New Britain herald., 1930-08-04
Senate Committee Will h. clude New Britain Build ing When It Throws Searchlight On Charges Made by Nye of North Dakota.
By GEORGE H. MANNING

DS IGOlNSE Il. MANNlNI
 Washington Bureau, N. B. Herald)
 Washington, D. C., Aug. IA lease of the post office parcel post station in New Britain will be delved into by the senate commit tee appointed to investigate such leases when it commences hearings some time next month.
 The committee, headed by Senator Blaine, insurgent republican, of Wis consin, will go thoroughly into the lease.
 The committee will also dig deep into the leasing of postal quarters at Hartford, New Haven, Water bury, Bridgeport, Meriien, Middle town, Winsted, and other large cities in the state.
 Nye Prompts Inquiry
 Ever since the committee was ap- pointed by Vice President Curtis to look into the post office lease ques- ton, which Senator Nye, insurgent republican, of North Dakota, said might show that the government has been defrauded out of s50,o00,000, committee Investigators have been quietly at work gathering data to be used in the probe.
 The investigators, John G. Hol- land, a department of justice agent, who played large part in the Tea pot Dome oil scandal investigation and the more recent lobby investi- gation, and George Oliver, secretary of the Blaine committee. have found a numbr of things which will prove interesting when the committee goes more thoroughly into them.
 Just what they have found can- not be divulged at. this time, and probably will not be made known until the committee actually begins it's work. All of the facts found so far by Holland and Oliver are not conclusive, but they will furnish valuable leads for the committee.
 The evidence will be used to check up on witnesses who will appear be- fore the committee and give mem bers of the committee leads as to what questions to ask
 Expects to Find Rings
 It is expected that when the com- mittee gets under way it will uncov- CT several rings which specialized in post office building leases and which realized exorbitant profits out of the leases. \, -
 The post office lease scandal, which Senator Nye said might sur pass the Teapot Dome scandal in the amount of fraud perpetrated broke" when Representative Maas, republcanAf Minnesota, had insert ed in the post office appropriation bill a provision that none of the money could be used for the con- mercial substation at St. Paul, Minn
 This precipitated a debate in the senate, the leading parts in which were taken by Senators Blaine and Nye. The St. Paul lease was thor oughly aired during the debate and both senators said the same situation obtained through the country Senator Blaine introduced the reso- lution calling for a special committed to pursue the investigation.
 It was charged in connection with the lease of the St. Paul buildlpe that the total cost ofthe building and land was in the neighborhood ot s4OO,o00. but the government paiG an annual rental of s120, 900, anC the leaseholders had issued more than s1,OOO,O00 worth of bonds GOV. erinG the building, selling then throughout the country.
 Blaine Charges Negligence
 Senator Blaine accused the pos office department of being "wors' than negligent in its handling O leases. and stated that T would no hesitate on my honor to charge tha the postmaster general knows 0 the schemes that have been entered into by the original proponents o the fraud in this lease and of othe frauds relating to other leases"
 Postmaster General Walter F Brown, on the other hand, ha steadfastly maintained that ther has been no scandal connected witt leases and that the department ha been watchful in making them.
 Despite his assurances, however, 1 Is certain that the post office vii have much explaining to do whel the Blaine committee gets In full swing.