The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1920-11-24

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devise ways to dispose Of surplus
still remaining. which will avoid
middle men and spectators and
make proper saving OF money for
the taxpayers and obtain for the
people of the country generally the
advantage of being able to buy at
low prices these accumulations.
The size and intricacy of the opera
tions is such that IL is not surpris-
ing to find persons here and there
who see some phase of few trans
actions and, being unable to relate
them properly to the business of
which they are mere detail, allow
themselves to indulge in suspicious
and accusations.
Watts Charges Proven False
THE particular series of articles
appearing in the New York paper
above referred to profess to be
passed on disclosures made by Maj.
W. ~. Watts, at one time executive
officer of the surplus Property Divi-
sion. in April, 1920, Major Watts
made certain verbal statements to
Colonel Yates, his superior officer,
alleging Irregularities and favorit-
ism.
Colonel Yates directed Major
Watts to put these statements in
writing with all supporting data to
be found in the records of the bu--
reau, and he then called on the
Inspector Generals Department to
make sweeping investigation of all
the allegations made and of the
business of the Surplus Property
Division. The Inspector Generals
Department called on Major Watts
for additional accusation or ir-
regularities and reduced all the
charges known to him to writing.
They involve specific allegations
affecting six commercial companies
TO which it was alleged favoritism !
had been shown, and four meat !
packing companies alleged to have !
been favored. Eleven individuals, |
officers and civilians, connected with |
the Surplus Property Division, were
named by Major Watts as having /
given misleading information, made
improper extensions in the time of
the performance of contracts, or
guilty of other irregularities in con-
nection with sales.
No Irregularities Found
1.-THE investigation by the In
spector Generals Office was continu-
ed from the first of August to the
card of October, at which time
report was filed dealing definitely
and specifically with each allegation
or accusation made by
Major Watts. The report goes with
great detail into each accusation,
and finds each one to be unsupport-
ed, and concludes;
THAT no cause for criticism OF
the administration of the Surplus
Property Division has been develop
ed by this investigation
"A mere general statement of the
result of this report must not be
taken to indicate it's character. Hun
dreds of pages of testimony and
documents are in the report and
each accusation is examined in de-
tail. 1t must, however, be remem
bered that this investigation cover
ed the accusations Major Watts was
willing to make in July 1920, and
does not cover the many charges
and accusations made in the news
paper articles referred to as they
were not disclosed by Major Watts
in his testimony before the Inspec-
tor General.
THE more recent accusations Will
be examined with the same thor
oughness, and every citizen who has
or thinks he has knowl-
edge of any irregularity or miscOn
ddct on the part or any employe,
agent or officer of the War Depart
ment is earnestly urged to supply !.
his information to the War Depart
ment in order that the investigation
may be comprehensive and immedi- I
ate. Undoubtedly the committees
of Congress dealing with the in
of the War Department
will have their attention brought to
of this sort, and the War {
Department is eager to present its I
record and the details of every !
transaction made by it to the COM '
mittees at the earliest possible mo-
ment. I
Those who write highly colored
articles, making accusa- /
lions which have not been brought ;
to the attention of the War Depart