Evening star., 1938-01-23
FAVORABLE EREP0RT
ION BURLEW SEEN
Senate Public Lands Body
Expected to End Hearings
This Week,
BY REX COLLIER.

The Senate Public Lands Commits
tee Is expected to conclude hearings
this week on the nomination Of Ebert
K. Burlew to be First Assistant Sec.
retary Of the Interior, with indica-
tions pointing to q favorable report
to the Senate.
A hint as to the attitude of some
committee members was seen in a
comment yesterday by Senator O'Ma-
honey. Democrat. Of Wyoming that he
thinks Mr.. Burlew has demonstrated
to an extraordinary degree his fitness
for the position to which he was NOM
mated"
The remark was prompted by a sug.
gestion from Senator Pittman, Demo-
crat, OF Nevada that Mr.. Burlew, at
one point in his testimony, tended to
impeach himself. Senator OMahoney
protested to Senator Pittman that the
Interpretation was unfounded and de-
manded: Lets be fair about this"
Quizzed Concerning Clerk.
At the time Senator Pittman was
quizzing Mr.. Burlew about the reten-
ton in the National Park Service of
disbursing clerk whose accounts in
Yellowstone National Park were found
to be $795 short. The clerk, although
absolved Of criminal guilt, was held
to be responsible for the shortaea
from an administrative standpoint ara
was required to reimburse the Goy%
ernment for the loss.
Mr.. BurleW insisted that records G
the department show that he orderl
the clerk transferred from pay rc1
work as soon as he learned the EN-,
ploye had been given this RESPONSE
billty following adjustment Of the Yet
lowstone loss. He said he also disap<
proved a Park Service recommends
ton for the clerks promotion.
Il refuse to accept responsibility foI
the retention of this man in the serv.
ice or for efforts to promote him.
Mr.. Burlew declared, with emphasis.
The Secretary and I, as a matter
OF fact, wanted to know why he had
not been dismissed, but Park Service
officials pointed out that investigators
had been unable to pin any guilt on
him, despite three months Of inquiry.
II have been stop-gap all along
in this case. There was no reason why
I should go out OF my way to ruin the
man. We don't do that in our depart
ment, and refused to be a party to it."
Mr.. Burlew asserted that although
the clerk later was found to have
signed five pay roll vouchers in the
Stitely fraud case, investigation had
absolved him Of any COLLISION.
Stitely Awaits Transfer.
Reno E. Stitely, former chief Of the
voucher unit OF the National Park
Service, is in the District Jail, await
ing transfer to Federal prison under
a sentence Of 6 to II years and a
s36ooo fine for forgery and false pres
entation of vouchers.
The committee yesterday questioned
Hilleary A. Tolson. assistant director
of the National Park Service, and
Harry Edwards, chief of the accounts
section Of the service, regarding their
investigation Of the Yellowstone short
age and the Stitely fraud.
Senator Pittman interrogated Col.
Walter l.. Simpson and Capt. ]. G.
Gholston. former officials Of the P. W.
A. inspection division, as to their in
spections Of various public works prof.
ects. He asked Col. Simpson particu-
larly about a s2,eoo.ooo street widen
ing project in Baltimore and the wit
ness said he had disapproved cost Of
the land as excessive He said his
recommendations were accepted 'in
part, but not wholly" Senator Pitt
man did not pursue the inquiry fur
ther, but indicated his Intention Of re-
calling the witnesses later.
The committee will resume its hear
ings tomorrow at pm. There is a
possibility the hearings will be con-
cluded early this week.