Evening star., 1922-12-21
MORE WAR FRAUD
SUITS TO Be FILED
IN NEXT 50 DAYS
Witnesses at Daugherty
Hearing Testify Department
Is Ready to Act.

Civil or criminal suits, one or both,
against the United States Harness
Company Of Ransom, w. Va. will be
ready for institution by the govern
ment within thirty days. Col. Henry
n Anderson of Richmond. Va. spe-
cial assistant to the Attorney General
testified today before the House tu-
dietary committee.
Mr.. Anderson also stated that the
government would bring suit against
the Bridgeport Brass Company of
Bridgeport. Conn. unless there was an
agreement for settlement Of the war
claim Of the government against that
company at a conference to be held
next month.
C. Frank Reavis. another special as
sistant to the Attorney General. told
the committee that action. civil or
criminal or both. soon would be start
ed against Thomas Roberts & Co..
of Philadelphia, which purchased
large quantities of government sur
plus canned meat.
Announcement of the plans Of the
government was made at the hearing
on the Keller Impeachment charges
against Attorney General Daugherty.
Have ~GooA Case.-
Discussing the prospective action
against the United States Harness
Company. Anderson. who had been
called as a witness. declared that I'VE
believe We have q good case"
Mr.. Keller had charged that the
Attorney General had acted in an
dicial to the interests Of the govern
ment" in the handling of this case.
The harness company was organized
largely by former Army omcers. to
dispose of surplus war harness. The
contract between It and the War De-
President. and the War Department
undertook to take possession Of prop
erty in the hands of the company. but
was stopped by an Injunction issued
by the state courts.
The Department of Justice then
courts, where IL 10 still pending.
Col. Anderson said he could not 60
into details Of the case the govern
ment would bring. as It would be
prejudicial to the interests Of the
government He declared. however.
th1t inc Gaze now w10 IN uFSSeClA8o
condition for handling"
Gives Out Details.
Mr.. Reavis did not go into details
Of the governments case. Mr.. Keller.
in his specifications against Mr..
Daugherty. alleged that the Attor-
ney General had failed to institute
& Co. - large amount OF money upon
a fraudulent sale OF surplus canned
meats"
Questioned about the charge of q
failure to prosecute claims against
the Kenyon company OF New York.
and slickers to the government. Mr..
Reavis said. thorough investigation
showed there was no doubt the gov
ernment owed the company 100000.
He added. however. that the govern
ment had some claims against the
would be taken to the Court Of Claims
for adjustment.
Questioning Of half dozen Depart
ment Of Justice ofiicials called rs final
witnesses. was expected to be COM
pleted today.
Report After Holidays.
which to base an impeachment pro-
ceeding Is expected to constitute the
report of the committee to the House
to be submitted after tho Christmas
holidays. Absence Of members from
washington during that time will
prevent an earlier report.
Before entering upon the examinar
ton of department omcers yesterday
with the appearance Of Col. William
Hayward, federal district attorney at
New York. the committee concluded
hearing Of Representative Woodruff.
republican. Michigan.
Examination of the department ON
GERS began late yesterday over the pro-
test Of several committeeman. who In
sisted that the Attorney General should
not be asked to offer witnesses to tes-
tify concerning charges In support OF
which no evidence had been presented.
Chairman volstead insisted. however
that the committee ought to 20 into all
of the charges In an effort to satisfy
itself as far as might be possible as ia
whether there was basis for them.
woeAruR Gives Eviaence.
Before this line OF inquiry wa
opened up Representative Woodruff
republican. Michigan. laid before the
committee evidence which he con-
tended showed unnecessary delay
by the Department Of Justice in bring
ing suit against the Wright.M Martin
Aircraft Corporation for tho recov-
cry Of $3.6o1.715 growing out OF al
legged overpayment for war claims
Assistant Attorney General Seymour
announced that suit for the recovery
of this amount soon was to be hled
and Col. Guy D. Goff, former assistant
attorney general. who has had charge
Of the case, denied the charge Of un-
necessary delay.
Most Of the remaining time Of the
hearing yesterday was taken up with
an inquiry into the building trade
cases growing out OF the lockwood
committee investigation In New York
Col. william Hayward. federal dis
trict attorney at New York, went into
details concerning the various cases
showing which ones haA been con.
Cuded, which now were awaiting
trial and which ones the government
did not act in because interstate COM
merce was not involved.
Questioned about tho release Of the
schooner J. b. Young. seized at New
York for An alleged violation Of the
prohibition laws, Col. Hayward dis
closed that the order stopping the
seixinE OF rum ships outside the
three-m -mile limit unless such vessels
had established contact with the
shore by means OF their own boats