Evening star., 1934-02-24
Head of House Committee
Aided Agent Seeking
Auto Contracts.
DENIES HE REQUESTED
ANYTHING IMPROPER
Chairman Asserts He Interceded
for Remick as He Would
for Any Constituent.
BY REX COLLIER.

BY REX COLLIER.
Letters written to Secretary of War
Dern by Chairman John J. McSvaiu
OF the House Military Affairs Com
mittee in behalf of r. C. Remick.
manufacturers agent, who was seek
Ing tire and motor-car contracts from
the War Department, have come to
the attention of officials in connection
with the grand jury inquiry into Army
contracts
Chairman McSwain told the Star
today he worte two letters to Secre-
tary Dern nearly a year ago at the
request of Remick, a former constitu-
ent OF the South Carolina Representa-
i've. He said he interceded for Remlck
just as ne would for any constitu-
ent. but that he made it plain 10
Dern he knew nothing of the merits
OF Remick'S claims and did not wish
10 influence the War Department t.
40 anything but what was proper.
Remick Early Witness.
= The McSwain letters are said T.,
have taken their place beside those
of Senators Copeland of New York.
Barbour of New Jersey and Reynolds
OF North Carolina in the collection of
correspondence bearing on matters
under investigation by the grand Jury
The Senatorial missives were In be-
half of Joseph Silverman. jr.. New
York trader. and were addressed to
Assistant Secretary of War Harry II
Woodring:
Remick was an early witness before
the grand jury and is understood to
have been questioned about a pro-
posal alleged to have been made to
him and Frank Speicher. an associate.
by Silverrpan. Speicher checked out
of local hotel on the eve of the
grand jury inquiry and Department
of Justice agents have conducted a
fruitless countrywide search for him.
He is considered by United States At
torney Leslie c. Garnett as an i'm
portant witness.
McSwain said he had never heard
of Speicher until he read in news
papers of his disappearance. He said
he had never met Silverman. either.
McSwain said he wrote the first
letter for Remick on March Is. 1888.
when Remick was representing the
Eastern Beck Corporation Of New
York. agents for leakproof inner tubes
and tires.
The letter pointed out than an
Army technical board had approved
use of the corporations tires in con-
nection with plans for motorizing the
militia. but that Lieut. Col James K.
Grain and Maj w B. Hardigg. at
tached to the Office of Assistant Sec
,etary of War Woodring, had disap-
proved the tires when the matter
came to them for approval.
Col Grain has made two appear
ences before the grand jury during
the past two weeks and has been re-
ferred to as a star witness
McSwain's letter asked that the dis
approval be rec0nSidered by the Wal
Department in view of the favorable
action taken by the technical experts
inquiries on Delivery Demand.
On May % of last year Chairman
McSwain again wrote Dern. this time
with reference to efforts of Remick to
obtain a contract for 1900 light trucks
for Chevrolet interests. The letter
said Remick informed him the War
Department was demanding delivery
of the entire |. 500 trucks by a certain
date. which made it impossible for
Chevrolet to fulfill the contract, and
inquired if it were absolutely essential
that the entire consignment be de-
livered on the date specified.
The letter also mentioned that Nc
Swain had been advised the depart
ment had awarded a contract for 500
Dodge trucks. although the Dodge
bid was higher than that of Chevrolet.
Il am so scrupulous about the repu-
tation of our administration" Nc
Swain wrote, that I am urging that
all appearance OF irregularity be
avoided and no one be given a just
ground for complaint in any respect
McSwain told Dern he did not wish
the latter to feel he was trying to use
improper pressure, but that he INC
SWAIN felt that Congress was "a
grand jury of inquest with the re-
sponsibility of seeing that justice anc
fairness was accorded every one b
the departments.
The chairman told the War Sec
retary that if he (McSwain) h
been misinformed as to the situate
with respect to truck bids he wou
Continued on Page 2. Column A.