Evening star., 1933-06-02
De WITT TEST|F|ES
PRESIDENT ADVISED
PURCHASE OF KITS
Tells Senate Group ReforeS-
tation Director Informed Him
of RooSeveIt'S Action.
ARMY OFFICIALS HELD
PRICE WAS EXCESSIVE
Quartermaster General Says Fech-
ner Told Him Instructions Were
Telephoned by Howe.
By the Associated Press.

Maj. Gen. John L. De Witt, quar-
termaster general Of the Army, today
told the Senate Military Committee
that Robert Fechner, director Of the
reiorestation work, advised him that
President Roosevelt had instructed
Fechner to purchase 100000 toilet kits
from Bevier 81 Co. of New York for
reforestation camp employees.
Louis Howe, secretary to the Presi-
dent, appearing before the committee
at his own request yesterday before
it formally opened an investigation into
the purchase of the kits at prices Army
officials said were excessive, told mem
bers he had advised Fechner that he
(Fechner) had authority to buy them
If considered desirable
'I advised Mr.. Fechner. strongly not
to have anything to do with it (pur-
chasing the kits)," De Witt said to
committee members, "but first Of all
to be certain the President was fully
advised.
'Mr Fechner said he had been
ordered to do it. Mr.. Fechner said he
had been ordered by the President?"
Senator Black, Democrat of Alabama,
interrupted De Witt to ask did he say
how he got the order from the Presi-
dent?"
"He said he had received a telephone
message from Mr.. Howe" replied De
Witt.
De Witt then described to the COM
mittse receipt of letter from Fechner
that said complying with instructions
of the President, Franklin d. Roosevelt,
he had signed an order for purchasing
the kits
This letter, De Witt continued, said
"I am further instructed by direction
of the President" to tell the War De-
partment to make no further purchases
of such supplies and to cancel contracts.
The committee, before the Senate ap-
proved the resolution of Senator Carey,
Republican, of wyoming, for the inves-
tigation, heard Fechner, Army officials
and Louis McF7enry Howe, secretary to
President Roosevelt =
Howe Gives Testimony.
Fechner was represented by commit
tee members as having told them Howe
suggested the purchase, but the Presi-
dents secretary, before the committee
yesterday at his own request, said his
only part was to tell Fechner that he
had the authority to buy the kits If
satisfied as to their value and quality.
Howe explained at the time that a
man he did not know called at his
Office with samples of kits and that
he asked Budget Director Douglas To
investigate and that Lowery handled
the inquiry.
Army officials have told the commit
I-g4 -
dered by Fechner at 81 40 could be
bought for an average of IS cents.
Committee members, by a molten
yesterday, asked Army officials and
Fechner not to pay for any more Of the
kits bought from the Be Vier Co. until
the investigation has been completed.
Approximately $4,000 of the kits have
been delivered.
Fechner, in a letter which Howe pre-
sented yesterday, told the committee
he had been all mixed up; that all
Howe had done was notify him he had
authority to buy the kits If satisfied
quality and price were all right.
Bought without Bids.
The outfits not only cost much more
than Army ones, but were bought with
out competitive bids.
Howe told committee members his
only part in the purchase was in noti-
flying Fechner that the Conservation
Corp director had the authority to buy
them If satisfied as to their quality and
the price. Howe added that he turned
the matter over to Lowery of the Bud
get Bureau for investigation.
In the letter from Fechner dated yes
terday, which Howe gave the commit
tee. the conservation director agreed
Ia xr,Jnn "a fr1d him
and Howe had letter from Lowery to
the effect that the toilet kit supplied
by the Army to camp occupants was
inferior to the other.
Howe explained that he became
mixed up in the matter some 10 days
ago" when a man whom he did not
know called at his office. It developed
later, Howe said that the man was r. B.
BeVier, head of the company involved.
Howe added that BeVier showed two
toilet kits, one the regulation kit the
Army supplied and the other special
kit.
He claimed the special kit could be
supplied at less expense than the Army
kit" Howe said, adding that the special
kit looked so much better to him that
he thought it impossible that it could
be sold for less
Asked Lowery for Letter.
Because of this feeling, he said, he
asked Budget Director Douglas to in
vestigate the matter and Lowery did so.
Howe said he subsequently told Fechner
the latter had the authority to buy
them.
Howe said he asked Lowery to send
him letter on the matter, after Fech-
ner had doubted he had authority to
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