The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1920-05-22

justify the adoption of my resolution"
Mr.. Byrnes then cited the case of
the subcommittee on ordnance, of
which Mr.. Graham was Chairman,
whose Investigations, he declared,
were practically controlled by a man
named d. J. Bennett" This man Ben
nett, said Mr.. Byrnes, filed an appli-
cation with the Civil Service Corn
mission in January, 1913, for de-
partmental position saying he would
accept>a salary Of $1,000 a year. He
was appointed to a clerkshipe in the
War Department, serving in the
Equipment Section until Novembet,
1913, WREN he was transferred to the
Quartermaster Corps at salary of
1900 a year. But he made himself
SO obnoxious, said Mr.. Byrnes, tha.
his name was suggested for transfer,
and he was sent to the Statistical
Branch, which needed additional help,
but that branch objected to him "be-
cause his reputation had preceded
him." but finally agreed to give him
a trial. His conduct there was such,
said Mr.. Byrnes, that opportunity was
sought to get rid Of him, and in two
months he was transferred to the War
Claims Board. "Prying into papers" !"
said Mr.. Byrnes, with which he had
no business at alp he would make
notations upon them, .criticizing the
judgement and the character Of exc
cutive officers and inspectors. In
some instances these files were sent
to the field without knowledge of his
notations and caused dissension
among, official, He seemingly quest
ioned the honesty of everybody but
himself. This trait doubtless sug-
gested his availability for employ
ment. with the investigating COM
mittees. At any rate, he rendered his
resignation one afternoon and the
next morning presented at the Office
in which he had to that date been em-
ployed credentials as Investigator for
the Congressional investigating com
mittee. He had over night increased
his compensation from the $1,000 he
received in the War Department to
$1,000 and expenses, paid by the COM
mittee investigating extravagances
the War Department"
Since, that time, Bennett has had
access to every paper in the Office of
the War Claims Board, and commands
stenographic and clerical help, said
Mr.. Byrnes, and was told by the Of.
fetal in charge Of the board that II
in the settlement Of any contract he
could find where the Government
could be saved dollar, he would be
glad to be advised of it, "but as tHe
months have passed, he has newer
suggested that in any contract a saw
ing could be made" Previous to his
departmental work, Bennett was a
tinsmith,, said Mr.. Byrnes, "and this
village tinsmith has been assigned by
the House committee to pass upon
settlements by the War Department
in the cancellation of contracts for
leather, textiles. copper and steel, in
volving millions of dollars. His
opinion, based upon his business ex-
perience prior to entering the Govern
ment service, when he earned a salary
of $75 month, is presented to us and
the country in reports by the Chair
man of the investigating committee"
To investigate the cancellation of
leather contracts, involving millions
of dollars, the committee summoned
as an expert an employee of the Rock
Island Arsenal "located in the dis
trict represented by the Chairman Of
the committee" Mr.. Graham, "said
Mr.. Byrnes. He operated a machine
sewing leather, and his last months
pay there was $131.3O. "This Of
course, qnalified him to pass upon the
sufficiency Of the settlement of these
contracts involving millions of dol
lars" said Mr.. Byrnes.
The subcommittee investigating
army camps and cantonments employ
ed a Mr.. Chatland, formerly employed
by the Federal Trade Commission at
a salary Of $333.33 a month. The
committee Immediately increased his
pay to $1,000 month, said Mr..