Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-06
CONGRESSMAN AND GLOVE MANU-.
FAcTuRER REPLIES TO THE
CHARGE AGAINST HIM.
SAYS PROFIT WAS SMALL
He Claims That the Fault Found BY
Secretary of War Was Regarding al
a Technical Error Only and Says
His Books Will Bear Him Out.


Lucius N. Littauer Of Gloversville
spent several hours yesterday after
noon in conference with his lawyer,
Edward Lauterbach. They prepared
a reply to the memorandum of Sec
rotary of War Root that the indi-
cations of an interest by the firm of
Littauer Brothers, glove manufacture
ers, of which the congressman is an
active member, in the Lyon contract
with the government ARE sufficient to
require me to proceed upon the the
DRY that there is prima facie case of
violation of the statute"
Mr.. Littauer's statement is as fol-
lows:
Expresses Surprise.
Il am, of course, surprised and dis
appointed at the decision of the sec
rotary OF war that there may exist
even a prima facie case of violation
OF the statute. 1t is true that the
decision only creates an inquiry wheth-
er a technical violation of law has
been committed and removes from the
case entirely any suggestion of dis
honesty or dishonorable action on my
part and of any improper use of my
influence as a congressman in regard
to any glove contracts.
Il can ask no more sweeping and
complete vindication of my honor and
business integrity than the findings of
the secretary"
Gives Details of Contract.
ssAs to the matter, which has been re-
ferred to the attorney general, I am
at "a loss to understand how any ques
ton, even of most refined technical
priety and legality of the contract OF
December z, 1898. The uncontradicted
evidence concerning this contract de
elops these facts:
"Mr. Lyon was a general contractor
to the war department. furnishing not
only gloves, but caps, cottons, ducks
and various other articles. There was
awarded to him contract for 5000
musllrat fur gauntlets, which he pur
chased from us at the price of s1.54
per pair. This price, we ascertained
during the price of manufacture was
too low, as Informed him.
The Lyon Bid.
subsequently Mr.. Lyon bid and his
gloves, with privilege to the govern
ment of requiring so per cent more
which the government took advantage
Of After the acceptance of the bid he
called upon me to furnish him with
the goods.
Il informed him that would not fur
| nish them at the price that the 5000
pairs had been furnished, we having
sustained loss in the transaction, as
previously informed him. During oul
conversation took sheet of papei
and in my handwriting calculated the
price of the goods, which, with a Ii
per cent profit to my firm would have
amounted to $1.S1 per pair, which wa:
the price at which l had previously of
| fered to make the gauntlets.
Yields to Lyons Importantly.
During the discussion reduced the
anticipated profit to 10 per cent, max
| ing the price $1.75. Mr.. Lyon impor
tuned me npt to leave him in the
lurch, as he had already contracted tt
| furnish the goods to the government
at Sligo lit turned out that, in fact
he had contracted for them at $1.70
although did not know iD, and hi
finally bought the goods at $1.65, bu
/ conceded that if it should be dem
onstrated after the actual manufac
ture of the goods that they had cos
me less than Sligo his account woult
be credited with one-half of the diff
ference between the actual cost PEE
pair and $1.65 at which we had solt
I the goods to him.
Can See No Wrong.
"This difference was ascertained tt
be $S,537, and he was credited will
this rebate, which amounted to ST.
| 1853. Our books give evidence in de
tail of this transaction. Mr.. Lyol
was charged for the gloves at SIG
per pair, and his account was subse
quently credited with the rebate re
4 ferred to.
4 81 fail to see, and l am sure tn
community will fail to see, how eve
a technical or legal violation of an
statute or of any code of moral o
commercial propriety or any inviC
ious criticisms or censure can b
founded upon this transaction
---GA
II Na,+t, Co,,fb and I vnnL;~.a