Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-10

IfOr SOuclteu any lui1uS IUI Nc Se1tS
organization. 81.
Gifts From Clouds" gs
What everybody wants to know Is,
how 1t happened that these large NUM-
bers of contributions recorded In the
treaSurer's books came to be given
when oil you officials claim no enc was
ever solicited or advised about It." said
Senator Harris.
"Tt seems that money drops out Of
the Clouds" remarked the Senator when
Pickett said he did not know. 1T does
seem. however. that some one could tell
US why, certain postal employees pay
specified amounts"
II do not know" the witness reiter-
ated.
do you keep a check with the treas
urer on who pays and who does nc
pay?" interposed Locher Of Ohio. a men,
Der of the subcommittee.
"No," said Pickett
II have solicited no funds myself.
he declared. u.s. f-es
United States, Senator Walter F.
George of Georgia, aiding the Commute
tee In the questioning, pressed Pickett
on the Peterson case.
shortages occurred while he was under
yes" replied the witness. IT have
since discovered that to be true"
Quizzed on Payro1s.
Senator Smith w. Brookhart Of
Iowa, chairman of the committee, ques-
toned Pickett about the Republican
State committees pay roll.
why Is IL that the committee had
several men employed at headquarters
under big saiaries?"
~ don't know" the witness answered.
But outside the salaries paid the Sec
rotary and treasurer and two assistants
there were none"
Brookhart brought UP yesterdays tes-
timony when John w. Martin, treasurer.
estimated the committees monthly cx-
penses at $1,000. Pickett, however said
the expenses would not total more than
$500.
"Has the committee made any con-
tributicns 10 the state or National
campaign" Senator George asked.
eyes"
"Have you the cnecksP"
mo. 1t was under q previous admin
istratipn,"
Disclosures Yesterday revealed that
many postal employees have made regu-
lar monthly contributions to the funds
Of the state Republican central COM
mittee and Ben. ]. Davis, former ma
tional committeeman. admitted he had
heard complaints Of collections.
Record Of payments from postal EN-
ployes was contained in q card index
submitted by Martin. who denied that
any assessments had been made by
his ONCE or by any one else 50 far as
he knew. He said he had accepted the
money as voluntary contributions.
Davis also declared he did not know
personally OF any lsvies or collections.
four or Ave localities that varying
sums had been paid over to local party
cfflcials BY applicants for postal po-
sitions,
Declaring at the outset that the In
vestigAtion had not been intended Tor
The purpose of Furnishing any one.
Senator Harris of Georgia said there
was every reason TO believe that post
ONCE Jobs had been given in this State
for financial consideration.
A special grand jury has been called
to meet tomorrow at Biloxi, Miss. to IN
vestigate the alleged sale OF post office
patronage In that State. the Subcon-
mittee announced today.
Mrs. Mabel Walker Willehrandt As
sistant United States Attorney General,
Is now en- route to Mississippi TO OBJ
serve the grand jury inquiry.
The committee announcement said
that q mass Of information concerning
the Mississippi charges had been placed
before II. and that 1t was the plan TO
take up these matters shortly and make
y thorough investigation.
Under present plans, the committee
viii close It's hearings here tomorrow
evening and return to washington,
Probe Surprises Bi,oxi.
q grand Jury Investigation into the al
legged sale Of postnastefships in MisSiS-
sippi which the Senate investigating
committee In Atlanta announced would
open here. They said no suhpoenas have
peen issued nor Jurors SllmmonAd