Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-13
.EEks SAYS WOULD
WELCOME AN INQUIRY
leretary of War Replies
Pointedly to Republi.
can Critics.
PLAINS nUBINEyS AFFAIRs
tired In 1914 from Firm Which
Purchased bosch Magnetic flights
from Alien Property Custodian
Juring War Period.
nusINpss AFFAIR
GBy Associated prss..1

WASHINGTON. April lin a for
u statement replying to charges
,do yesterday on the floor Of the
'uae. Secretary Weeks declared to-
~ the War Department was doing
Everything possible" to clear up war
TO fully protect the interests OF
Federal government.
referring to statements that the
IN OF Hornblower &c Weeks had
en- involved In snlb of tho Bosch
1.,Wneto Company, Mir. Weeks said no
Ia not boen connected with that
I'm since 1913.
wonl1 Welcome Inquiry.
3atoferring specifically to requests
an Investigation. made ty Repre-
ditntivcs Johnson. Republican, South
2akota. ana Woodruff, Republica0,
4 chignn. the secretary said that II
ngress thought an inquiry hdvih-
10 the War Department would
4 ,clcome it.
Cash and property amounting IL
ANY millions" already had been
lowered In the rcauditing ordered
the present administration. the
rretary said. and other contracts
,re oethg reviewed as rapidly as
ssiblc.
TcIt Of Statement.
The Secretary's statement which Is
derstood To have been issued after
nsuitation with President HARDING.
flows;
Il have read with as much care
l have had time this morning. the
Elements mad" by Congressman
hnson and Congressman Woodruff
the House OF Representatives yes
rday. At this time I do not wish
comment on this statement. e1-
,pr that the War Department lis do
and has done during tho past
ar everything possible to bring
out an effective auditing on con-
ovcrHial cases. and, as far ~ Dos
DC, 10 protect the government.
~ mas recovered in cash anu prop
~ many millions. and many addi-
phai millions are in process OF col
yciion. About 1900 contracts have
3 "n audited. There we're about $50 :
70 made by this department. Tho
1 ht's VIII he audited ms rapidly IA
tc force furnished by Congress per-
f!ts II 10 be done. Several ca,o,
eve bc"n turned over 10 the DEPART
Fchi ~ Justice, where. IL is believed
cry considerable amounts are due
fc government on account of fraud
s otherwise.
Has Nothing to Conceal.
III any case, the department has
'Pntng TO conceal. and II Congress
inks IL judicious to make an in
''stlgation, Will welcome il with mo
'surahrc that II Will demonstrate
g good work which has been done
sring tn" past thirteen months with
Fgard To claims. sales and with
rcry respect.
. mere Is. however. one personal
after connected with the charges
shoc' In more or less direct form.
l"ut which feel I mus, make ex-
aiclt comment. II relates to the
Tie OF the American Bosch Magnetic
y)mpany stock. l am told that this
pmpany was sold by tho alien nron
Fty custodian NJ public auction. the
purchase being made through the
I'm of liornblowcr & Weeks, with
hich ! was nj one time connected.
I'D the statement; has been made In
ie press that as a result of that
.'ansaction. | received block OF
osch stock.
Itrtircd From Firm In 1913.
To, that i have this comment 10
iakc. ! retired from the firm OF
~ Weeks when en-
sred the United States Senate in
9l3, and from all other business
fatters with which waS then ~Jn-
ectcd. and ] have never renewed
ny OF those connections or made
thers. never had any interest,
or otherwise. in any war
ontract; ] never received a block of
-nerican Bosch stock or any other
.uck. issued during the war: /
ever heard Of the Bosch company
ntil the sale was made and long
tier the stock was put on the mar
CT. l think my relationship to NV
Id firm. in which have every con-
dence ms to It's honesty and hugh
ess-likc conduct. has been general
known. and that any attempts to
onnect me with its business or any
thcr business is purely malicious. I
'ouid personally welcome any in
estigation OF that matter.
tppends Interesting Memornn,Ium.
III VIII not be without interest for
ZEN To append n memorandum which
40 just been handed me relating to
he Bosch Magnetic Company.
On date of May &c. 1921, the chief
A'i'S t''i stlNlCt recommended IN
he Secretary OF War that certain
asst settlements OF the air service
. investigated and n reaudit made
iih a view TO submission TO the De-
artment of Justice in cases I'm which
was found that overpayments had
been made.
Toward the end of May, tho Sec
atary of War personally directed
10 chief OF the air service TO under
ike this work which has since been
! progress. The eighth case on
hich the Secretary of War gave
ich instructions, mentioned by the
lief of the air service, was the
merican Bosch Magnetic COMPANY
'ntract No. 4226-A. No other in
ructions or actions have been taken
this case by either the Secretary
war or his assistant. In accord
ice with these instruction, the air
'rvice has been working on this
is+ and has furnished the Depart
ent OF Justice, informally, all the
FORMATION they have as yet OBJ
lined. There has not yet been fur
shed by tho air service to the SUI
,rior authorities a definite state
ef as to what action should be