Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-11-28
cANToNMENT GRAFTERS
Government Wants to Get Back
Twenty Million Dollars.

Civil suits to recover more than
s2O,OOO,OO0 alleged by the government
to have been fraudulently expended in
the construction of Camps Upton,
Jackson, Sherman and Funston, were
instituted Friday by the department Of
justice against the contractors Who
were in charge Of each project.
The suits were said in official circles
to be the initial step in 4 campaign at
war against war time contractors who
are suspected, on the basis Of auditors
reports, TO have gone beyond the intent
and purpose of the authority given
them by Federal departments.
Additional actions are in prospect, it
was said at the department Of justice,
as soon as complete reports have oecn
made by the special force Of auditors
which has been engaged for Is months
in an analysis of construction records.
Whether criminal action would be
taken in any case, it was said, would
depend to degree upon the results Of
the civil suits.
Unofficial estimates place the total
which might be expected to be recov-
cred from all the construction cases at
between $7O,0O0,OOO and sS0,000,000. In
the cases filed Friday, the government
alleged that the Hardaway Contracting
company spent an excess Of $6,500,0O0
in building Camp Jackson, S. c.; the
Thompson Starrett company, $6,OOO,-
600 at Camp Upton, n. Y; A. Bentley
and Sons company s5,000,000 at Camp
Sherman, Ohio, and George A. Fuller
& Company $4,000 at Fort Riley, Kan
sas. The suits were filed at Charleston,
| S. c.; Brooklyn, n. Y. Columbus, O.;
and Topeka. Kansas. respectively
Identic bills of complaint were laid
in each case, the principal accusation
being that the contractor violated "a
direct and intimate relationship Of
trust and confidence" in executing this
contract, while it was impossible, be-
cause of the existing war emergency,
for the government to exercise normal
AS a result it is alleged, the contrac-
tor stands indebted to the government
for money in the sums set forth and
for great quantities Of material, de-
clared to have been purchased on
government credit and misused.
The bill filed against the Bentley
company at Columbus charges there
was great and unconscionablc waste"
of the material purchased for Camp
fisherman and that the contractor, sold
to and also purchased and resold to
the defendant at a profit" much ma
terial that was not needed in the pro-
ject Further charges were made that
large amounts OF useless and un-
necessary work was done . - in
such manner that construction was re-
tarded" and that workmen employed
without referenceto skill, experience or
other capacity" were paid the same
scale of wages as skilled workmen and
artisans.
AS result Of delay in completion Of
Camp Sherman, the government alleg-
ed, the cost was not only enhanced but
sickness and death Of some soldiers
ensued.'
Charges Of mismanagement against
this contractor included also accusa
tions that he permitted continual loaf
ing, misdirection Of effort and sabot-
age permitted, advised and
caused large quantities of lumber,
cement, hardware. tools and other ma
terials and equipment to be destroyed,
and that portions OF the project were
sublet to other parties and the cost
added to the bills submitted to the
government.
Attorney General Daugherty said
every means would be used to hasten
the trial Of the four suits.
The amounts sued for" he said,
represent what those who have been
continuously engaged in the work of
| investigation and preparation believe
cOnscrvatively the government ought
to recover. What should be recovered
will now be a matter for the courts to
determine.
The suits filed Friday represent
work on the part of the department of
justice which was begun about 15
months ago.
THE work could not have been COM
pleted any earlier than it has BEEN"
Mr. Daugherty declined to discuss
the additional cases which were re-
ported to be in prospect. Study Of war
contracts-of which there were sew
eral hundred thousand-will be carried
forward, he said, and action taken in
each case as the facts seem to war
rant.
England's Bottomiess Pit.-Far from
habitation on a hillside in the moors
of Derbyshire, England. lies a dread
full chasm in the rock. The chasm is
of no great width, but has a sheer de-
scent of tremendous depth. This is