Evening star., 1934-01-21
A|RMA|L CONTRACT
HEARING MAY LEAD
u. S. TO PROSECUTE
Special Attorneys Assistant
Appointed to Review All
Testimony.
OBSERVERS POSTED
AT CAPITOL SESSIONS
Farley Orders Files Returned by
Brown to Be Checked for
Missing Papers.

A sudden move by the Department
of Justice, interpreted as presaging pos
slble prosecution, yesterday climaxed
the Senate investigation of sensational
charges of irregularity in connection
with marine and airmail subsidies under
former Postmaster General Walter F.
Brown
Attorney General Cummings announc-
ed the appointment of Col Carl L.
Ristine of Missouri as a special assistant
to the Attorney General to supervise a
Department Of Justice inquiry into the
charges and Ito conduct all legal pro-
ceedingS which may be found to be
necessary"
The appointment of a special assistant
to take charge Of particular case in
the department usually follows collec-
ton of damaging evidence and often
means that court proceedings are under
serious consideration.
observer" Posted at Hearing.
1t is known that special agents of the
Department of Justice have been posted
as observers" in the hearings at the
Capitol before Senator Blacks COM
mittee and that they had orders to
obtain transcripts of all testimony alleg-
ing improper awards of mail contracts.
destruction of Government files and
other irregularities.
Former Postmaster General Brown
meanwhile had returned to the Pest
Office Department two official files bear
ing on ocean and airmail contracts.
with the explanation that he had been
amazed" to find them among his per-
sonal papers. He indicated his belief
that he was the victim of con-
Splracy OF character assassination. "
These files were involved in charges
that important correspondence had
been burned by Browns order.
Names of Col Charles A. Lindbergh
and Herbert Hoover, jr.. have been
mentioned by witnesses before the Sem
ate committee in connection with ale
cations Of undue influence brought to
bear on former postal officials handling
airmail contracts.
Col. Ristine to Review Data.
A formal announcement of Col Ris-
tines appointment late yesterday said
the new special assistant has been in
structed to review the testimony given
in connection with steamship and air
mail contracts before the Senate COM
mittee. of which Senator Black is chair
man and any other evidence which
may be available"
The "other evidence" may include
information secured by postal inspec-
tors assigned by Postmaster General
Farley to investigate the disappearance
of ocean and airmail files, supplement-
ed by findings of justice agents as
signed to the hearings
Farley yesterday turned over to Chief
Postal Inspector Aldrich the two files
returned by Brown and ordered that a
careful inspection be made of them
With a view to determining if they
contain all the papers previously listed
as missing. Brown had said these were
the files thought to have been burned
in the furnace Of the Post Office De-
partment last March. but Senator Black
indicated there were other papers still
lost"
Attorney Is War Veteran.
Col Ristine. 47-year-old World War
Veteran and prominent lawyer Of the
Middle West, was here recently. but has
returned temporarily to his home in
Lexington. Mo. He is expected back
shortly to take charge of the depart
mentS inquiry.
A native of Clay Center. Kans.. he
was admitted to the Missouri bar in
1910, was city attorney of Lexington
from 1911 to 1915, and has been a lead
ing member of the bar in his State for
Lafayette county. MO. State and
American Bar Associations.
In 1925 he was a candidate for the
Democratic nomination for Judge of the
Supreme Court of Missouri.
During the war he was a colonel of
infantry.
Subway Balks Inquiry.
Senator Black said yesterday that the
resolution which he introduced recently
to$broaden the field of the inquiry and
TO appropriate s25,OO0 additional for
expenses, was prompted by refusal of
the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad to
permit access to its files.
Former Postmaster General Brown Is
chairman of the board of the road,
which operates subway trains from New
York City to Jersey City and New
ark, N. j.
In recent committee hearings, Chair
man Black apparently has attempted
to establish an indirect connection be-
tween the Hudson & Manhattan and
the United Aircraft e. Transport Cor
poration through the Pennsylvania
Railroad.
Minority to Call Brown.
The resolution. which is expected to
be reported favorably tomorrow, would
grant the committee authority to
scrutinize the records of any company
connected in any way with one holding
an airmail contract, even though the
connection be through an Inter
mediary"
Black said he had not yet seen the
correspondence which Brown handed
to Postmaster General Farley.
Senator Austin, Republican. of Ver-
mont, said he and Senator White, Re-
publican, of Maine. the minority men,
bers of the committee, would insist that
Brown be called to testify. Black had
indicated he did not intend to SUBJ
poenae Brown, and had said the former
Postmaster General had not asked to
take the stand.
The committee will resume hearings
Tuesday with John Orgill, Cleveland at