Evening star., 1918-11-19
CONTRACT AWARDS
ARE UNDER INQUIRY
Charges Relating to Supply
of EnameIed Ware for
Army Investigated.
FALSE SWEARING ALLEGED

Charges Of partiality in awards of
the Standard Sanitary Manufacturing
Company Of Pittsburgh and numerous
other cities; making Of a false afh-
davit by its president, Theodore sAh-
rens, regarding receipt OF governn ert
orders and alleged inclusion of allow
ances for federal war profits taxes in
prices CHARGED are under investiga-
ton by Senate military subcommit-
tee.
Testimony taken in executive ses-
sion virtually is completed and Sena-
tor McKellar of Tennessee, chairman,
announced today that a formal. writ
ten report will be submitted soon after
the new session of Congress con-
veneS.
Make Denial of Charges.
The charges, brought principally by
officers of the United States Sanitary
Manufacturing Company and other
competitors of the Standard concern,
are. according to sworn testimony
made public today by Senator Nickel
lar, generally denied by Mr.. Ahrens.
Francis J. Torrance Of Pittsburgh, his
partner, and others involved. They
of Mr.. Ahrens stating that a govern
ment order for goods worth about
$25OO0O had been awarded last Sep
tember for housing plumbing was I'M
true, although it was made the basis
Of requests to the government for
cars and designed for use in securing
Army draft exemption for company
employees.
Army Officer Involved.
Involved In the affair is Maj. J. c.
McCubbin. Of the Army Quartermaster
Corps, purchasing agent for plumbing
supplies, and, until he entered the
government service, an employe of the
Standard corporation. Its competitors.
according to testimony given Senator
McKellar's committee, charged that
Mai. McCabbin showed favoritism in
allotting enameled ware contracts to
the Standard concern.
Mai. McCubbin and the Standard Of
flcers. however, vigorously denied the
charge, declaring they emanated from
disgruntled competitors and asserting
that prices charged government were
the average or less than the market
price. That any undue influence was
used with Maj. McCubbin because of
his former employment by the Stand
ard company was vehemently denied
by Ahrens and Torrance. Maj. Nc
Cubbin, also disclaiming partiality,
testified that he personally did not
make the awards, which were subject
to review by superior officers.
Purchases handled through Mai.
McCubbin, Mr.. Ahrens swore, were
less than per cent Of the Standard
company'S entire sales to the gov
ernment and less than per cent of
its total business.
Estimate Of Profits.
Profits made by the Standard COM
pany on government contracts, ac-
cording to Mr.. Ahrens.. were about
Is to 20 per cent. With a capital
Of s16,oOo,OOO, he said. last years
profits on $26,O00,0O0 total business
were 1925. 900. and about $500. 900
higher this year. Regarding the
charge that allowance for prospective
war profits taxes were included in
prices given the government, Mr.
Ah-ens testified:
.sWe figured on making enough
profit so that we could pay our taxes
A testimony Civ zen in the McKe1lar
committee's inquiry, according to
Senator Mcclellan. has been called to
the attention Of Mai. McCubbin' 9
suneriors in the War Department and
certain phases Of the information de-
Welcomed. Senator McKellar said today.
NAV be referred to the Department OF
Justice.