Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-24
|MOLLER SUSPENDED
| IN SIGNAL SCANDAL
Assistant Traffic Director AID.
m;ts Juggling of Light
Orders.
Continued from First Page.)

tons unless he could see that i was
wrong. | planned regulation of traffic,
made specifications for traffic signals,
and wrote them. ] recommended IN
stalat ton of the traffic signal devices
and the director of traffic approved
the recommendation"
He then recited that it was the plan
to finance the traffic signal system
here by renewals Of permits and was
under the impression that Director OF
Traffic Eldridge concurred in the
recommendation.
He said that the first studies for
the installation of a traffic signal
system here had been completed by
the latter part of May, 1925. and that
he had desired to use the. small
appropriation available to the full
extent.
Questioned On Specifications.
The first specifications for traffic
lights here we--o prepared by himself,
Col Moller testified lie said he had
consulted with representatives of the
Grouse Kinds Co, which received the
award of the contract. and of the
General Electric Co, and with the
electrical engineer of the District in
the plans for the installation of the
lights.
Questioned closely by Mr.. Gibson
regarding the interest which the
Grouse Kinds Co. took in the drawing
up of the specifications for the lights,
he said, in reply to questions, that
he had asked cooperation of that
company and that they had sent a
man down 80 that I could ask him
some questions"
He was shown telegram dated
May 20. 1925, which read as follows:
ITO NJ o. Eldridge,
director of Traffic.
District Building.
Washington, ID. G.
plans and specifications for Wash
ington traffic signals being mailed
noon today, first-class mail, special de-
livery
Grouse Kinds Co"
"The specifications they sent down
We're not used CoL Moller stated.
Says He Sent Telegram.
He was shown another telegram,
dated the same date, reading:
Grouse Kinds Co.
syracuse. y. Y.
Fast telegram.
May have to change specifications
stop if so where can L reach Mack
all by phone Wednesday.
"I. c. MOLLER."
Assistant Director of Traffic.
Official business.
Charge Government rates.
Col. Moller admitted having sent
this telegram.
Why" asked Chairman Gibson,
did you deem it necessary to consult
with Mackall?"
Mackall, it was explained. was X.
10 nf In re
the company.
Says He Sought Expert Aid.
Col Moller replied that he desired
the best expert advice on the signals
he could get, and that he knew the
Grouse Kinds Co. had good engineer
ing force thoroughly competent to aid
with such advice.
Representative Hammer of North
Carolina, who attended the session
with Representative Houston Of Della
ware, here INTERCEPTED warning to
Col. Moller regarding his constitu
tional rights and his privilege to re-
fuse to answer questions which he
felt might incriminate him.
Witness then admitted several
"layouts" or general plans for the
number of lights were compiled by the
Grouse Kinds Co. and that Mr.. Mack
all suggested several layouts.
The committee then went into de-
tail concerning the technical compost
ton of material in the mechanism and
the housing for the lights.
WAS there any time limit fixed in
the first specifications" asked Mr..
Gibson.
"I don't think So" Col. MoIler re-
piled.
He continued that the proposal was
given out on June and the bids were
opened June Is, 1925, during which 13
days elapsed. He said blue prints were
required from the bidders, who were
to bid on a certain number of signals
and a certain number of control units.
Denies Plans Excluded Any.
Gould any concern make drawings
without a survey of the situation in
that timer" Chairman Gibsonaasked.
"Oh, yes" Col. Moller stated. ''They
were only stock drawings-merely a
matter of a wiring diagram to show
the points at which the lights were to
be placed"
He denied that such short time or
the fact that a mechanism consisting
of mercury in a gas tube to make con-
facts and flash on the lights would
have excluded any company from the
bidding
The opening Of the bids for the first
set Of lights then came in for detailed
attention. Col. Moller said that he
followed the regular order of routine,
although in this instance he did not
recommend acceptance Of the low bid.
~ "Who did you first advise of the
acceptance of the bid?" he was asked.
81 don't remember"
"You don't remember notifying the
Grouse Kinds Co. first?"
mo"
Shown Two Memorandum.
He was then shown a memorandum
from the purchasing office of the Dis
trict in which it was stated that an
item had been noted as missing in
the specifications and that Col. Moller
changed this item from one unit to
two units. This was after the bids
had been opened and while a requisi-
ton for the shipping of tina signal
lights was being prepared. Another
memorandum was read as from the
purchasing Office stating that the first
this Office knew Of the acceptance of
the bid was when we read In news
papers that the Grouse Kinds contract
had been approved"
On this point Col. Moller said he
was unable to see why that was so,
since he felt everything had proceeded
according to accepted routine.
He admitted having made changes
in the requisition for the lights by in
creasing the control units for reguIa.
ton of the lights from the street in
an emergency from one unit, as called
for in the original specifications, to
two units.
He said no question had been raised
regarding this procedure.
80 Lights Bought.
He said that the Essco Light Co.
bid was the lowest for the amount
specified in the original specifications