The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-10-26
Sl,3eo,l72 Lost on Shoes.

Richard II. Long, a shoe nanufac.
turcr of birmingham, Mass, negotiated
war contracts with the government en-
cecding S3O,OOO,000. The end Of the
war brought about q cancellation of uh-
finished contracts aggregatinS S5'9o'i-
9l0.S0 The government settled w!th
Mr.. Long for his claim by paying ~
Testimony before congressional
COMMITTEES Investigating war depart
mani expenditures elected that MT
Long made claims which were conslu-
cred excessive. Major y. G. Dickinson
an arm yofticer. testified that Mr: ho't
claimed $654,000 for days WORK.
The officer said: The total amount
oF Longs contract was for 100000, he
nut in a claim thereon for S65i,o0o, So
that his total claim is for more tn9h
two-thlrds Of the amount Of his COLI
tract, although he had done only one
DAVIS work when it was cancelled.
The evidence showed that MIR. LonH
contracted to make $4,000 brides thr
government TO furnish the raw materiai
Tho contract was cancelled before any
brides had been manufactured Inc
contractor claimed SSl.35l.9h. >.
The more specific evidence of another
contract showed that the government
nerotinted with Long for 1000 aparcjos
alta contract price of 1880. FIVE nun
dred were made and paid for as per
contract price. $24,315. The contractor
claimed $43,l70.95, because or IN" can
This amount was paid, making the cost
Of 500 Of these articles SOL ,1439I'
Capt. w. D. Hines OF the ordnance
bureau. in charge OF inspection OF orr
nance material for New England, t9St.
fled that he rejected $4,000 cartridge
belts made in Longs factory beIauS.
thcy were detective the pockets pcihE
smaller than required by sp"clncatI"h,
and dangerous. because the soldier tou.u
not easily extract cartridge clips from
them. Capt. Hines said that h. pro
rested vigorously against this dcteCtiN'
work, but II was accepted otter vi
Long went to Washington. Zines WA
relieved of his Inspection work UNI
transferred overseas,
Claims Branded Unjust
Lieutenant Grlscom. anothIF SoNctn
ment Inspector. testified that Long nauc
head straps on feed bags for horses
short to conserve leather. GrisCom mad"
other charges and was sent overseas
Colonel George 3. Goet WAS sent from
Washington To inspect the lcather GU,
put of Mr.. Longs plants. G"etE nh'nn
an adverse report and WAS relieved as an
iuspccting officer. lie testified regard.
ing his Investigation: Il was 50 worked
ND over the situation that | can tell you
my language WAS unprintabI" =.
REPRESENTATIVE Graham, cha irman Of
rho congressional committee which IN
vesugated Mr.. Longs war contracts and
the settlement of diminished contracts.
ouest toned Colonel BeSSc an officer act
ing for the war department IN inc SET
Element of unfinished claims. as follows:
MIR. Graham: Did Long act like he
was wilfully trying to get something Of
the government to which he was not en-
titlcd?''
ColonNl Besse: II would not b" pre-
,ared 10 say whether Long believed h"
,ros entitled to these ella inns OF not. 1t
seemed to mo II was dishonest attempt
because Il seemed 10 me those claims
were unreasonable and unjust
Richard II. Long Is prominent Dem
,cratL. poi!t.c clan Of Massachusetts and