The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-12-17
R|IL MANAG ERSILL|NO|S MEMBER
WINK At LIW AND SAYS GOVERNMENT
VIOLATE It, SAYS NOT SAFECUIRDED.
CHIEF Of SAFETY|N EXPEND|T URES

Washington, Dec 1G.-- RepreseAla-
tive Graham, republican, Illinois, chair
man OF the select committee investigat
ing expenditures by the war depart
ment, in a speech today in the house.
reiterated charges he made recently
that interests of the government in
many war claim settlements, have not
been sufficiently guarded, adding that
"in many cases the government has
been deprived of large sums Of money
to which it riGhtfully is entitled"
Large sums have been allowed con.
tractors through unfair values, through
raw materials and government Off
cials, charged with the responsibility
OF adjusting claims, have not exercised
sufficient vigilance in portecting gov
ernment interests, Mr. Graham charg-
ed. He urged submission of all claims
settled or pending with the war depart
ment to an impartial board for review
and final settlement.
From Secretary Bakers report ot
settlements" Chairman Graham said.
the original answer was erroneous and
the committee instructed an accountant
to review the figures given by the see.
retary. After an extended investiga-
ton the accountant reported that the
amounts expended by the war depart.
ment as given by Secretary Baker, are
off balance from Sl7l ,5S2,37, as a mini
mum to $1S4, ,94J.3S as a maximum"
Fifty per cent Of informal contract" I"
suspended by the armistice, have been
adjusted with damages to the war de.
partment, Representative Graham con-
tinued. 'In investigating the various
matters IL has not been possible to find
anywhere u complete record or the
transaction. There were private con-
vcrsatious by the various and so-called
technical experts with merchants and
business men and with claimants, as a
result of which claims We're allowed
and large sums Of money paid. When
it is attempted to ascertain the exact
basis OF these settlements. no record is
to be found. "On the settlement of the
American Can Company's conract, the
speaker said, the government lost fully
II per cent on sS67,7'2, the cost of tin
plate, or S147,514 more than it should
have lost"
Representative Graham attacked the
method of sale by the war department
Of 100 100000 pounds Of surplus copper
held when the armistice was signed.
Copper producers, he said. were paid
large sums in excess of correct amounts
due for government copver during the
war.
1T appears that the producers in the
sale of their product through the Unit
ed Metals Company, secured great and
substantial profits and In the purchase
OF the surplus copper from the govern
ment through this same single agency
gained control of the market and made
substantial profits upon the same a sec
ond time"
Settlement Of the claim of the Stand
ard Steel Car Company, Mr.. Graham
also charged, was made without the
audit and approximately $1,000 900 was
paid TO the claimant OF the final settle
ment.
"The committee Is convinced" he con
tinued, that the alleged settlement Is
unjust and unfair to the government
and that in its making the interest o
the government have not been properly
defended. That it is also tnctured with
fraud there can be little doubt. Tha
amounts Of property have been disposed
of in this settlement which the govern
ment should have retained is also oh
vious. 1t is equally as apparent tha
certain officers and agents of the Unit
ed States who were charged with di
rect responsibility in the matter, faile,
to do the things they should have dom
to protect the interests of the govern
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