Evening star., 1933-06-06
LIST
. Of Be v|ER0RDERED
Senate Committee Demands
Names in Connection With
Kit Probe.
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page.)
which would appear to need correction.
To clear the whole matter up, I would
like to make this brief summary of the
very small part took in the whole
matter.
"A Mr.. Be Vier, whom, to the best of
my recollection, I had never met be-
fore and whom 1 have not seen nor
communicated with in any way since,
appeared at my Office with a letter
from Mr. Basil OConnor from New
York, a personal friend of mine, which
stated that Mr.. Be Vier thought he
could save the Government a great
deal OF money and would hear him
a few moments.
II have standing orders with my sec
retary that letters bearing introduc-
tions from Senators. Congressman or
per sonal friends, to automatically give
them the first convenient appointments
without reference to me, as ! would
see them in any event.
Under this rule, my secretary did
not bother me with information that
Mr.. Be Vier had a letter of introduc-
ton from anybody.
when he appeared, had no knowl-
edge that he came on with any intro
duction whatever. nor did I know this
until I looked up the letter in the files
after reading the newspapers stating
that he had come with letter OF in
from Mr. O'Connor.
He sent over Mr.. Lowery, who he
assured me was one of his best investi-
gators. I explained to Mr.. Lowery the
the gentleman had made,
but told him was unable to verify
them because neither had time nor
was 1t my duty to so do, but that I
would appreciate his looking into the
whole matter to find out II Mr.. Be
Vier's articles were the most advan-
tageous to the Government, and to re-
port to Mr.. Fechner regarding the ac-
curacy of BeVier'S claims.
THAT was the last connection I had
with the whole matter with the ex-
ception that was called up later and
told by Mr.. Lowery. who said he had
to Mr.. Fechner, and that Mr..
Fechner expressed doubts as to Fech-
ner's authority to order what seemed
TO be the most advantageous purchase.
"As I knew nothing Of the circum-
stances I did not feel competent to
write letter on the matter to Mr..
Fechner but suggested to Mr.. Lowery
that he-write the letter that Mr.: Fech-
ner wanted. which would give him the
assurance, and send it over to me.
Il, therefore, testified quite frankly
at the previous meeting that had no
Idea why Mr.. BeVier came to me, I
can assure you that the letter of intro
ductlon played no part in the whole
affair.
Presented Kit Exhibits
Il asked the visitors, whose very name
I was unaware Of when he came, what
he wanted, and he presented two ex-
hibits OF kits, one which he explained
was being furnished by the Army and
the other which he said his firm could
furnish for less money for the Conser-
vation Corps.
"It is not any part of my duties to
the purchases made by any
part OF the Government and !, accord
ingly, called up the Director of the
Budget and asked him II he would send
someone over Immediately to look into
the whole matter.
President Approves Letter.
when the letter arrived by mes
senger ! took It to the President, ex-
planned the situation, and there being,
Of course, no doubt Of Mr.. Fechner's
authority under the law, the President
approved the letter and 1t was for
warded to Mr.. Fechner.
This letter is on your record and
merely tells Mr.. Fechner that II he
it the most advantageous
thing to do he has authority under the
law to make the purchase.
"At the same time, however, the
reading of this letter indicated to me
very clearly that Mr.. Lowery had in
vestigated the matter of Be Vier's
claims. Otherwise I cannot see how
he or any one else would have sent
such letter to me for my signature.
1T should be noted in this connection
that Mr.. Lowery said in the draft of
the letter he gave me that such things
as toothbrush, shaving brush, comb,
razor and blades, shaving soap, toilet
soap, can be purchased In the form Of q
kit containing more items and Of much
higher quality, at considerably less
price than they would cost II purchased
or II procured through the
War Department in the regular man
ner of purchase and issue for soldiers.
II thought no more about this matter
until the committee requested me to
make a statement of my connection
with the affair. I appeared and gave
The IdCIS WHICH j now
quote in this condensed form.
"I never directly nor indirectly at
tempted to influence any decision in
his matter.
II had no knowledge Of the correct
ness or incorrectness Of Mr.. BeVier's
claims, nor did advise directly or in
directly anybody concerned with the
matter as to the course to pursue. It
was not my affair and my duty con-
,isted in seeing that it was referred to
he proper officials for investigation and
action.
II do consider it my duty, however,
20 see any one who comes to me with
/ proposal which, on its face, is to the
best interests of the Government.
In Mr. BeVier's claims to me, he
definitely said these articles could be
bought in kit form with q considerable
saving to the Government and could
De bought cheaper than the Army could
purchase the same articles. That u
Why took the action I did"
Budget Director Douglas and Lowery,
whose statements In connection with the
of the kits differ in some re-
'pects from those of Howe and others,
.oday also were to be heard ny the COM
nittee.