Fired Exxon Manager Charges Kickbacks: Bill Alexander...

Fired Exxon Manager Charges Kickbacks: Bill Alexander of Baton Rouge, La., fired for taking gifts in the first days of the Alaskan oil-spill cleanup, said company officials commonly received them for granting lucrative boat-charter contracts, according to the Seattle Times. Exxon chartered boats ranging from small fishing vessels to a 350-foot factory ship to help in the cleanup. Alexander said that in the beginning, kickbacks were “flagrant,” but that they tapered off as rules were tightened. Jan Cool, of Exxon, said there was no widespread gift-giving.