Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-09-07
Pattangall Answered
Continued from Page One)

tISIbt aye WV
claim. a telegram from which I quote
the following statement:
"'My attention has been directed to
most unfortunate Interpretation OF
your contractual relations with the
war department.
ION March 18th the secretary Of
war, at a conference between yourself
, Congress sman Peters, the secretary and
myself. directed that l make an inves-
| tigation of a demand that had been
made upon your firm to return to the
government certain moneys paid in
! settlement of claim. In 50 far as il
was based upon an item of account
between your firm and Allen Co. my
investigation disclosed that Allen &
Co. had furnished materials, namely
| leather, to you and / held that Allen
& Co. was not a sub-contractor under
the rules governing the settlements OF
| claims and that it was unnecessary
for you to return the moneys to tine
war department. I have never
questioned the good faith of your at
/ tituds m this matter -"
Col. OBrien has left the service and
] is now located at "a Broad street. New
York.
Statement of Congressman Peters,
Ellsworth, Sept. 5, 1920.
/ In March, 1920, at the request of
! Col. Parkhurst I joined with Senator
Hale in arranging an interview with
Secretary Baker at Washington. !
was present during the interview be-
tween Col. Parkhurst and Secretary
Baker-Senator Hale was present a
part of the time.
! col. Parkhurst stated the situa-
ton relative to a claim that had been
made by one Allen to the effect that
Allen was a sub contractor under
Col. Parkhurst doing some work for
the War department, Allen claiming
that he should have money paid him
out of any settlement between Col.
Parkhurst and the department. Col.
Parkhurst claimed that Allen was
not a sub contractor but a material
man from whom he had bought
leather and against whom he had a
considerable claim for non-delivery
of leather for this and other jobs. I
had previously gone over the case,
including the written evidence, with
Col. Parkhurst and as a lawyer ad
vised him that he had a right to de-
fer his settlement with Allen until
their mutual claims could be adjudi-
Gated. Allen thought he had a
chance through the War department
to compel Col. Parkhurst to pay him
without paying the larger sum which
Col. Parkhurst claimed was dus from
Allen.
AT the interview above referred to
Col Parkhurst told Secretary Baker
that he desired a full and impartial
stood ready to do whatever was le-
gally or equitably required.
1.-The Secretary called in Col.
O'Brien who was at the time attach
ed to the department as legal ex-
pert, and after stating to his the stu
alton with noticeable clearness di-
rected him to make a full investiga-
ton and report with his findings and
his conclusions. learned after
wards that Col. O'Brien completely
sustained Col. Parkhurst's position
bCliCNC thiS 10 al dtlCulpl Ou
Aliens part, stimulated by politicians
opposed to Col. Parkhurst, to collect
an inliquidated claim without fina
adjustment of mutual claims between
parties"
Senator Hale gave out the follow
ing statement in connection with the
interview with Secretary of War
Baker:
Last March I received a letter
from Col. Parkhurst asking that
Congressman Peters and 1 arrange
for an appointment with Secretary
Baker on a question of a business
contract that he had with the gov
eminent. We did so and Congress-
man Peters and 1 went with Col.
Parkhurst to Sc the Secretary. Col.
Parkhurst stated the case to the
Secretary and asked that the matter
be fully investigated explaining that
he wanted to know his rights and
where he stood with the department.
The Secretary. apparently appreciat-
ing Col. Parkhurst's frankness and
willingness to do whatever was fair
in the premises, told us that he would
order an investigation at once and
have an officer of his department de-
termine the rights OF Col. Park
hurst.
LAS this was what Col. Parkhurst
asked for and as I was not familiar
with the details Of the transaction
left the meeting at this point. 1 re-
member that I was much impressed
with Col Parkhurst's frankness and
the fairness with which he presented
the case to the Secretary"
Health Not Politics