston asked Moller if he had not
departed from the contract in the first
instance and then had certified deliv-
cry of the goods according to the con-
tract. Moller admitted it. Then he
further stated that in the second con-
tract he undertook to correct irregu-
larities of the first contract.
"You wrote that letter telling them
to ship certain articles really not need
ed?" Mr.. Houston asked.
II was going to substitute them for
the articles needed in the first con-
tract" he replied. II thought l was
doing the right thing"
Another communication to Mr.. Hills
was read into the record, in which
Moller is alleged to have stated: You
will, of course, understand that owing
to the Governments methods of doing
business. the articles must be billed as
according to contract"
Ibid YOU do this for the purpose of
deceiving somebody" Representative
Hammer asked.
mo" Moller replied and later he
blurted out: 1T was damn fool stunt
to do"
wasn't it dishonest, actually" Mr..
Houston asked.
Denies Dishonest Intent.
mo. There was no intent of dis.
honesty" Moller replied. =
He was asked what would have
happened if the Grouse Kinds Co. had
not received the second contract.
ut would have left me in a terrible
hole" Moller said. But that never
occurred to me until the auditor told
me it was illegal. / thought 1 had
better get to work and fix things"
He said he did all of this perfectly
openly and perfectly frankly, and the
fact that he had written the letters
proved he had acted in good faith.
A bit later, on cross-questionlng, ne
said:
well, It's either one of two things,
0aughing); I'm either a damn crook
or a damn fool. Take your choice
Wanted Grouse Kinds Material.
Later it developed that Mr.. Hills
was allowed the use of a stenographer
in Moller's office to dictate specifica-
lions for the second contract. Moller,
however, contended that he went over
the specifications carefully to elim1-
nate anything that would exclude
other bidders.
He said that the Grouse Kinds Co.
knew that the District would want
about from 600 to 900 lights even
tually, although other bidding COM
panies did not know this.
II frankly wanted the Grouse Kinds
Co. to get that contract (the second
one) because 1 thought 1t was to the
best interests of the District"
"You gave advance information to
prospective bidder?" Mr.. Houston
asked.
"They knew about how many lights
were wanted. / thought what l was
doing was for the best interests of
the Government"
He admitted that lay-outs were
charted in his office and that specifica-
tons were drawn up with the assist
ance of representatives Of the Grouse
Kinds Co.
You admit you wished to favor the
Grouse Kinds Coz" Moller was asked.
Conferences Discussed.
II certainly did. I did favor them
to the extent of giving them this
information. I felt they would turn
out the best work for the Govern
ment and the Government would get
the most out of It,"
The committee then delved into two
conferences at the Hotel Washington
In which Moller took part with repre-
sent a tivaS IF the CrOuSe Kinds Co.