The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-04
GEN. BURTON AFTER LTYAUER
ROOT TIRNS CASE OVER TO IN
SPECTOR-GENERAL
with Orders to Demand Repayment 10 Iat.
tnuer Was Interested In Glove Con.
tracts-Then Matter May ne Passed
on TO the Attorney.( eneral's once.

WASHINGTON, July "A formal inquiry
into the statements in regard to army
contracts for gloves and gauntlets will
begin early next week under the direction
of lnspector-General Burton, u. s. A. A
careful examination of the published docu-
ments relating to the financial transactions
between Representative Littauer of New
York and Edmund r. Lyon, the contractor
who supplied the army with gloves during
the war with Spain, satisfied the Secretary
OF War that the evidence was sufficient
upon which to base an investigation.
Copies Of THE SUN containing facsimile
reproductions Of Representative Littauer's
letter to Mr.. Lyon. dated May Is, 1893. and
his statement showing division OF the
profits between Littauer Bros and Lyon
were attached to the official papers and later
in the day were referred to Gen Burton.
The officials were very much impressed
with some features of these documents. It
was remarked that Mr. Littauer had offered
in his letter Of May IL, 1885, to 60 before
Gen. Ludington, when at that time the con-
tract with Lyon had not been made. II
bears date of May 81.
Considerable Importance is also attached
to the expressions used by Mr. Littauer
in his financial statement of account, in
which he gives the cost of the gloves plus
the interest on that cost and then sho WIS the
amount received from the Government,
one-half Of which is credited to Lyon as
half of the profits"
Another item in the statement which
proved interesting to the officials liz the
credit to Lyon Of sss3 n on account OF dis
bursements. Still another refers to a note
apparently made by Lyon to Littauer
Bros. on May 20, 1893, for $3.50, which. with in
terest, amounted in 1000 to $685. II was noticed
that this note was made the day before Lyon
entered into a contract with the Quarter
master Generals Department for supplying
gloves and gauntlets and two day. after
Representative Littauer wrote to Lyon ask
ing whether Lyon thought it advisable TO
LnlduPF 10 see zen. LuQlngtOn.
When Secretary Root reached the War
Department this morning he found let
ter awaiting him from Representative Lit
tauer. who wrote that he would be glad to
make a statement in regard to the Lyon
contracts if it was desired by the Depart
ment. Representative Littauer inclosed
at the same time copy Of his statements
to the newspapers. Mr.. Littauer. it was
said to-day will be informed that the matter
has been placed in the hands Of the In
spector-G General OF the Army for investiga-
ton and he will have an opportunity to DO
heard in bis own defence.
Shortly before noon Secretary Root sent
for Col. Patten and Judge-Advooats Cen
eral Davis and for over an hour they dis
cussed the various contracts with Lyon. In
reply to questions from the Secretary Of War
Col. Patten said that the prices for the
gloves and gauntlets were not considered
excessive, and he further explained that all
the contracts were properly AWARDED
after the Department reosdvsd pro-
1t was after this conference ehaS 0sore-
tary Root sent for Gen. Burton and 90
quainted him with his decision b hAvs ~
Inspector Generals offioe conduct the IN
vestigation
Gen. Burton had mob detailed en- .ofnosS
to the case late this afternoon. And N u
considsred probable that no win psrorsily
direct the inquiry. He made an sncsilsDs
record In Cuba In ths sxaminaaion Of che
accounts OF Nicely and Rathbons am oontso-
ton with the postal fraud ohArges and
was for some tins the -0snsra
OF the Military Departments OF Cuba, He
was later the Inspcotor-0snsrsl Of Ne
Of the East and. on tho rst4ss-
ment short time ago Of Inspector 0snssal
was appointed Inspector
General Of the Army.
Il was made known to-day 40 ths Whr
that Con Burton b instructed
to determine Whistler Representative
Lttauer was Interested In tho Lyon Con-
tracts In violation Of tho Inv and. II %,
whether the facts would warrant o d.
mand by tho Government for repaymsnt Of
the money paid to the contractors.
He ia also to find out II thsre was any
thing before the officers making tho CON-
tract showing that Littauer was interested
with Lyon, or that undue influence was
used by Lyon TO secure tho contracts.
The investigation 10 also 20 determine
II the contracts were awarded properly to
the lowest bidder after due advertise
mcnt.
Secretary Root said this afternoon that
the investigation would be thorough and
that the steps taken to-day would fully
determine whether Representative Lit
tauer had violated the law. Should tho
findings show that Representative Littauer
had an unlawful interest in the contracts
a demand would be made upon Mr. Lyon
Tor repayment of all money received by
him for the gloves and gauntlets which he
secured from Mr. Lttauer and furnished
10 the Government.
At the same time tho papers in the In
will be- sent to tho Department
IF Justice for such actis" against Repre-
sentative Littauer az be warranted.
Should Mr.. Lyon fai' AXE re-payments,
proceedings will be- ins tuted to recover
lie money from his bonL srnen-
1t was explained this afternoon that the
irst step in the investigation will DO taken
next week, and that an oficer will 60 to
New York to examine the documents filed
With the referee in tho Lyon bankruptcy
proceedings. The inquiry will then be
BASED upon these documents, and a close
lnalysis will be made OF them by tho In