The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-22
DENIES STARRETT
PLAYED FAVORITES
Horowitz Says His Construc-
ton Company Didn't Get
Its Full Share.
REVEALS CAMP PROFITS
AssertD They Do Not Exceed
100000 on Contracts To-
falling $13,O0O,OOO.
Special DesposcA to Tnx sux.


WARRINGTON. Aug. 21.-Lou.s J. Hor-
owitx. president of the Thompson-Star-
rett Construction Company, was the
principal witness before the special sub
committee OF the Senate Military Com
mittee having under the Investigation
the alleged concentration OF contracts
for cantonment buildings in the hands
OF few powerful concerns, fatty de-
MED to-day that the corporation of
which he Is the head had been unduly
favored.
At yesterdays hearing Chairman Nc
Kellar of the subcommittee in re-
peated questions directed to Col. Gunby
of the ouartermasters Corps intimated
that Col William A. Starrett, former
president OF the Thompson-Starrett
Company. had used his influence as
chairman OF the Emergency Construc-
ton Committee to promote the interests
of the company to the disadvantage OF
smaller contractors. Mr.. Horowitz took
the initiative with regard to his APP
pearance as witness and came to
Washington without subpoena.
Got Less Than It's share.
Mr.. Horowitz prefaced his testimony
with the declaration that the Thompson.
Starrett Company. instead Of having
been gamer through the connection OF
Its former head with the Federal service
had actually obtained less than its share
Of the cantonment construction business
He insisted that Col. Starrett had no,
been Influenced to divert .-entracts
toward the company of which he ha6
previously been the dominating head
In fact. said he. there had been strained
| relations between the Starrett interest,
and other component factors of the cor.
! poration just before Cor Starrett and
his brothers withdrew in 1910.
III anything" President Horowltz in
| sisted. Col. Starrett as head of the
Emergency Construction Committee
rather leaned the other way, turning
contracts from the Thompson-S tarrett
Company in his effort to avoid show Of
favoritism.'
col. Starrett is too honorable a mar
to consider favoring one concern abov,
another" Mr.. Horowitz continued. &c,
might say that do not believe he ha:
used the best OF Judgment in the aware
Of many Of the contracts for army camy
! work. II he had the Thompson-Starrett
Company, with its capability for hug,
undertakings, would have had more con
! tracts"
starrett Interests Out.
There had been what the witnes,
| termed IAN alteration in the compost
ton OF the Thompson Starrett Compan,
eight years ago. at which time the Star
| rett interests Invested themselves Of theil
share in the corporation. 1T hardl,
looks reasonable" he pursued. 'to as
| sumo that Col Starrett would go out Of
| his way to aid the company after that
1t has been alleged. Mr.. Horowiti
continued, that the Thompson-S tarret
Company has made nearly 500. 900, 00t
out of cantonment construction worl
since the United States entered the war
This. he held. was an utterly ridiculous
assumption. The entire profits of tn,
| concern. he said. would not exceed $500,
| 600 on contracts totalling s13.000.000.
After two days of inquiry Il has be
| come clearly evident to some of tn,
members Of the subcommittee that not
scintilla OF evidence has been brough
out to show that the Emergency Con
structioh Committee has been guilty o
INDUCING in favoritism. The suggestion
| that there has been discrimination II
favor of the major corporations engaged
in construction work throughout tn,
| United States has not been supported b,
any of the testimony thus far and inter
| est in the promised disclosures" Is al
ready tagging.