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

| HS the tranSactlOnS complained OF.
| specifications, 1t was further pointed
out by questions of Chairman Gibson
Although 80 lights were contracted
for, only 78 lights were actually uset
in this lot, it was developed by Chair
| man Gibson. Col. Moller said the
reason was that the installation cos
! by the Potomac Electric Power Co
| so far exceeded original anticipations
| that the 121 lights had to be foregone
in order to have enough in the appro
prfation to take care of the Is lights
that were installed.
Questioned on Delay.
Questioned as to the shipment OF
| the material from the Grouse Kinds
| Co, Col. Moller said that the ship
| ments were prompt.
They shipped a number of lights
! right off," he said.
| Chairman Gibson then produced g
letter signed by Moller to A. F. Hill
vice president and general manager
| of the Grouse Kinds Co., in which he
| Moller. gave authority to withhold
| shipment of the lights subject to
seven working days notice
Col. Moller then said:
l
| shipped them right Off quick
did you order more lights than
you actually needed?"
mot more than we expected to
use"
Admits Rush" Telegram.
He was then shown a telegram ask
ing the Grouse Kinds Co. to rush
shipment of as many bracket clamps
tn
for special delivery letter, and saying
that the Potomac Electric Power Co
was then ready to install the lights
This was dated December /, 1925.
Col. Moller admitted sending this
telegram.
He explained that the delay was en-
tirely due to failure of the installing
company to obtain the conductor cable
for the lights.
Why didn't you put out the bids
for SO lights, when you knew you were
going to need 99?" Chairman Gibson
asked the witness
In his answer Col Moller admitted
he knew he could have gotten a
cheaper price by asking for such a
number than for an indefinite number
Tells Of Changes.
Under examination, Col. Moller adj
mitted that in this first shipment OF
lights he had made a contract for Ger.
tain material, then changed it for
other material. and later had written
the company to disregard the contract
and told them to ship items not in
cluded in the contract, but to bill
them just as the contract specified.
Then you certified receipt of the
articles as called for?"
Yes SIR" Col. Moller replied.
This was not correct at the time
When the installation contract was
given to the Potomac Electric Pow
er Co. / found that there would be
insufficient funds to cover all the
things purchased, and there was ar
isolated need for certain other lights
at certain points. So + asked Mai
Donovan in Mr.. Hargrove's presence
If it would be all right to tell Grouse
Kinds to ship 78 instead of 90 and
make up the balance in isolated traf
fic signals. Maj. Donovan said II
was irregular, but that it was done
and as long as certified it no aues
ton would be raised.
Letter Is Read.
Therefore, in my ignorance, I mott
| fed Grouse Kinds so to do. Then
| when j found I had done an &C,
which was wrong, T had Grouse
Kinds ship in other items. had the
materials shipped in SO that all items
are there under both contracts. The
District Of Columbia has all the items
l certified as having received"
Another letter was read to the wit
| ness, dated May 18, 1926, addressed
to General Manager Hills of the
Grouse Kinds organization, in which
Moller announced that the second bic
had been accepted and that the
order for the purchase was being pre-
pared:
One sentence in that letter was:
"You understand that many of these
items we have no use for and may
never need"
He was asked concerning that state
ment.
Eyes sir" he replied, IT wrote that
to be covered on all these items in
case we needed them"
Differs With Auditor.
He repeated that he had taken the
step of reducing the number of lights
asked for in the original contract at
the instance of advice from the
auditor.
HE certainly did tell me-" Moller
added, "but now he denies it,
On this point he added:
II know now that it was a perfectly
| wrong thing to do. But I did it in
good faith.
LAS soon as the auditor later told
| me 1t was absolutely Illegal and said
he hadn't authorized me to do 1t, /
tried to rectify it,
BY rectifying it, the committee de.
veloped from the witness he meant
balancing pieces on the second order
by supplying items missing on tn,
| first order, so that when the two ship.
both contracts would appear to have
| been filled by the shippers.
| you have certified on the first and
second acquisitions that the goods
were received according to contract
Mr.. Gibson asked.
II certified to the first; not to the
second"
Says Everything Delivered.
"How can you straighten this out
by having them ship in more goods?'
Every article / certified to has
gotten here" Col. Moller replied.
| He testified that he got alarmed
after being told his act of changing
specifications was illegal and sent for
! Mr.. Hills, vice president Of the Grouse
Kinds Co., who told the witness he
would attempt to straighten the trou
BILE out. He said the shipment OF
| the items needed to complete the frs,
contract had been received about
three weeks ago. 3
: A letter to ME-. Hills from Moller