Evening star., 1903-07-02
Inquiry to Be Made Into the
Littauer Charges.
ARMYGLQVE CONTRACT
IMPORTANT CONFERENCE AT THE
WAR DEPARTMENT.
Secretary Root Decides to Thoroughly
Sift the Matter-What Ex-Quarter-
master General Ludington Says.


Secretary Root has taken steps to thof-
oughly investigate the charges developed IN
a judicial investigation in New York OF an
other matter. that Representative Littauer
of New York, warm personal and political
friend Of the President. has supplied gloves
and like articles manufactured by a firm OF
which he is member to the United states
army in violation of the statutes, which
prohibit any congressman from supplying
goods for pay to the government or being
directly or indirectly interested in gov
ernment contract. Es 80
To that end Secretary Root summoned to
his office today Gen. Humphrey. quarter
master general; Gen. George b. DAVIS
judge advocate general of the army, ana
Col. Patten. now in charge Of the clothing
division of the quartermaster's department.
The conference lasted for some time and
Secretary Root was made acquainted with
the methods OF the clothing department in
procuring supplies and his attention was
specially drawn to the paragraph included
in every contract reciting the statutory
inhibition against contracts with congress-
men.
A Sweeping Investigation.
The result of the conference was a decis-
ion on the part of the Secretary to have an
immediate and sweeping investigation of
the methods BY which the quartermasters 8
department procured the gloves made by
Representative Littauer's firm. through e.
R. Lyon, for many years a dealer in such
articles. 1t was stated that the conduct of
the army officers who were in any way con-
nected with the making OF these contracts.
which. by the way. terminated some time
ago. will be investigated by military meth
DDS, and that OF any civilians concerned
whom the military investigation may dis
close will be looked into by the Attorney
Generals department. If it is determined
that the government has suffered any pc
cuniary loss through the operations of the
gloves 1t will be for the Attorney Generals
department to take the necessary legal
steps to secure restitution.
What Gen. Ludington Says.
SYRACUSE ". Y. July General Mar
shall 1. Ludington (retired), former quarter
master general. today said. in reference to
the glove chntract between the government
and Edmond r. lyon, In which the name Of
Representative L,fcius N. Iittauer has been
mentioned: xr
Il can throw but little light on the mat
ter. The transactions occurred during the
busiest part of the war when I was loaded
down with iworkH- The bids were received
by the depot qsartermaster at Philadei-
phia and forwarded to my office. where
they were opened and awarded to the low
est bidder except in some cases where it
was necessary that the goods should be de-
livered Immediately. -,
4 knew Lyon as government con-
tractor. Mr.. Iittauer I knew also as q
very pleasant and agreeable gentleman.
know also; as did every one in Washington.
that he was a manufacturer Of gloves, but
of course \ never knew that he was in
terested with Mr. Lyon in business or that
he had any cosnsction with HIM
Concerning the intimation that Mr.. Lit
tauer had Influence In the War Depart
ment, the general said That is absurd.
Mr.. Litta1er coufd have no influence in
| such matter"
Gen. 'Luddington said that Congressman
| carniue anv glove c"ntyact tpn and nm added
| This is the first time that l have heard
| or read of his name being connected with
| any contract for gloves or of his being
| connected in any way with Lyon / GER
| tainly never knew Of any such connec-
| ton"