The Washington times., 1903-07-01
WAS INTERESTED IN
GOVERNMENT JOBS
Charges Made Against Rep
resentative Littauer.
DISCLOSED At THE HEARING
Lyon Charges That Member of Con-
Eress Shared in Business of Max
ing Gloves for Army.

The hearing before referee in New
York upon the application of Edmond R
Lyon. glove jobber. for discharge in
bankruptcy. has disclosed the fact that
the Hon. l.. n. Littauer, OF Gloversville.
N. Y. who represents the Twenty-seoond
New York district in Congress, has been
interested for a number of years, and
while a member OF Congress, In supply
Ing the Quartermaster's Department OF
the Army with gloves, gauntlets and
other articles manufactured by the firm
tof Littauer Brothers, in which the Rep
iresentative is partner.
The Revised Statutes provide that no
Member of. or Delegate to, Congress
shall. directly or indirectly. through any
agent. in trust, or otherwise. receive any
benefit from any contract made for or
on behalf of the Government for sup
lplies for any department OF the Gov
sernment. penalty OF s.. 900 is fixed for
ivfolation of this statute. Furthermore
IN every contract made. the law re-
quires that there shall be inserted
clause which prohibits members of Con-
gress from receiving any share or bene-
At Of the contract so made.
Supplied Army With Gloves.
notwithstanding the law it is alleged
that Representative Littauer did.
Throughout the entire Spanish-American
,war. supply. through Lyon. large quanti-
ties of buckskin gauntlets. muskrat
gloves. caps. cotton duck pajamns, fan
mel. and dress caps. Tho whole amount
paid for these goods, II is estimated.
JFill reach nearly half a million OF dol
bars
. The disclosures before the referee In
New York were brought to the atten-
fion OF the Quartermaster's Department
5of the Army today, and for the first tine
1.-THE officials in that department we're
ipade aware OF the alleged fact that Lit
fauer was interested in the contracts.
General Ludington, who was Quarter
master General throughout the entire
J Spanish American war, has since been
placed on the retired list. His success
sor in once. General Humphrey, who
took charge only a few weeks ago, had
no knowledge Of the contracts
No Present Contracts.
General Humphrey stated today that
Lyon at present has no contract with the
Government. He has, however. been
bidder for supplying goods OF this char
acter for number Of years. and has al
ways met the requirements 1t was
therefore, not necessary for the depart
ment to go behind the contract to ascer-
tain the name Of the manufacturing firm
making the goods.
The offense. IL one has been committed
Is chargeable to Representative Littauer
as member OF Congress and is not one
for which the Quartermaster's Depart
nsent is responsible. Hence II has not
had occasion to make an Investigation of
the matter.
In each OF the contracts made with
Lyon the clause prohibiting members Of
Congress from sharing in the same was
inserted. Yet it appears from the docu-
ments filed with the referee and the evi-
ldence adduced before him that Littauer's S
\ firm was Interested and was supplying
the goods.
Among the papers filed with the
referee are copies OF contracts made b.
: Lyon and the Quartermasters Depart
ment. letters written by Littauer upon
the letterhead OF the House Committee
on Manufactures OF which Littauer was
q member. referring TO the supplies for
the Quartermaster's Department, and in
one case Littauer suggests the advisable
fly Of seeing General Ludington with
reference TO one OF the contracts and
the goods.
There is also an exhibit OF an agree
ment between the Littauers and Lyon. by
which the latter turns over certain ac-
counts in consideration OF his indebted
ness OF s32. COO to the firm.
Lattauer Entered Protest.
Lyon made his application for dis
charge in bankruptcy last April. 10
which protest was made by Littauer
81 others and another creditor OF Lyon.
In the hearing of the case the disclos-
Tres In reference to Littauer's connec-
t,cn with the contracts were made.
Mr.. Littauer is one OF the largest glove
manufacturers in the United States He
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