Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-13
War Dept. Doing Ev-
erything to Hasten
End of Disputes
Many Millions Al
ready Recovered
Denies Present Con-
nectiOn with Broker
Firm

w,sbirrton Apr. 1o-In a formal
statement replying 70 charges made
,..iorlay Oh the floor OF the House,
e,e-e,,rv weeks declared today that
,,e war department was doing
.,,ar,thing possible" to clear up war
contract controversies in such a way
a. 10 mig rrotcct tho interests of
ro federal government"
cash ana property amounting to
.msrv millions already had been
recovered ID the reauditing ordered
4, Inc present administration, the
,...elrv sail ana other contracts
were being reviewed as rapidly as
possible.
peferr.nE 70 statements that the
t,-r cs Horublowor e Weeks had
Man involved m sale OF the Bosch
1a-rc,o company Mr.. Weeks said
d, had hot been connected with that
lrm since l9l"
Referring specifically to requests
f,r an Investigation made by Repre-
se-'ati,cs johnson. Republican,
south Dakota. and Woodruff. Repub-
r-an Michigan. the secretary said
ttq, n Congress thought an inquiry
si4uh'c Tho war department would
"ve,comc lt
ct a n r n
q understood 70 have been issued
atcr consultation with President
Harding follows;
Il have read with as much care as
! have time this morning the state
lrents made by Congressman john
son and Congressman Woodruff in
t.r House ~ Representative yester-
da, AZ this time, | do not wish TO
comment Oh the statements except
iIattte war department Is doing and
has done during the past year every
Tim. possible to bring about an ef-
ia-tt,c auditing Of controversial cases
aol as far rs possible. to protest the
government II has recovered in
cash and In property many millions
and many additional millions are in
process OF collection. About 10000
contracts have been audited. There
we're about 5000 made by this de-
prtmert The others viii be audit
el as raridly as the force furnished
NJ Congress permit it to be done.
Several cases have been turned over
70 the department OF justice where
Il Is believed very considerable
amounts are due the government on
account of fraud or otherwise.
In any cases the department has
nothing 10 conceal and, IL Congress
thinks It judicious to make an inves7
igatlon. viii welcome it with the as
surlnce That it will demonstrate the
good work which has been done dur
Ing the past Is months with regard
10 claims, files and with every re-
spect
There H. however. one personal
matter connected with the charges
made. IN moro or less direct form,
about which I feel l must make ex-
81. Tho American Bosch Magnetic Co.
STOCK. am told that this company
vas sold lay the alien property custo-
dian al public auction. the purchase be-
Ing made through the firm of Horn
Hover 4 Weeks. with which l was at
orc time connected and the statement
has been made in the press that as
result - that transaction l received
i'ck ~ Bosch stock.
To that | have this comment to
make. retired from the firm of Horn
Blower n Weeks when l entered the
'Hicd Statcs senate in 1913 and from
o'Hor business matters with which
was 'hcu connected. and | have never
renewed any ot those connections or
m'i' oihcrs. never had any interest,
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