Evening star., 1934-06-24
Thorough Inquiry, With JUS
tice Department Aiding,
Outlined in House.
INVESTIGATORS GIVEN
COUNSEL OF M'ARTHUR
McMullen May Be Recalled.
Group Defers Invitation for
Woodring to Testify.
BY REX COLLIER.

With a Justice representative listen
ing in at all hearings and agents Of
the Justice Department and the con-
troller generals Office collecting addi-
tional evidence, the House Military
Affairs Committee is ready for an in
tenSive all-Summer investigation Of
alleged irregularities in War Depart
ment procurement methods.
I'VE have just scratched the surface
in this inquiry" it was said last night
by Representative James, Republican,
Of Michigan, member Of the Mill
tary Subcommittee, which recon-
mended removal of Maj Gen. Benja-
min D. Foulois, chief of the Air Corps.
and which has exposed "favors" ac-
cepted by several Army officers.
The committee yesterday called on
Maj. Gen. Douglas Macarthur, chief
of staff. for advice as to further pro-
cedure in connection with revelations
made by committee witnesses. The
committee made it plain that Gen.
Macarthur is not involved in the mat
ters under investigation.
Consulted on Testimony.
Among disclosures about which Mac
Arthur was consulted was the testi-
mony of Lieut.. Col. Joseph I. Nc
Mullen, chief Of the patents section
Of the judge advocate generals Office.
that he McMullen) had accepted fees
for legal services rendered private
firms
Col. McMullen also testified that
Assistant Secretary of War Woodring
ordered him to revise a contract in
accordance with terms set forth in
a letter from Joseph Silverman, II.
subsequently barred from further
business dealings at the War Depart-
ment.
Justice agents are investigating
ramifications of what the committee
believes is an improper practice under
which some Army officers have &C
cepted up to "a per cent discount on
automobiles purchased for their own
use. One officer at Camp Holabird,
Army testing ground for automobiles.
has told the committee he received
such a discount and that other Off
GERS have, also.
One Company Involved.
Committee members declare that an
inquiry has revealed but one motor
car manufacturer who offers such
discounts to Army officers. They as
sert that such a concession conceiv-
ably might give this manufacturer
an advantage over one who offers no
favors to Army men.
Gen. Macarthur was in consultation
with the committee behind closed
doors for more than an hour yester-
day. Afterward the committee said
the chief Of staff was asked about
charges that other officers had evaded
the requirement for competitive lid
ding in airplane purchases and about
various other matters developed in
the hearings.
Macarthur also conferred with the
committee regarding prospective leg
islation governing promotion and re-
tirement in the Army and other leg
islation proposed as an aid to national
defense.
McMullen May Be Recalled.
1t was said Col. McMullen may be
called back for additional questioning
about fees from outside sources.
Apparently the committee has de-
ferred action on its plan to Invite"
Woodring to "tell his side of the story"
in connection with the Silverman con-
tracts. Woodring already has been
questioned about airplane contracts.
1t was after the Assistant Secretary
had testified about plane procurement
policies that the committee demanded
Secretary Dern GUST Foulois as air
chief
Because some of the matters now in
question extend back into the previous
administration, committee men indi-
Gated yesterday that former War Sec
retary Patrick j. Hurley may be asked
to give the committee the benefit Of
any information he may have. Former
Assistant Secretary Frederick H.
Payne also may be invited to appear.
1t was pointed out that neither of
| these former officials is under investi-
CATION, but that the committee be-
lieves they might have helpful in
formation.
Following action Of Secretary Dern
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