Evening star., 1935-06-19
MITCHELL ADMITS
LACK OF EVIDENCE
Insists Corruption Is Indi.
Gated Despite Absence of
Direct knowledge.
tContinued From First Page.)

new ships. Such construction stipu-
lation was In the retirement agree
ment.
Mr.. Roosevelt said he was not &C
quainted with the loan to the Levi
athan operators.
Holds Mitchell Inefficient.
In response to inquiries, he said
there were no reasons for Mitchell's
dismissal other than those made pub
lie, dealing with inefflciency.
At the committee hearing Senators
Bachman. Democrat, of Tennessee,
and Vandenberg advised Mitchell in
his testimony to stay outside the rec
ord, with which all Senators were
familiar.
Mitchell at the start said Roper had
baked his efforts TO- uncover waste
and inef1ciency" in the department.
Pounding his clenched hand on the
table, he insisted his chief had
"whitewashed" deeds by "hard- boiled
Republican" officials under him.
"Stop pounding the table," Senator
McNary admonished the witness and
a little later he warned him to "get
into your charges" of graft" and i'm
proper favoritism" that brought the
inquiry.
Mitchell then swung into a broad
charge that an advisory shipping COM
mittee named by Roper and headed
by H. H. Heimann of Michigan had
received millions" from the Govern
ment in graft" through interest in
subsidies.
Long Is Spectator.
In swearing Mitchell, Chairman
Copeland gave as the reason for the
hearing that "the committee should
be fully informed if there are irreg-
ularities or defects in the depart
ment."
Among the spectators, some of whom
were on hand early to be sure to gel
one of the 300 seats, was Senator
Long, Democrat, Of Louisiana. Not q
member Of the committee, he said he
was only "an innocent spectator"
Mitchell first read q brief memo
randum, saying he would merely
''touch the high spots" of his charges
Some Senators were ready to ask ar
extensive inquiry, If substance" fol
Mitchel1s charges was shown.
Leaders of both parties were aware
of the possible significance of the
situation for the 1885 campaign.
Caucus Room Chosen.
An hour before opening of the in
vestigation, spectators appeared in
the Caucus Room, the largest in the
Senate Office Building, which has
been selected so as to accommodate
the public.
First was Charles Van Newkirk oi
Washington and New York, a Marine
engineer, who said he would testify
eff they'll let me" concerning what
he described as the ''rottennesS of the
Steamboat Inspection Service"
Seated before the same table in the
famous inquisitorial chamber in past
years have been such figures as ]. P
Morgan, Charles E. Mitchell, Otto H
Kahn, Albert Wiggin, Arthur Cutten
cabinet officers and others in the
field of business and politics.
The table to which Mitchell was
summoned was placed facing the row
of seats for committee members, with
a loud speaker between arranged tc
carry the questions and answers tc
the spectators.
Chairman Copeland, wearing his
customary red carnation in the but
ton hole Of his brown suit, chatted
animatedly with Secretary Roper as
Mitchell, in light Summer suit and
green tie, took the stand.
Secretary Roper, in a tan Summer
suit, was accompanied by O retinue
of assistants.
Describes Department.
In his opening statement the be.
spectacled Mitchell described the size
of the Commerce Department, and
commented:
81 assume that the committee ex.
poets that will at this time touch
only the high spots of the complaints
I have made concerning the conduct
of the department. Secretary Rope
is familiar with the contents of all the
memoranda to which will refer to.
day and will, therefore, be in posi-.
tion to make any answer he desire:
to my complaints stated therein"
He then began reading from a IA
page memorandum which he prepared
for Roper in March.
'T might say now that last Sep.
tember 10 he suggested that I take
another place." he said.
81 asked why should get out. He
said was not leader of men.
told him the trouble was that these
Republican bureau chiefs went to him
behind my back and he whitewashed
them.
'I said, Mr.. Roper, the trouble here
IS graft, waste and inefaciency.'"
He pounded his fist on the table
for emphasis.
mot so much noise" cautioned
Minority Leader McNary. 1--WE can't
hear you talk through the pounding.
Spectators laughed and Mitchell
smiled.
Denied Seeking Post.
In response to questions by Sen.
ator Gibson, Republican, of Vermont
Mitchell denied having sought hi.
Job in "the little cabinet"
ct declined the place three times,
he said, waving his arms.
II don't know why Secretary Roper