New-York tribune., 1920-10-16
Congress that 5000 war claims had
been settled
$l3GN.172 Lost on Shoes

Richard H. Long, a shoe manufac-
turer of Framingham, Mass, negoti-
ated war contracts with the govern
ment exceeding $30,o00,0o0. The end
of the war brought about cancella-
ton of unfinished contracts aggregat-
ing $5,9S5910.S0. The government set
tied with Mr.. Long for. his claim by
paying $l.360 17215.
Testimony before Congressional
committee investigating War Depart
ment expenditures elected that Mr..
Long made claims which were con-
sidered excessive. Major A. c. Dickin-
son, an army officer, testified that Mr..
Long claimed 5000 900 for days work.
The officer said: The total amount
of Longs contract was for 100000.
He put in claim thereon for S654,0O0,
so that his total claim is for more
than two-thirds of the amount of his
contract, although he had done only
one days work when it was cancelled"
The evidence showed that Mr. Long
contracted to make $4,000 brides, the
government to furnish the raw ma
terial The contract was cancelled be-
fore any brides had been manufac-
turcd. The contractor claimed $751;
35loS
The more specific evidence of another
contract showed that the government
negotiated with Long for 1000 aparejos
at contract price of S97 500. Five
hundred were made and paid for as
per contract price, $24.375 The con-
tractor claimed $43,17095, because Of
the cancellation of the balance of the
contract This amount was paid, max
lng the cost of 500 of these articles
SGT, 1856.
Captain w. D. Hines, Of the Ord
nance Bureau. in charge of inspection
of ordnance material for New England,
testified that he rejected $4,000 car
fridge belts made in Longs factory be-
cause they were defective, the pockets
being smaller than required by speciti-
cation and dangerous, because the sol
der could NOT easily extract cartridge
clips from them. Captain Hines said
that he protested vgorouslfy against
this defective work, but it was accepted
after Mr.. Long went to Washington
Hines was relieved of his inspection
work and transferred overseas.
Claims Branded Unjust
Lieutenant Griscom, another govern
mcnt inspector, testified that Long
made head straps on feed bags for
horses short to conserve leather. Girls
com made other charges and was sent
overseas.
Colonel George 3, Goetz was sent
from Washington to inspect the leather
output of MIR. Longs plants. Goetz
made an adverse report and was re-
levcd as an inspecting officer. He tes-
titled regarding his investigation: 81
was so worked up over the situation
that | can tell you my language was
unprintable."
Representative Graham, chairman Of
the Congressional committee which in
vestigated Mr.. Longs war contracts
and the settlement of unfinished con-
tracts, questioned Colonel Besse, an Of
ticer acting for the War Department in
the settlement Of claims, as follows:
Mr.. Graham: Did Long act like he
was wilfully trying to get something of
the government to which he was not
entitled ?"
Colonel Besse: "I would no. be pre-
pared to say whether Long believed he
was entitled to these claims or not. 1t
seemed to me it was a dishonest at
tempt, because it seemed to me these
claims were unreasonable and unjust"
Richard H. Long is prominent Dem
ocratic politician Of Massachusetts and
was a candidate for Governor IN the
election of 1919, spending freely in an
effort to defeat Calvin Coolidge.