The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-09-13
BIG MUNITIONS
BONUSES PAID
Continued from mage one)
to the witness stand toorther

to the witness stand tooether
The committee had Just con-
cluded taking testimony from Of
ticials of the Curtiss-Wright Cor
poration, airplane manufacturers.
IN which it was brought out that
the concern tried to pit former
President Hoover against the
Prince Of Wales in a race to sell
planes to Chile.
Testimony of the DuPonrs dealt
chiefly with the financial organ
ization of the concern. Investi-
gators learned that re.urns on in
vested capital durin:; the war
years We're: 1917, % per cent A;
1916, SO per cent; 1917, 35 per
lcent; 1918, 10 per cent. On in
vested capital during the war
years were: 1915, % per cent
1916, 6S per cent; 1917, 35 per
cent; 1913, 10 per cent.
Pierre said the company invest
ed $50,O00,000 in the dye bust
ness after the World war. but
made no money out of it for ten
,, years.
In 1919, heWadded. the Dupont
concern had 4S,758,252 invested
in General Motors and the Chew
rolet company.
"Have you acquired more stock
since them" asked Senator Ho-
mer T. Bone.
practically none"
Earlier testimony showed that
the Prince of wales was attempt
ing to get airplane business for
British concerns.
Curtiss- Wright officials said the
Prince, who made a goodwill tour
of South America, invited Arturo
Merino, Chilean air chief, to visit
him in England.
c. W. Webster, head of the
Latin-American section of the
Curtiss firm, wrote to the Wash
ington. office in March, 1881, that
''it is up to us to lean over back
wards in selling Merino American
ideas, methods and equipment
"If possible" he added, 1--WE
would like for you to arrange for
! permission for him to visit vari-
| Gus army and navy stations and
have him meet the army and navy
, secretaries and, if possible, Presi-
dent Hoover. This seems adviS-
able and necessary in order to
offset the efforts Of the Prince of
Wales.'
Alger Hiss, committee inves-
tigator, said he had been inform
ed that T. A. Morgan, president
of the Curtiss concern, complain
ed to President Roosevelt last
June that Congressional investi-
cations, embargoes and pacifstic
talk and propaganda" would in
jure American munitions bust
ness.
J. S. Allard,. head of a subsdi-
airy Curtiss firm, told the commit
tee he knew nothing of Morgan's
purported conversation with Mr.
: Roosevelt. Webster said he did
mot think Merino saw Hoover, but
conferred with many army and
navy officials. -.- ..
Testimony yesterday was to
the effect that James Doolittlc
famous flier, was ''helpful" in
selling Curtiss airplanes to South
American nations. Mr.. Roose'
velt's assistant secretary, Ralph
T. Early, arranged in 1929, to OBJ
tain a Curtiss plane from the
army for stunt over New York
testimony revealed. Early ther
worked for a newsreel concern.
Rear Admiral Ernest j. King
chief of naval aviation, wrote q
letter, containing language sug,
gested by Curtiss officials, indors-
ing the firms planes, the commit
tee brought out. A similar re-
ommendation was written by the
late Admiral William A. Moffett,
who died in the Akron dlrlgIole
disaster. = 49,.
! Witnesses said General Doug.
| las Macarthur, army chief OF
/ staff, apparently talked up the
! American military equipment tt
! the skies" on a visit to Turkey in
1882. '.
Correspondence showed the
| Curtiss- Wright company attempt