Evening star., 1933-10-05
BOOKS ARE MISSING
IN MAIL INQUIRY
Senate Committee Unable to
Trace Empire Stevedoring
Co. Records.
BY the Associated Press.


Books of the Empire Stevedoring Co.
subsidiary of the Black Diamond
Line, which were sought by the Senate
committee investigating ocean mail con-
tracts, have disappeared from the COM
pany's files. it was disclosed yesterday
in the continuation of the committee
inquiry. The books covered the perloo
from 1920 to 1880. and committee In
vestigators were informed by the EN-
pire company they could not be found
Isn't it rather singular" Senator
King. Democrat, of Utah. said to j. E
Dockendorff. president of the Black
Diamond, the witness, that If all the
records of your various companies were
sent to your New York pier they should
all be retained except those for this
particular company?
Il can't explain that" Dockendorfi
answered.
Claimed Due to U. S.
The committee was inquiring into a
ruling by Controller General McCall
that s45e 465 earned by the Empire
should be considered profits accruing to
the United States Shipping Board ana
that the money should he returned to
the Government.
Reference 10 the disappearance OF the
files followed sharp interrogation OF
Dockendorff regarding his source OF
income. Senator Black, committee
chairman. read into the record a series
of financial statements showing losses
bv ] E. Cockendorff g. Co., the import
export firm.
aAs a matter of fact" Black said to
Dockendorff, the only companies you
had which made any money between
1920 and 1927 we're the Empire and the
Black Diamond"
The ship owner previously had testl-
fed he had put more than million
dollars into the firm since 1914. Black
asked where the million came from
and Dockendorff said From my per-
sonal sources
Black asked If it was mot true that
from 1921 the money you made came
from the Black Diamond and the GDV-
ernment?"
You forget said Dockendorff,
that we had transactions other than
those with the Shipping Board" He
mentioned auditing work done for ship
ping firms as one other source.
Prices Quoted.
Turning again to the purchase Of
vessels from the Shipping Board, which
the Black Diamond previously mad op-
Grated on commission, the committee
chairman read figures which. he said,
showed the vessels bought by Docken-
dorff for S1,342 ,607, cost the Govern
ment $18049451.
The committee Tuesday and again
during the morning session yesterday
uueried Dockendorff regarding his eff
tn hriy, oh ho int Inn ont
of ]. Caldwell Jenkins as president of
the Emergency Fleet Corporation. Jen-
kins, who was not appointed, later be-
came vice president of Dockendorff' S
three firms Late yesterday Black
suddenly swung back to the matter of
appointments again, this time on new
tack
"Mr. Dockendorff, Black asked.
have you made any campaign since
this new administration came in to
get certain men appointed to the Ship
ping Board?"
NO. sir" answered the witness; but
I have made some suggestions.
Such as whom?"
"Mr. Haney."
"You mean Mr.. Haney of Oregon?"
Yes"
What about Mr.. oConnor-T v.
O'Connor?" said Black, referring to the
former chairman of the Shipping
Board.
Yes, also Mr.. o'Connor," the wit
ness confirmed
Didn't you write letter to Mr.. Will
lard F. Place, assistant vice president
of the New York Central" asked Black.
reading from the letter, Saying that
We understand the Investigating Com
mittee is looking for lawyer and in
it you say it would greatly facilitate
matters if the proper lawyer was Sc
lected'? What did Mr.. Place say about
that?"
Il don't recall" Dockendorf answered,
laughing My sole interest was to see
that some one was appointed who knew