Evening star., 1935-01-24
Refuses to Waive Constitu-
tionaI Rights Giving
Him Immunity.
DENIES ANY COLLISION
IN MAKING SHIP BIDS
Costs Nearly Uniform Make for
Identical Estimates, Hearing
Is Told.
BY the Associated Press.

by lIe ASSOCldlSu
Describing the Senate munitions in
vestigation as an "inquisition," Clin-
ton L. Bardo. former president of the
New York Shipbuilding Co., refused
today to waive immunity for any self
incriminating" testimony he might
give.
Asserting that the committee re-
quest would require him to renounce
constitutional rights, the white-haired
shipbuilder added that he was per
fectly willing to testify to all trans
actions of which I have knowledge"
Barbo was president of the ship
building company during a period
when the committee alleges the cost
of warships nearly doubled.
Before announcing his refusal to
wave immunity in formal statement,
he declared he did not desire to ap-
pear "antagonistic or offensive to the
Senate.
Text of Statement.
His statement. at the committee
hearing, said:
Il was elected president of the New
York Shipbuilding Co. in October,
1928, and resigned November. 1884.
I am perfectly willing to testify as to
any matters or transactions when
occurred during my administration.
Il know of nothing in which took
part which is in any way reprehenSl-
BILE or in violation of the laws OF the
United States.
This committee. however. has re-
queSted that waive my constitutional
rights as an American citizen. and
since I am unwilling to do so it seems
proper that I should here state my
reasons for refusing to comply with
your request.
Hearings Are Ex Parte.
I'm the first place, the hearings be-
tor your committee are entirely ex
parte. No opportunity is affo' ded any
witness to be represented by counsel
nor to volunteer any explanation of
evidence which has been taken in such
ex parte examination.
Prom the most innocent transac-
tions inferences and innuendos are
drawn intended to induce the news
papers to print and the public to
believe that sinister influences have
dominated the shipbuilding industry
and much that is reprehensible. if not
illegal. has occurred.
my opinion is that every citizen
is assumed to be innocent until proven
to be guilty and that the fifth amend
ment to the Constitution and laws
pertaining to self-incrimination were
adopted to protect citizens against
inQuiSition of the character I refer to.
Feeling as I do, it seems to me
that your request that l sign the
! waiver submitted is request that
renounce my constitutional rights,
and this I respectfully refuse to do.
II am perfectly willing to testify
as to all transactions of which I have
knowledge and hope that I may be
afforded an opportunity to do so. My
decision not to sign the waiver re-
! quest is my personal decision"
Backs War Profit Cut.
Meanwhile. Lieut.. Col. C. T. Harris
| told the House Military Committee the
War Department was strongly behind
legislation to pare excess profits dur
ing war. He asserted prices must
be controlled rigidly.
After reading his statement, Bardo
1fIocfinnod hy tho nI1nittpn
matters relating to its assertion that
| cruiser unit costs in recent years had
climbed from about 100000 to $16,-
| 100000.
The evidence said the Bethlehem
Shipbuilding Co. and the Newport
News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co.
had bid $9,750,000 for each ship
| identical bids. The New York COM
papy, it was added, bid $9,5l5,000
! ship and received the contract.
! Costs Held Nearly Same.
| Bardo explained that labor rates,
steel prices and other costs were so
nearly the same for all that such
paralleling Of prices was not surpris-
| ing
| Ihe committee then presented
letter from R. H. Haig of Chester. Pa,
vice president of the Sun Shipbuilding
Co., to Bardo, saying other COM
panies had promised to go along" in
the Sun company's desire to get ship
job.
Evidence that the three major ship
building companies had presented al
most identical bids on two Sl1iDS for
the United States Lines in 1880 was
presented by the committee, but Bardo
declared there was no collusion in
reaching such estimates.
: Named as willing to "go along"
were officers of Newport News Co.,
the Federal Shipbuilding Co. and the
Bethlehem Co.
Bardo denied any knowledge of the
letter, dated August 10, 1888, or of
| the construction iOh mentioned