Evening star., 1938-02-05
BURLEW INQUIRY
ENDS THIRD WEEK
Questioning of Witnesses
Will Be Resumed Again
on Tuesday.

The Rurlew investiga ton by the
Senate Public Lands Committee was
in recess today, with arrangements
made for resumption Tuesday-the
start of its fourth week
Going far afield since it was insti-
tuted after the nomination of E. K.
Burlew. administrative assistant to
Interior Secretary Ickes. to become
First Assistant Secretary of Interior.
the committee late yesterday heard a
defense of Mr.. BurleW by one of its
own members. and later another SEN
ator voiced his faith in Secretary
kkes
There has been no evidence here
that reflects on the integrity or capa-
blitles of Mr.. Burlew.' said Senator
oMahoney, Democrat. of wyoming
after he had asked how much longer
Senator Pittman, Democrat, of Ne
vada, who is prosecuting the probe,
intended to continue.
Has Confidence in Ickes.
Senator Smatlers. Democrat. of New
Jersey emphasized his confidence in
Secretary Ickes in explaining a re-
mark he had made at the hearing
which he said was misinterpreted as a
criticism of the Interior head.
Instead of meaning. he said, that a
new Interior Secretary was needed. he
had intended his comment to be in
the nature of an inquiry as to whether
Senator Pittman thought the cabinet
officer should be replaced
Il am supporting the administration
and all the cabinet officers said Sen
ator Smathers.
Senator Pittman has blamed Mr.
Purlew for conditions disclosed in the
department, including an $4,000 en-
nezzlement and reports of wire-tap-
ping. He has threatened to carry his
fight against confirmation to the floor
May Re Quizzed on Shortage.
The committee also was confronted
yesterday with a reported shortage OF
100000 in the Interior Department s
cafeteria Senator Pittman. who had
brought up the matter, said he MIGHT
want to question Mr., Burlew as to any
snoWledge he might have of the
shortage and of A settlement of
$4,000 agreed to by the Interior De-
partment.
r W, Hoover, general manager of
the Welfare and Recreationsl Asso-
cation. operating Government cafe
ferlas, said later the report apparently
vas based on a rejected jnterpreta :
ton OF the associations contract in
1894. He explained that Senator Pitt
man probably had reference to an
audlt OF the associations books in that
year, when the old Office of Public
sulldlngs and Parks was taken over
by the Interior Department.
At that time. Mr., Hoover said. Sec
retary 1ckes ordered an audit of the
associations accounts back to 1926
The auditor. he explained. suggested
an lnterpretat ton of the associations
contract, under which s1O5,O00 would
nave been owed the Government for
certain welfare work, including calls
made on sick Federal employees.
When Mr.. Hoover contested the
auditors suggestion that the associa-
ton should not charge the Govern
ment for any of these services. Sec.
retary 1ckes appointed committee
10 study the matter. The committee
upheld the associations original in
depreciation, Mr.. Hoover said. with
the result that it was ruled the asso-
clatlon owed the Government only
$4,000. which was paid.
The original contract called for a
periodical division of any surplus be-
tween the association and the Gov
ernment, but this was changed to give
the Government so per cent split of
the net profits. The association. a
hen1i-governmental agency. uses the
profits for business expansion.