Evening star., 1934-03-13
WOODR|NG ASSA|LS
'SN|P|NG' IN PROBE
Assistant War Secretary
Gratified as No Indict-
mentS Are Returned.

(Continued From First Page)
today In the same article 1t is fur
ther stated, 1t is understood the jury
is not satisfied with the manner IN
which the Investigations have been
handled.
The grand jury does not plan to
make report to the District Su-
preme Court today or at any other
time in this manner. By a unant-
NOUS vote the grand jury has de-
cided to make it's report to the United
States attorney, and has done so.
The grand jury is satisfied with
the manner in which the investlga-
tions have been handled. and no
member of this body has any inten-
ton of making a complaint regarding
the manner in which the investiga-
tions we're handled. l am directed by
the grand jury to state to you that
they are of the unanimous belief that
the case was presented by the United
States Attorneys Office in an able
and thoroughly fair and proper man
ner, and that all available evidence
was brought to their attention in a
manner which left nothing to be
desired"
The letter was signed by Levin P.
Handy, foreman of the grand jury.
Mr.. Woodring's statement reviewed
in detail some of the matters involv-
ing changes in specifications and pro-
curement methods for which he had
been criticized and defended his ac-
tions in every instance as in the in
terest of governmental economy and
efficiency.
Asserting he has conducted his Office
with a scrupulous regard for the
public interest" Woodring said: In
spite of complaints, insinuation and
sniping by special selfish interests,
will not swerve from this course"
1t was learned that Woodring's
statement was prepared several days
ago and held for release upon con-
clusion of the grand jury hearings.
Late yesterday, however, the grand
Jury sent word to United States At.
torney Garnett and Pine that it had
voted to return no indictments.
The decision is said to have been
the result Of l5-to-8 vote.
Mr.. Garnett. in announcing the
decision of the grand jury. said: Il
presented all the evidence available
in the case to the grand jury. I
did not ask for any specific indict-
nents. The case now is closed in
sfora as this Office Is concerned"
Secretary of War Dern received
word of the grand jury's action with
satisfaction. He issued this state
ment:
Il am deeply gratified that the
exhaustive investigation conducted by
the grand jury, consuming weeks of
time, during which all records and
all personnel of the War Department
were made available to members OF
the jury, has shown that every man
in the War Department connected
with the activities under investigation
has been found blameless and, as 1
have always believed. has but one
interest at heart-that of the United
States Government.
The action Of the grand jury is a
complete vlndication of the War De-
partment. This Is what I expected
Beginning of Inquiry.
The grand jury inquiry had its in
ception at a series of late-at-night
conferences among War Department
and Justice officials on February 5
last. There we're reports that a
member of Congress was ready to
"blov the lid off" lobbying activities
at the War Department and that
newspapers were making ready to run
sensational stories unfavorable to the
War Department.
In this tense atmosphere, it was
decided at II pm. on February 5 to
call in the press at the office OF
Attorney General Cummings and lift
the lid before it exploded.
At this press conference, William
Stanley, assistant to the Attorney
General, issued a statement announc-
ing grand jury investigation OF
activities of Joseph Silyerman, jr,
New York dealer in surplus war sup
plies, and of his associates.
At the same time. Mr.. Woodring,
who attended the conference. made
public a statement barring Silverman
and his associates and attorneys from
further business dealing with the
War Department.
It vas not revealed until the next
day that the grand jury had been
commissioned to investigate the actlvi-
ties Of group Of lawyers and lobby
lists in connection with alleged irregu-
lar approaches to automobile COM
panies seeking War Department con-
tracts under the $10000,000 public
works motorization program.
Prominent Witnesses Called.
Woodring was among the first group
of witnesses questioned by the jurors.
All witnesses were required to sign
waivers of immunity before testifying.
Among other prominent witnesses
were Gen. Dougles Macarthur, chief
of staff; Maj. Gen. Hugh A. Drum,
assistant chief of staff; Maj. Gen.
Robert E. Callan deputy chief of staff
in charge of Army supplies; Brig. Gen.
A. e. Williams, acting quartermaster
general; Maj. Gen. John L. de Witt,
former quartermaster general; Maj.
Gen. George E. Leach, chief of the
National Guard Bureau; former AS
sistant Secretary of War Frederick H.
Payne, Ralph T, O'Neil, former ma
tional commander of the American
Legion, and a large number of other
Army officers and civilians.