New-York tribune., 1918-01-03

tracts with your company" asked Sen
ator Mcclellan.
"I wanted to observe tho law" Mr..
Stcvcns rculcd.
Samuel NJ. Kapan, another commit
tee member, testified no was on 81 a
year salary and wool substitute ad.
wiser to Eiscnman. He said he owned
stock in the Winchester Mills Com
pany and that his Iirm owned stock III
the Norwich Wool Company, but de-
nicd being Interested in the Millbruck
or Thames River Mills Of Connecticut.
Knplan saif he is II brother Of Ira
]. Knplan, who is Interested in tho
Base Sorting Company, of New York.
which Qunrtcrmastor General Sharpe
recently testified had contracts can
ccllod for sorting scrap Il at would
have netted 100000 annually.'
Organized TO Aid Government
Senator McKelar then went into the
bnsc aoring company.
"Was it orga,izcd to help the gov
crnmont?" he asked.
"Ycs. sir," said Kaplan. He denied
that he personally was Interested in
the sorting company. but knew OF it's
organization and. in tho interest OF the
government, he got his brother Ira,
Edward Stone and Il Mr.. Meyers to go
thought the government should handle
scraps from It's clothing.
"Was that just after tho spccilica-
tons for army clothing 80 as to allow
use Of shoddy were chaneed?" asked
Senator Mcclellan. "Waa it just CO.
incidence that the two things happened
SO close tog,ther:."
Kaplap replied that use Of re-worked
wool in army clothing was recommend
cd by prominent national wool experts
last April because the wool supply
would hc reduced. The company, he
said, offered to dc the sorting work for
half a cent . pound profit.
Eiscnman again was questioned, and
said the government has paid the COM
panv upon a basis Of six cents pound
with limit OF half a cent profit. II
tho costs OF pCration were less, he
explained, the surplus WAS to be re-
turned.
A report from u public accountant
who investigated the base sorting com
pany was read by Kaplan. 1t showed
that up to December q the company
had received $73,760 from the govern
mcnt. but that neither the incorpora-
tors nor its officers had received any
of tho money. The payment was for
expenses.
Eisenman interrupted the cxamina-
ton to say he sent Kaplan. Pierce and
Edington. Of the committee, to find
out why the contract was cancelled but
that he hasn't yet received the lnfor-
nation.
Senator McKtlar developed that
Samuel and Ira Kaplan, brothers of
the witness, also are members Of b. d.
Kaplan {; Co., New York rag col
lecting firm Senator Mcclellan in
\ 4 f., 4
the base sorting company, and kaplan
disclaimed know edge Of the details.
Kaplan said another brother, Eman-
uel. is a member of the Thames River
Connecticut Wool Mill, which was com
mandeercd by the government at the
firms request.
Senator Mex ellar said the circum-
stances indicated that Kaplan Brothers
were dealing with the government
/ through the witness.
"You were careful! to evadc the law
the Senator suggested.
"No, no. Mr.. Kapan vigorously re-
piled, explaining that his recommcnda-
tions for formation Of the sorting com
pany with his brother Ira as one Of
! the firm, We're made before he Joined
tho supplies committee.
Senator Weeks. inquiltng regarding
the second contract given the Base
Sorting Company for sorting Of dis
carded army clothing, had a sharp clash
with kaplan. The latter said Senator
Weeks would not ask about the blanket
discards, estimated at 100000, if he
were "wcll informed"
Calls Witness Tmpudcnt
"You are about as impudent as any
man I've seem" Senator Weeks retortcd
! q ry,,it,
~ don't mean to be- said Mr.. Kaplan
haplan said the sorting contract was
not cancelled because the price was ex-
ceSsive. but because the ouartcrmastc,
general had formed a conservation di-
Vision OF its own and was to take over
the work.
Mr.. Eisenman was recalled and said
he bought rubber boots for General
Pershing's forces from the Untet
states Rubber Company, in which
Arthur ". Lawrence, committee
member, is interested. and shoes wer.
bought from McElwain & Co.. OF
Boston. a member Of which firm. J
+. McElwain, is a committee mem
bcr. Shoe contracts, he said, were com
pctitivc.
Many other committee member.
named by Senator Mcclellan wcr,
said b. lisonman to be connccte,
with firms receiving contracts.
~ ou wouldn't want men around yos
Chat didn't have a dollar invested il
business. would you?" asked Chair
man Chamberlain.
"No; VIC sought mon in the trad.
who have been success full said Mr.
Eiscnman. who asserted that insnua
tions in the questions asked him wcr
not fair
Senator Frelinehuysen said man.
large manufacturers said they wcr
"trozen cut"
81 want to say most emphaticall,
that that is not true" said Eisenman
IF people come to YOU with that kline
Of stuff it is dead wrong. We wan
every manufacturer to get q sQuar,
dcal All look Nlikc TO US :"