Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-26
Evidence Indicates Wording
Led All But Grouse Kinds
Co. to Figure on Bronze.
ELDRlDGE AND DONOVAN
DISAVOW MOLLER ACTS
Deny Approving Irregularities in
Contracts-District Engineer
Testiies at Probe.

Warren B. Hadley, electrical en-
gineer of the District, appearing al
witness before the Gibson subcom
rnittee investigating circumstance:
surrounding the traffic signal light
installation in the District, today
testified that he had assisted Col. /. c
Moller, assistant traffic director. II
drawing up specifications for the frs'
contract for signal apparatus in the
District, giving special attention to q
clause relating to installation Of
bronze fittings and supporting arms
for the signal lights.
Representative Gibson of Vermont
presiding, pounced upon this por
ton of the testimony for a thorough
analysis. He read clauses from the
specifications in which the phrase
with bronze fittings and supporting
arms appeared and the phrase
with bronze pole clamps and sup
porting arms and then asked the
witness:
do you consider whether it was
clearly indicated here that the sup
porting arms would be of bronze?'
LAS it reads it would seem to re
Quire bronze clamps and arms" Had
ley replied.
Says Experts Fooled.
''Do you know that that specifica.
ton, worded as 1t Is, fooled some OF
the most experienced electrical ex.
perts in this country" Mr.. Gibson
asked
"WeIl, it might"
"Wel. 1t did," Mr.. Gibson con
cIuded.
It was then ELECTED from the wit
ness that an Interpretation of this
clause by prospective bidder tc
mean that bronze supporting arms to
be included would result in higheE
bid than If the bidder figured on a
cheaper metal such as iron.
Mr.. Gibson developed next that the
signal light as installed here contained
iron supporting arms.
Representative Hammer of North
Carolina here interrupted to inquire
whether these specifications had been
prepared by a representative of the
Grouse Kinds Co., the successful bid
der for the contract, In the office Of
Col. MoiIer, and he was informed that
they had, according to Moller's state
ment to the committee last Wednes-
day night.
Others Bid on Bronze Basis.
Mr.. Houston of Delaware then sum
married. the information going into
the record. by stating that 1t ap-
peared that all other competitive bid
ders for this contract had made their
bids contemplating bronze supporting
arms, whereas the Grouse Kinds Co,
evidently having had some tntimation
before the specifications were given
out submitted bids on iron.
"I was concerned to get clamps OF
something safe, structurally, instead
weaker metal" Mr.. TIadley said
when cast bronze for malleable iron
was suggested that need would be
met
At the outset of his testimony Mr.
Hadley testified he had been electrical
engineer for the District about nine
years, and he had not known Col
Moller or Mr.. Eldridge until they had
come into the District service, lie
said he had met representatives OF
the Grouse Kinds Co. and of the Gen
eral Electric Co. in Washington re
Gently.
Sought Harmony I'm Design.
He had studied the traffic sigma
light with a view to seeing that II
harmonized with the street-lighting
standards, In which he was deeply in
terested. He said lie did not go into
details with regard to the specifica
tions for the first contract, but that
he had read them over and that he
especially remembers that portion re-
ferrtng to the bronze supporting arms
Did you suggest any changes In
Continued on Page 10, Column 2.)