The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-02-26
Hadley Bares Trick
Light Contract

journs Friday to continue the life
of the Gibson subcommittee through.
out the summer.
Last nights hearing. which again
was attended BY the three District
Commissioners, was marked by a
number Of sensational develop.
Bell Badly Shaken
District Engineer Commissioner j.
Franklin Bell appeared on the
verge Of breakdown as disclosure
after disclosure Of irregularities
against his subordinates was made
He sat with his head in his hands
among the spectators last night.
When Auditor Donovan passion.
ately defended himself against
suspicion Of dishonesty, declaring
that for thirty years he has en-
deavored to keep the auditing de-
partment above the slightest breath
OF suspicion, tears rolled down
Colonel Bells cheeks,
criminal Motives
District Auditor Daniel j. DonO.
van characterized the activities Of
MOller as criminal" In . sensa.
tiOnal statement, anu declared that
he lost faith In MoIler two months
ago, and at that time recommended
his removal from office.
Further dragging Of the name Of
Edwin G. Graham. Republican
leader. president Of the Board Of
Trade and past. president Of the
Board Of Educs lion. into the case,
led to q vitriolic attack on Ora.
ham by Representative William c.
Hammer, Of North Carolina.
Hammer demanded q thorough
investigation by the committee OF
Graham's activities as president of
thA Board Of Education, In connec.
tlon with contracts for electrical
supplies for the school system,
which were awarded to the Ma.
ttonal Electric Supply Company. Of
which Graham il president. and
which - the local agency for the
Crause-Hlnds Company.
Hammer indicated that In his
mind, Graham's activities both tn
connection with the electrical con.
tracts and the Crause- Kinds scandal,
verged perilously close to criminal
violations of the laws governing &C.
t. titles Of Government officials.
Eldridge was startled when Gibson
reported that further Investigation
BY. experts Of the Bureaus OF Eff
ticiency yesterday revealed that the
total Of lights ordered by Moiler
In various communication to the
CTause.Hinds Company exceeded the
actual contract orders by 81.
These figures, MIR. Eldridge,
show that there were not 1T3 but
2S4 lights ordered from Crause.
Kinds Company" Gibson said.
Your check Of actual deliveries
shows that 1874 have been deliv.
cred. That leaves so lights which
have not been accounted for. What
has become Of them?"
"Can Search Me-
Eldridge, taken by surprise. STAN.
mered: You can search mel"
Eldridge. confronted by other evi.
denee, further implicated Moller,
declaring that Moller had changed
the terms OF contracts without his
knowledge or approval.
Auditor Donovan denounced Mol.
Ter vigorously, declaring he lost
all faith in his integrity as
public official last December, when
it was revealed to him that falsi.
fled vouchers had been paid.
Donovan declared emphatically
that no officer or employee Of the
District government is authorized to
order supplies or materials except
upon requisition, and through the
purchasing officer, and that letters
OF Moller to the Crause-Einds Com.
pany ordering delivery Of lights not
contracted for IL not in the regular
order Of business and IL absolutely
illegal.
Held to Be Illegal
The contracts with the Crause,
Kinds Company II they are legal,
he declared, must provide that de,
hyeries shall be made upon the
order Of the District purchasing