The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

W. A. McLean explained his con-- nection, as Deputy Minister of Highways, with the $117,000 pur-- chase of Sterling trucks. Replying 10 a question by Mr. McCrea as to whether the methods pursued by the department in this purchase had been "in the public interest," Mr. McLkean stated that, in his opinion, they were so, under the circum-- stances that prevailed. This reply was given following the action of the committee in overruling the Chairman, who had held the ques-- tion to be improper and inadmis-- alble. The Deputy Minister said that he could recall no exact date upon which a conclusion to use Sterling trucks had been reached by the de-- partment. He had expected a ten-- der from Parkins, he thought, though he could not say definitely as to this. Thought Parkins Would Tender. Mr. McLean--As I recall it, Mr. Biggs had asked me if the trucks could be bought as satisfactorily outside the <city of Toronto as in the city, and I said that, under then existing _ circumstances, I believed they could. Something was said as to a local dealer, who, I think, prob-- ably was Parkins. The Minister, Mr. McLean said, was in no way responsible, that no written renort had been made in connection with this purchase; as Deputy, he had recommended the purchase on the advice of Chief Making specific reference to Rey-- nolds' indirect imputations against the Minister of Public Works, as contained in evidence at his former appearance, Mr. Brackin produced a copy of testimony given by the eame witness on the occasion of his suit against Parkins, his former employer. This, Mr. Brackin held, was to the effect that on Saturday, March, 6, 1920, Reynolds and Park-- Ins had not discussed the specific nature "of an alleged gift" or com-- mission, whereas in his evidence before the Public Accounts Com-- mittee the witness had told of defi-- nite discussion with Parkins on that date regarding the relative merits of a $3,000 "bonus'" and the "gift" of a Mclaughlin automobile. Mr. McCrea--Where did you get information that led you'to think Parkins would make a tender?* A dramatic turn was given to the morning's proceedings when Chas. McCrea, representing the Opposi-- tion in examination, charged that '""two detectives who have been trailing -- Reynolds" were in the room. The member for Sudbury de-- manded their withdrawal, upon which the Chairman asked two of the witnesses summoned by Mr. Brackin to retire to the corridors. Reviews Reynolds®' Evidence. Roy Reynolds of Dundas, upon whose evidence last week before the Public Accounts Committee of the Legislature rested allegations of ir-- regularities in Governmental pur-- chases of motor trucks, appceared again yesterday before the commit-- tes. An attempt by R. L. Brackin to introduce matter reflecting upon the credibility of the witness result-- ed in prolonged legal debate, Chair-- man J. W. Curry deemingit his duty to enforce the strict rules of evi-- dence. Reynolds hotly referred to portions of the disputed evidence as a "frame--up'" against him and with-- drew none of his former statements before the committee. TALK OF "BONUS," "GIFT" TRUCKS PROBE GETTING WARM Roy Reynolds Subjected to Long and Searching ' Examination class C terest? be improper. F Mr. McCrea--I appeal to the Prime Minister, if he is heree---- Mr. Curry--The Prime Minister is not here, and if he were, he is not Chairman of this committee. If you don't like the ruling you may Ap-- peal it. Chair is Not Sustained. The ruling was appealed, and the Chair was not sustained. The ques-- tion then being put a second time, Mr. McLean replied at length, stat-- ing that when the order was placed trade conditions were abnormal, prices were rising, and urgent action was imperative; so much so that, in _ Mr. Curry--That is not an answer to the question, | . i _ Mr. McLean (following another presentation of the question)--Yes, in the public interest, _ When Reynolds took the stand, Mr. McCrea made his reference to "two detectives," and at the Chair-- man's order Messrs. Woodsworth and Mathews, two witnesses await-- ing call by Mr. Brackin, left the room. For the better part of an hour Mr. Brackin examined the witness in an effort to secure from him an admis-- sion as to discrepancy between his evidence in the Reynolds--Parkins case and his eveidence, on the same point, before the committee. In effect the evidence of Reynolds in the former instance was that, on the day of his final conversation with Parkins as to his share of commis-- sions on sales of trucks, from 'the Parkins garage, no mention had been made as to the specific nature of an alleged "gift" to the Minister of Public Works, whereas, a week ago, Reynolds gave details regard-- ing discussion on the date referred to as to a McLaughlin car and a cash bonus. i Witness Holds to Statement. Close questioning failed to shake the witness, who explained the seeming discrepancy by declaring that, in the trial at Hamilton, he had refrained from reference to any urnderstanding between himself and other parties. "I was the one who kept my mouth shout!" he exclaimed warm-- Iy. : "If I had been asked, I might have told. I wasn't asked that ques-- tion. I kept my mouth shut.'" Mr. Brackin produced a docu--| ment purporting to prove, by the| statements of one of the two men ejected from the room, that Reyn-- olds had once admitted perjuring himself in a lawsuit in which Par-- kins had figured, on the ground that '"Parkins would swear my life away, and why shouldn't I swear his away?"--or in words to that effect. This, Reynolds declared, was A "frame--up,""' and absolutely untrue. It was just part of a deep plan to discredit him, he said. The Chair-- man objected to ramission of cer-- tain G@ocuments submitted by Mr. Brackin without complete proof of authenticity. -- Originals, or _ SWOrn copies, Mr. Brackin assured him, would be forthcoming. h a & cA L4 4. 9iA A. 5.. t tlctciccir B in ntints.. d The investigation of this item in Public Accounts will be continued at the next sitting of the commit&ee. of business urry--IT rule that questlox"l to