The Washington times., 1930-07-24
UT, SAYS
SENATE QUIZ
ATTORNEY
Blaine Committee to Find Big
Job Awaiting When Inquiry
Hearings Reopen Next Fall

While the Senate District sub
committees investigation of real
estate operations in the Capital
is in allegiance following the ad-
journfnent of Congress there is
really no "let-up" and Oscar H.
Brinkman, special attorney for,
the Investigators, daily is receiv-
Ing numerous, complaints" to 'be
brought to committee attention
when the inquiry is resumed.
Brinkman said today that these
complaints involve several real
estate firms and are not confined
to the Joseph Shapiro Company,
Inc, whose president, Jacob B.
Shapiro,i declined to waive inn
munity when called before the
Senate subcommittee last week.
Because of this refusal the Sen
ate investigators would not per-
nit Shapiro to testify, and since
then he has appeared before the
District Attorney and given bond
on a charge of false pretenses.
Tell of Hidden Mortgages
Before the Senate investigators
Shapiro was accused by a half
dozen witnesses of failing to in.
form them. when they purchased
property through the Shapiro
firm, that the B. F. Saul Com
pany, realtors, held hidden mort
cages" or blanket mortgages"
on the property they were pur'
An official Of the Saul com.
pany testified his firm did not
know of the details of the trades
between the Shapiro firm and it's
clients and that the Saul trusts
represented costs of the lands
advanced by Saul to Shapiro in
the development of subdivisions.
Although the Senate inquiry
to date hinges upon these Saul
Shapiro transactions, it is ap-
parent from the guarded admis-
sions of Attorney Brinkman that
the Senate's real estate investiga-
ton in reality is just getting u11.
der way and there is to be a far
flung inquirv into every phase
of the District real estate situa-
tion.
Agreeing with Senator Smith
w. Brookhart (R.) Iowa, author
of the investigation resolution.
that there is much to be in
covered" and that nothing will
be suppressed, nor need the Iegi-
innate real estate man here be
concerned about the Senate's
probe Attorney Bri1lkman said to-
day:
Many Charges Grave
Complaints against real es-
tate firms Of this city are COM
ing into my office day by day
and / will admit they are quite
numerous. So far they cover
several concerns not mentioned
at the preliminary session of
the Senate subcommittee. The q
charges being filed with me are
quite grave. / cannot disclose
ut this time the names of the
real estate brokers and sales
men involved, nor the details
Of these serious allegations.
ut is apparent to me, how
ever, and / think it will be to
the Senate subcommittee, that
there should be q complete ex-
pOsure of the whole real es-
tate game in Washington, abb
solving t-.ose who have been
carrying on legitimately and
ethicaIIy and making short
shrift Of those who have been
engaging in questionable and ir-
regular practices.
From day to day I expect
to continue the collection Of
data for presentation to the
Blaine subcommittee when II
reconvenes, and seemingly there
is a lot of work ahead Of it."
The Blaine subcommittee com.
prises Senator Blaine. Wiscon.
sin, chairmans Senators Keen
and Baird, New Jersey; Vanden-
berg, Michigan: Glass, Virginia,
and TydingS, Maryland.