Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-05-30
Milk
Continued From First Page)

session of Congress. Both had al
ready contemplated this move be-
fore Chairman Randolph announced
he intended to resign
Mr. Romney said the installation
OF any dlctaphones or other secret
devices TOR recording conversations
in any room in the House Office
Building is unauthorized unless it
had previously been approved by the
Capitol Police Board He said he
had received a number of COM
plants about the alleged wiring of
the investigating room and pointed
out that, if such a practice is con-
tinued, even the privacy of men,
Der OF Congress would be destroyed.
Done Without Authority.
He said he had endeavored to con-
tact Chairman Bates to discuss the
situation, but had been unable to
reach him. 1t has been understood
for some time that the committee
room had been wired for a dicta-
phone. However, Mr.. Bates recently
told a representative of The Star
that the room was not wired AMI
that the information developed in
connection with the activities there,
which are revealed in the transcript
taken by members of the Metropoli-
tan Police Department, were taken
from personal observations
Mr., Romney said the metropolitan
police who did make a transcript of
dlctaphone conversations at various
points while assigned to the Milk
Investigating Committee did so
without authority if they installed
any such device in the House Office
Building.
In disclosing that he would not
serve on the District Committee
next year, Chairman Bates said he
feels he should devote more time to
his constituency in Kentucky. Al
through new member of the COM
mlttee, Mr.. Bates already had been
assigned two of the most important
jobs placed before the committee at
this session. Several months ago his
Public Health Subcommittee made
an investigation of conditions at
Galllnger Hospital, which resulted
IN the House appropriating about
$4,000 more for that institution.
The milk investigation subsequently
was assigned to Mr. Bates subcom-
mlttee and this work alone has taken
most all Of his time for the last
month.
McCoach Denies Influence Used.
The correspondence made public
by Engineer Commissioner McCoach
disclosed that Representative Ran
dolph had attended two conferences
In Col. McCoach's Office to introduce
Messrs. Warden and Somerville,
who made the proposal that the
District paving specifications be
changed to require the use of their
particular asphalt to the exclusion
of others.
"At no tins did Representative
Randolph make any attempt what
soever to influence me in deciding
on the proposal" Col McCoach said
IN discussing the matter with report
ers. Il have no evidence that the
whole procedure was not perfectly
normal insofar as conversations and
communications with Mr.. Randolph
were concerned.
LAS I recall the conferences" he
added, Mr.. Randolph did very little
talking outside of introducing his
friends"
Two of the letters included in the
correspondence were written by D.
Grove Moler. State Senator of West
Virginia, former law partner of
Whiting Faulkner, Martinsburg, w.
Va, postmaster, whose name figured
IN the recent accounts of lobbying.
These were sent to Col. McCoach
by Mr.. Randolph. In one letter Mr..
Moler said there was no question in
his mind but what the Commits
sioner can now accept comparative
bids upon lake asphalt without hav-
ing to compare the prices of lake
asphalt and oil asphalt
Mr.. Moler said that Capt. H. G.
Whitehurst. director of highways,
and Col. McCoach had stated that
"the difference in the initial costs
Of the two kinds of asphalt paving
material would be overcome in favor
Of lake asphalt over period Of time
because of the increased efficiency
and durability of streets paved with
lake asphalt materials"
Col. McCoach denied the state
ment in one of his letters to Repre-
resentative Randolph. He said that
lake asphalt was IAN acceptable
asphalt under our specifications and
that we regard it as q first-class
product to be used in connection
with asphalt paving"