Evening star., 1934-02-23

Continued From First Page)
airmail contracts in that box or any
other box removed from the Post
ONCE Department." Senator Austin,
Republican, of Texas, asked.
None was put in any box" Brown
said, adding he had kept copies of a
few letters with him.
Made No Selection.
"Was there any purpose to be
served in taking correspondence reiat-
ing to ocean and airmail contracts
with you?" Austin asked.
mo, on the contrary
Brown said copies OF official letters
written by him we're scheduled to be
filed in his Office. the chief clerk S
Office and in the bureau under whose
jurisdiction the subject came.
II never saw the files" he said
Did you personally make any selec-
ton as to papers taken away?' Austin
asked
IT took no part whatever
"Would the removal of those two
files Of papers from your offlce prevent
Austin's next question
Brown said it would not.
"Of course, l never went TO the
files myself"
Not Quite Sure.
Senator McCarran asked what in
structions we're given Mcpherson.
1T told him to be very careful" !"
Brown said. and then asked, DO you
mean did say anything about offl-
cisl correspondence
"Yes." McCarran said,
INV recollection" Brown said, rs
that I said that letters relating TO
postal matters were to be left in the
files. But I'm not very clear about
that. Mr.. Mcpherson was a trained
secretary, a man of very high char
acter."
Brown said that most of the letters
found in the two packages were copies
Of originals.
so there should have been other
copies of these letters at the depart
ment?" Austin asked.
Il know there should have been two
others" Brown said.
The committee hoped to finish with
Brown today. but refused to predict.
Previous forecasts have been wrong,
as Brown, lawyer for 40 years and
clever at question-answering, has held
the stand days longer than was ex-
pected.
Compares Conferences.
While being questioned yesterday by
Senator Austin, Brown said he had
always acted within the law "and
with the approval of the President, "
in his airmail contract dealings.
Senator Austin was comparing the
1880 washington airmall operators
conference with one purportedly
called during the present admin
1stration by William w Howes, First
Assistant Postmaster General.
Austin read from Howe'S testimony
before a House Appropriations Sub
committee that the Post Office De-
partment had called a meeting of
mail contract holders. to tell them
it would be necessary to work out
a plan for trimming payments under
an appropriation cut.
Brown previously had testified that
Andrew w Mellon, while Secretary
Of the Treasury, as we'll as w. L. and
r. K. Mellon, had written him in
1880 in the interest of contract for
Pittsburgh Aviation Industries. Inc,
in which the Pittsburgh family was
interested.
The committee also delved into the
details of Browns stock and grain
market dealings while he was postal
chief using check stubs of the late
Joseph Bagley, Browns stock market
partner. to show profits Brown made
before the market crash.
Illegal Extension Denied.
Austin referred to a recent letter
to the committee from Postmaster
General Farley, termirig illegal the
extension of contracts in 1929 for a
period Of six months, and asked if
this we're true.
Brown replied the extensions were
made under specific provision of the
law in existence prior to the McNary-
Watres act.
He said the department had with
held route certificates in the public
interest" until legislation could be en-
aCUeO 10 ellInlHdIe The VICIOUS ultIilOO
of payment"
when these conferences were be-
ing held, did you have any financial
interests which might influence your
decision?" Austin asked.
Il did not" Brown replied.
He added that he made no specific
promises as result of the conference.
Turning again to President Hoover's
relationship with airmail policy, Aus
tin asked Brown to establish exactly
what he wished to say regarding Mr..
Hoover's approval of his actions.
Approved Policy.
Tie approved the policy that we
pursued in developing the aeronautical
industries" Brown replied.
Did President Hoover approve the
contracts or extensions which have
been in question here and which have
been discussed?" Austin asked.
Brown said Mr.. Hoover had not been
familiar with the details, but merely
with the broad outline of policies"
He added he never had discussed
the contracts with Mr.. Hoover.
TELL OF MELLON NOTES.
Associates Recall Request by Brothers
to Brown.
yUnA