The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-12
E. R. LYONS GLOVE CONTRACTS
COL. GARLENGTON CONNECTING
THE INVESTIGATIONS.
He Discovers the Identity OF "TOpp," Who
Was Referred To In Ilttauer's state
ment as Entitled TO 90 Cents Per Dozen
PrOnt--He Was a Former Glove Maker.

WASHINGTON, July II Col. L. A. CARING
ton, Inspector General of the Department
of the East has concluded a preliminary
examination Of the records of the Quarter
master-General' Office relating to the
Government contracts with 4. H. Lyon
for gloves and gauntlets for the army,
and has gone to Philadelphia to continue
the investig alton there. He will examine
all the plpars in the offica of the Depot
Quartermaster that may throw any light
on the statements that Representative Lit
tauer had al interest in the contracts, and
will then go to New York. 1t is thought
probable that he will begin an examina-
tion of the documents filed in the Lyon
bankruptcy proceedings early next week.
and will then be in a position to begin the
examination of witnesses.
Col. Darlington has already discovered
the identity Of "Topp," who was referred
to in Representative Littauer's statement
Of the cost of producing muskrat gloves.
In Mr.. Littauer's handwriting there is
computation showing the cost of these
gloves to be sls 66 per dozen pairs, or 81 $50
per pair. Referring to the cost of slS.66
per dozen, there appears this statement:
"In above, 90 cents per dozen figured for
Tops profit" In his investigation Ct the
office OK the QuartermasterGt neral, Col.
Darlington sought 10 learn who Topp was,
and II was asserted to-day that he asccr-
tanned that Topp had been a glove manu-
facturer Of Gloversvllc, but since the war
with Spain, when Lyon sold gloves to the
Government that had been furnished by
,t, 60 NJ ho.,. Il ted
just what Col. Darlington Gscertained
in regard to the intere 81 that Topp had in
the muskrat glove busins S. the War De-
partment officers will not say. They have
received pc sitive orders not to discuss
the Littauer investigation, nor give out any
information that may be secured by the
| officer making the inve stigation. Ii was
! said this afternoon that no p sitive evidence
! of collision bet ween differ, nj glove makers
! in GloveIsville had been secured, nor had
! il been ascertained positively that Topp's
/ compensation was for the purpose of keep
ing him from bidding on the Government
! busins SIS.
| An Interesting letter YVES received ycster-
! day by Secretary Root from one Of Repre-
! sentative Littauer's coDs ituents in New
York. who eYpre ssad to the Secretary OF
War his satisfaction that there was to be
an investigation of the statements involv-
ing Mr.. llttauer IN tine glove contracts
The writer, whose name could not be
learned. assured Secretary Root that he felt
personally friendly toward Repre- sentative
Litteuer, but could not approve the Con-
gressman's political methods, Secretary
Root has turned the entire inve stigation
over to Col Darlington end the otter of
the New York State citiz2n was duly re-
ferred TO the Colonel and made d part OF
| tn" official record in the CTS.
II was learned to-day that Secretary
Root has directed complete investigation
of certain army contracts made by the
Ouartermaster's Dopcr tment on the Pacific
Coast and has ordered Gen. Burton, H.
spector General Of the Army, to make the
investigation. Gen Burton left WGshng
ton to-day for the West for the purpose
cstensbly of inspecting soldiers homes.
1t il known. however, thet he will in addi-
ton investigate complaint thGt have
come to the Secretary Of War in rega rd TO
the Army contracts and determine whether
they were made in complete accordance
with the law. This investigation was
determined upon before the disclosures
in regard to Representative Littauer,
and plo ns had been ma de for Gen. Burton's
trip West, otherwise Gen. Burton would
have personally directed the investigation
in the Littauer case.