Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-02
Gen. Cruise Issues
Statement on Charges OF
Graft in Army Contracts

In connection WIN INC puohohou Ae-
ports that he has been accused "of &C
cepting graft in the awarding of Army
contracts" Brig Gen. Thomas H Cruise.
retired, today issued the following
statement:
january last was retired on my
own application. after forty-two years
Of continuous service in the Army.
From the time Of the declaration OF war
- the time of my retirement ! was on
S1hty In the finance division OF the quar-
department and did not
ward Of contracts Of any kind what
ver. My connection with the supply
Mdvision Of the quartermasters DEPART
nent terminated more than month
efore we entered the war. I took no
art in the award Of any contracts, but.
II the same time, while on duty in the
HFar Department. had not relationship
directly or indirectly. of any kind what
6oever with H II. Lippert Of Chicago
81 any other government contractor
ct had no desire to retire while the
country was at war. even though was
8ntit1ed TO do SO on account OF having
BAD more than forty years continuous
lervice. but, in connection with the re-
Hartment. I was requested to ask re-
rement and did so. However. ten
S4ered myself upon retirement ready
md anxious to serve IL the government
8esired my services. No assignment to
4uty was given me and. after my re-
Afrement, after had returned to civil
sDfe and donned civilian clothes. un-
Aerstood that ! was at liberty to engage
n business or accept employment. Sub
frequently. Mr.. II. H. Lippert OF Chi
5hgo, manufacturers agent for num-
Der Of western mills. who had obtained
Hovernment contracts, with the obtain
apent of which I had not the slightest
connection. directly or indirectly. re-
- ma m n
Ndyiser to himself and the mills he rep
Iesented-
"while / knew of no reason why such
Employment should not be accepted by
dhtely certain that there existed moth
dng In the law or regulations against
zach employment, before accepting II
applied to the ONCE Of the Judge ad-
and at my request Col Herbert A.
White examined into the question, and
about the middle of January last adj
vised me that there was no objection,
regulations and decisions disclosed, to
my accepting the employment men
toned. Having thus carefully sought
- be properly informed and advised
on the subject, I undertook the prof
8ered employment There was nothing
sscretfve about 1t.
went to st. Louis. and there, at
de depot auartermasters once. openly
{ and frankly acted on Mr.. Lippert's be-
half In connection with questions relat-
ing to a blanket contract which had
been awarded long prior to any con-
nection between Lippert and myself.
Applied to Office.
FOR the services thus rendered I wa
Compensated $1,000. An agreement was
item entered into under which. as ad.
Ser to Mr.. Lippert and the mills rep
D.ented BY him. I was to receive q
a.
town at the War Department the fact
OF my connection with Mr.. Lippert
had not the slightest doubt regarding
the legality and entire propriety Of thii
cerS were free to enter into business
connections after their retirement from
active service has always been recog.
mixed.
son February "a learned from tn.
inspector general Of the Army and Capt
Melvin B. Erickson of the Army intel.
hgence ONCE at Chicago that informa.
fion was desired regarding my EN-.
ployment by Lippert. I informed thes<
onicers OF the facts substantially as Sci
forth. in this statement ] voluntarily
turned over to them all Of the CORE.
spondenoe. consisting Of letters and
o9r Lppert and myself. an examina.
ton Of which would disclose that OF
neither side was there any pretense OF
secrecy or the need thereof.
Called on Secretary Baker.
.on the next day called on the Sec.
fetary Of War. the inspector genera
and the acting Judge advocate genera
and frankly stated all Of the facts tc
them did not know, and had not the
slightest idea. that there was any
statute which could be construed q.
prohibiting the open employment, IN
uood fatth. BY . contractor Of an ofiiceI
h&tae his retfrement from active sery.
eoob and II ] had not been assured tina,
tAaeo was no 1Aw or regulation contain.
{ng saoh prohibition. would never
tAve considered the employment.
NJ lifetime record Of honorable serv.
toss tn the Army ought to be sufYicien,
engWer to the suggestion in the pub
}nAed reports that had any connection
E1th graft in the awarding Of Army
eontx1ctA. The statement in today
s AeWspapere that until the FIRST Of tn
Hear waS connected with the account
zpg depaftment Of the quarterznas ter'i
4tv1sfon. which IL concerned with award
ing con4racts,' il erroneous. AS abovt
bfRted.FI was not In the slightest de
1xroe Eoncerued with the awarding o,