Evening star., 1934-02-08
WAR ACE APPEARS
IN ARMY PROBE
Lieut.. Col. H. Weir Cook
Signs Waiver of Immunity
to Go Before Grand Jury.

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under the S10000,O00 allotment but
War Department officials contend
that the changes were the result not
OF influence but of technical studies
made by Army engineers.
Two of the persons whose allesedly
irregular lobbying activities are under
scrutiny by the jury were back in
Washington today after an absence OF
several weeks, but they remained in
Seculsion.
One of these men. Joseph Silver
man, jr New York trader in surplus
war supplies, already has been desig-
mated publicly by the War and JUS
tice Departments as persona non
grata" with the Government, and 1t
was stated his activities were being
inquired into by the grand jury.
Silyerman remained out" at his
Office suite in the Mayhower Hotel,
but it was learned he paid visit yes
terday to the Office of Senator Royal
Copeland of New York. Senator
Copeland said today Silverman sought
his counsel in the present inquiry,
but that he told Silverman he had
nothing to say to him. Copeland in
diCated he Shunted the New YORKER
out of his Office as rapidly as pos
Sible
Edward Haves. national commander
of the American Legion. arrived here
today to look into the widely published
reports OF improper promotion
schemes by high Legionnaires, One
of the Legionnaires whose operations
are under investigation is a former
high executive of the Legion and the
other is an associate with reputa-
lion for dominating Legion elections.
Many Witnesses Called.
A succession of witnesses were called
by the grand jury today to testify
about the alleged attempt OF this pair
to induce the Marmon- Harrington
Co. of Indianapolis to employ them as
special counsel in the bidding before
the War Department.
Among these witnesses were Bert
Dingley. vice president of the Marmon-
Harrington Co.. and Daniel c. Glass
brenner. also Of that firm. Other rep
resentatives of the company previously
have given evidence against the pair.
The former high Legion official is
accused by officials OF this company
of telephoning them from Chicago
about a proposal to represent them
at Washington for a $4,000 retainer
fee and a commission on the con-
tract awarded When the telephone
aI hn
pany. the associate Of the former Le-
gion officer is alleged to have made
personal visit to company officials
at Indianapolis and to have used
high pressure" in trying to swing
them in on what was pictured as "a
million dollar deal" The company
communicated with high admins
tration officials here instead of ac-
cepting the proposition.
The grand jury today also ques-
toned Lieut. Col. A. O. Seaman of
the National Guard Bureau. Yester-
day Gen. George Leach. commander
Of the bureau. testified These Of
ficers have given material assistance
to the Government in its inquiry, 1t
was understood.
Col. b. F. Miller Quizzed.
Another Army officer questioned to-
day was Col. B. F. Miller artillery
officer attached to the Quartermaster
Corps; Norman c. Haig Of the Gen.
eral Motors Corporation also was to
De interrogated.
The grand jury is said to be desir-
Gus of learning everything possible
concerning the routine involved in
drawing specifications and making
awards for War Department contracts.
1t will require several more days for
the inquiry to be completed in all its
phases. officials said. The grand jury
is not expected to report before the
middle or end Of next week.
In the meantime Federal agents
were carrying out President Roose-
velt's order to 60 to the bottom of all
rumors about lobbying and influence
at the War Department and other
Federal departments. Additional in
formation for presentation to the
grand jury has been turned over to
United States Attorney Garnett in the
last "a hours.
Silverman, on his return here, found
himself barred from the Office Of As
sistant Secretary Of War Harry H.
Woodring, who supervises military