New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30
tRt TIE A.soci.ted rres,

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-The profit
able "acrap sorting contracts" in con-
nec;ion with making Of army uniforms,
which testimony At the Senate commit
tee investigation OF war activities has
led into the committees Of the Council
o. National Defence, came up again at
to-day's hearing, while Quartermaster
General Sharpe was still under OK
animation.
Il was developed that Samuel Kap-
Ian. a member Of one Of the supply
committees, had protested against can
collation. of sorting contract in which
his brother was interested, and it was
further developed that his brother was
treasurer Of the Millbrook Mill Com
pany. owning one Of the Connecticut
woollcn mills commandeered By tn
government.
Senator Mcclellan asked whether
Emmanuel Kaplan. treasurer OF the
Milbrook Mill Company, was not a
brother Of Samuel Kaplan. a member
OF a supply committee. General Sharpe
said he thought so.
The other mill was the Thames River
WOollen Mills. Both were ordered 70
devote their machinery 20 government
work. cancelling private contracts.
"Did you know that Samuel kaplan,
OF the Council Of National Defence, IS
president and owns twO-thirds Of the
stock Of the Nillbrook company? asked
Senator Mcclellan.
General Sharpe said he did not.
Relationship Traced
Last Saturday. General Sharpe said,
Samuel kapian and other members oil
the councils supply committee came 20
him and protested against the canceling
Of wool scrap sorting contracts given the
Base Sorting Company, Of New York.
Senator Mcclellan said that Ira 4. hap
Ian, president OF the sorting company,
which. Genera! Sharpe said, stood TO
make 100000 year on the sorting
contract. recently arnulled because II
was regarded as excessive, was related
20 the council committee member.
I've had 10 follow the advice Of the
council committee" said General
Sharpe, explaining that Charles Else
man. head Of the supply committee, had
approved the contract.
senator Mcclellan inquired whether
Chairman ROsenwald of the supply
committee or Chairman Crecl Of the
committee on public information had
rrotested 10 him against revOking the
contract or manifested any interest in
10, and General Sharpe said they had
rot.
Senator Mcclellan assured General
Sharpe that the quartermaster gem
erals faith and good intent in the situ-
alton was not questioned.
"My purpose IS 10 show that the
Council of National Defence has
usurped authority of the ouartermss-
ter generals Office and IS largely re-
sponsible for the shortage IN clothing
supplies" said Senator Mcclellan.
Senator Wadsworth and Senator
Hitchcock pressed General G ne for
reasons why men in motor rain
ing units now idle do not e, .cks.
Those are the orders" said General
sharpe. 1--WE are only following them
out"
Price Found Too High
To further investigate the scrap
sorting contract, the committee called
Captain 4. Z. Peerless. who investi-
gated the affair last month.
81 think the department realized
after making the contract that IL would
not be satisfactory and an investiga-
ton was Immediately started" said
Captain Peerless. THE price of six
cents a pound was found much too
high"
After the department began its in
vestigation. Captain Peerless said, the
company offered 20 sort the scraps free.
because, be believed, 10 might give
them a business advantage in distribut-
ing shoddy 20 factories.
III there's Niger IN the woodpile
VIC want 10 know IT," Chairman Cham
borlain interiected.
Captain Peerless could not state
positively whether Samuel kaplan, Of
the Council OF National Defence, was
brother of Ira Kaplan, Of the sorting
company, but had heard so.
Charles Eiseman, of the councils
committee, protested against cancella-
ton, said Captain PEERLESS.
"Nr. Eiseman was very anxious not
90 have the contract annulled," said the
captain. "llc said he would show me
where I got my orders and that |
wouldn't have any power 20 annul that
contract"
At two cents pound, Captain Pere-
less said, II was found good profit
could be made
Captain Perelcss disclosed that in
addition 70 the scrap contract the Base
Sorting company had second contract
% receive all old, worn out and con-
demned woollen clothing from the
army From the scrap contract lie e-ti-
mated the company would have made
100000, and much more from the
second.
The sorting plant o. the New York
Sorting Company, Peerless said. would
DC taken over By the government
Alexander H. kaminsky. former As
sistant United States District Attorney