Evening star., 1938-08-17

phases OF Federal agency.
Ey the Associated Press.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Aug. IT,
Fred Manley. Knoxville engineer, de-
MED today he wrote w. H. Ford of
Norwood. Ohio, in 1888 that Senator
George L. Berry, Democrat, of Ten
nessee expected to get a settlement
with the T. v. A. Of damages to marble
and mineral holdings in the Norris
Dam area.
Mr.. Manley, engineer and architect
representing the Berry interests, told
a congressional investigation COM
mittee that when he wrote Mr.. Ford,
one Of Senator Berry's former asso-
ciates. saying the Senator expected
ito get definite settlement of the
matter soon" he was referring to his
own employment and not the Berry
claims.
Mr.. Manley underwent a vigorous
cross-examination on why he wrote
unsigned letters to Mr.. Ford regard
ing the T. v. A. and urged Mr.. Ford
to return them to him.
Why were they unsigned?" asked
Committee Counsel Francis Biddle.
Il just forgot" the witness replied.
Deal Negotiated.
Mr.. Manley said Mr. Ford came to
him in December, 1882, broke" and
wanting to sell portion of his in
terests in the mineral and marble
leases.
The engineer declared he persuaded
George Collins of Frankfort. KY, to
buy half interest in Mr.. Ford's hold
ings for 81 900, payable $40 weekly.
Mr. Biddle-"You wrote Mr.. Ford
to get J. w. Cooper of Knoxville, head
of the T. v. A. Land Acquisition De-
partment, to admit he said in a speech
at La Toilette, Tenn, in 1888 at
meeting Of land owners his appoint
ment was due to Representative J.
Will Taylor, Republican, of Tennessee.
Why did you tell him that?"
Mr.. Manley said DR.. Arthur E. Nor
gan, ousted T. v. A. chairman, had
said in a speech there was mo politics"
in T. v. A., 80 this was convenient TO
remember-it possibly could be used"
Did you ever use it?" asked Mr..
Biddle
No" the witness replied. Mr.
Cooper didn't last long enough"
Mr. Biddle-"Did you write that Mr..
Cooper was drunk when he made the
statement"
Mr. Manley-"Yes. I thought that
was the cause of his foolish state
ment."
Return Of Letter Asked.
Mr.. Biddle-"You also wrote Mr..
Ford to keep this letter and hand it
back when you see me. If you have
anything to say you don't want kept
by me. I'll do the same for you. That
way We can write more freely"
L wish he had given it back Mr..
Manley asserted. These are private
matters and references to Mr.. Taylor
and Mr.. Cooper are outside this mat
ter"
You also wrote that Mr.. Cooper
made some very foolish statements
and If you and your friends could get
together and remember them they
might be beneficial What did you
intend to do with this?",
Well" the witness replied, I'VE
could tell it to the T. " A. land ac-
QUESTION department.. I didn't know
just how to use it."
Mr. Biddle-"It might make them.
well. let us say bit more sympathetic
about the claims?"'
Yes, maybe" Manley asserted.
During a brief recess, Representa-
tive Wolverton, Republican, of New
Jersey announced that Senator James
J. Davis, Republican. of Pennsylvania
would be absent from the hearing for
several days on a mission highly i'm
portant' with regard to the T. V. A.
He declined to say where the Sem
ator had gone or when he would re-
turn.
Senator Ferry denied before the
committee yesterday that he had tried
to defraud the Government. The con-
troversy that arose over his claims for
damages was the result, he said. "of
the bitter antagonism between men,
bers of the T. v. A. board"
He referred to DR.. Arthur E. Nor
gan, ousted T. v. A. chairman, and T.
v. A. Directors David E. Lilienthal
and Harcourt A. Morgan.
When Senator Berry finished his
version of the now famous marble
case, the committee summoned c. A.
Harris Of Fountain City, Tenn, and
George Collins Of Frankfort, KY, for
mer Berry associates, to testify today.
Directors to Testify.
T. v. A. Directors Lilienthal and
Harcourt Morgan were scheduled to
follow them.
Senator Berry said he tried to reach
an amicable settlement with the Au-
thority after his holdings were mum
dated, adding he never made a spe-
cific claim for damages or set value
on the flooded property.
There was friendly and cordial
July 10, 1896, between himself
and Harcourt Morgan, Senator Berry
said. at which an agreement was
reached to conciliate the claims.
He asserted he acted in good faith
and presumed that the Authority did
likewise.
Did you not know" asked Repre-
sentative Thomas Jenkins, Republican,
Of Ohio, that Fly (James Lawrence
Fly, T. v. A. general counseD and
other T. v. A. officials did not intend
to abide by the decision of a con-
ciliator if it had been adverse 10
them?"
mo; I'd be disappointed to learn
that" the Senator replied, adding,
Il didn't need the money. I'm no
miser. I'd give it away If have it.
It's just that I'm the kind Of American