The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-13
Ut UiIIIsiSNW oNIo LIIb IUNVI IIIIINI
Icn would be correspondingly less
Urged Inquiry by Baker.

For damaged sets the Governments
return would be correspondngly less.
Urged Inquiry by Baker.
Secretary Baker cannot plead igno-
rance of the. existence of this contract
Or explain that II was routine matter
that did not come to his personal atten-
ton. For two months at least he has
had personal knowledge of tho contract,
but so far as known has taken no ac-
ton either to have it investigated or an
nulled. Early last October, within q
few days after the contract had been
signed, George G. Bosom, Jr., former
captain In the Quartermaster Corps, In
charge OF the disposition of leather
goods In the surplus property division.
telegraphed Secretary Baker, asking
that he make an investigator of the
contract with the United States Har-
ness Corporation.
The whole harness contract appears
surrounded in mystery, which the War
Expenditures Committee is trying to
solve. Charges are being made freely
that certain of the tncorporators of the
United States Harness Company for
merly were employed in the very branch
of the surplus property division of the
Quartermaster Corps which later made
the contract for the sale of the harness
The charge has been made to memoels
of the committee that while these men
were In the department the Government
had opportunity to dispose Of this sur
plus equipment in it's own right and
without the Intervention of a highly
commissioned sales agent such as the
United States Harness Company. OF
course the company was not incorpo-
rated and the contract was not made
until after these men had left the Gov
eminent service.
The interest OF the war expenditures
committee in this contract u acute--so
acute in fact, tsat It had before II 80
day samples of the harness sets which
are to be sold by the Government at
such ridiculously low prices and with
such high commissions TO the sales
agents The scene IN the committee
room resembled that in a well stocked
harness store. Brides, halters. traces.
saddles and chains were cluttered about
the committee room In profusion. MOS.
of the committee members had some first
hand knowledge of the cost of horse
equipment in pre-war days. and they
marvelled at the bargains offered by
Uncls Sam and at the profligate man
ner in which he offers to dispose OF
nonperishable war material that Is self
convertible for peacetime use
The committee is not TO be satisfied
with any casual investigation and repor,
on this subject The saddlery contract
seems TO have whetted its desire to know
all there Is to know about the bargain
sale of Government harness Not only
will Il call as witnesses all the army
officers who had anything to do with
the making Of the contract but 1t will
call the incorporators of the United
States Harness Company as well, and
Will inquire from each one the most
minute details of this unusual transac-
ton. In the end Representative Simeon
ID. Tess (Ohio). careful and conservative
as he Is. intends to have few remarks
to make TO the House about this exam
pie Of Government business methods ana
the immediate necessity OF reform.
To.morrow's article win outline GOV
eminent plans for the consolidation OF
army and navy air services, and Tor the
regulation OF aerial navigation