64 COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4i 



Mr. Kendall. As a matter of fact, is it not true that you did not 

 even get to the stage of giving any consideration to DeLong, and 

 Merritt-Chapman & Scott, and Frederick Snare ; that you eliminated 

 them immediately ? 



Captain Albers. May I see the report ? 



Of course, those corporations are basically construction outfits, 

 rather than design outfits. They were permitted to bid on the con- 

 struction. 



Mr. Kendall. But they were eliminated from design consideration, 

 were they not. Captain? 



Captain Albers. That is correct — wait just a minute. 



No, we interviewed them, sir. 



Mr. Kendall. The memorandum states that they were eliminated, 

 does it not, because they were either interested in the construction 

 or that they had decided on a type of design that should be followed ? 



Captain Albers. Yes; but we did consider them, sir. You said 

 "eliminated" them from consideration. But we thought the two firms 

 selected were in the best position. 



Mr. Kendall. They had been eliminated prior to the time of the 

 meeting ; is that right ? 



Captain Albers. At the meetings of this board, it was a part of the 

 board's business to discuss this. They were all interviewed and it was 

 the opinion of the board that the two that we selected were the most 

 suitable for this design work. 



Now, then, we, as a general rule, do not buy package deals in Navy 

 construction ; that is, buy, procure, a firm to do both design and con- 

 struction. 



Mr. Kendaix. "Well, these three firms that we mentioned are all 

 outstanding in this particular field, are they not? 



Captain Albers. They are all outstanding contractors; yes, sir. 



Mr. Kendall. Did any of them submit suggested designs for your 

 board's consideration ? 



Captain Albers. Yes, sir ; I think they did. 



Mr. Kendall. "Which ones did that ? 



Captain Albers. I am relying on memory now. I think DeLong 

 Corp. probably did. DeLong Corp. and the Frederick Snare Corp. 



Mr. Kendall. They both submitted suggested designs ? 



Captain Albers. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Kendall. "Which were considered by the selection board ? 



Captain Albers. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Kendall. Now, I take it that Mr. Anderson was correct this 

 morning when he stated that he was initially contacted by the Navy 

 and that he brought the other firm into the picture? 



Captain Albers. That, I believe, is true. However, they appeared 

 before the board as a joint venture. 



Mr. Kendall. Does not your memorandum suggest that Moran, 

 Proctor did not have a representative at that board? 



Captain Albers. My memorandum does so indicate, but it is my 

 remembrance of the subject that Mr. Carleton Proctor attended the 

 board meeting. 



Mr. Kendall. But that is not shown on your memorandum? 



Captain Albers. That is correct, sir. 



