Evening star., 1941-07-30
Newman Silent,
Committeeman
Ask Subpoenas
Dupont Circle Lease
For u. S. Not Yet
Signed, Probe Reveals

Several members of the House
Public Buildings and Grounds Com
mittee today urged Chairman Lam
ham to have subpoenas issued to
force Harry L. Newman, president
of the Dupont Circle, Inc, apart
ment building, to answer questions
by committee members.
This action came after Mr.. New
man, appearing at the committees
hearing on decentralization of Gov
eminent agencies and circumstances
surrounding the projected leasing OF
the apartment to the Government
had refused to answer questions put
by the investigators.
Mr.. Newman was invited to be a
witness again when the committee
resumes hearings at 10 am. tomor-
row. Chairman Lanham said the
discussion of the Dupont apartment
lease would continue through Fri
day, and that the committee would
not be able to hear Government Off
cials on the SABBATH resolution for
decentralization of Government ac-
tiyities before next Tuesday.
L. S. Lease Not Yet Signed.
During his testimony today, Mr.
Newman admitted that the Govern
ment had not yet signed the lease
for the apartment. At this, several
members of the committee remarked
that they doubted if the lease will
ever be signed.
Before the hearing was adjourned
committee members sought to find
out Mr.. Newman's purpose in bring
ing Senator Tydings. Democrat, of
Maryland. and Charles Sawyer of
Cincinnati, Democratic national
committeeman from Ohio, on tour
Of inspection of the apartment house
while he, Mr.. Newman. was nego-
tlating the lease with the Govern
ment and before he became presi-
dent Of the corporation.
Mr.. Newman replied that they
were there because I invited them. ;
Then, saying he was answering the
question that was not asked" he
pointed out that Government leases
contain a clause saying that nc
member of Congress can participate
in any profits arising from any con-
tract between the Government and
a lessee.
Says No Off1cial Has Interest.
Mr.. Newman asserted no Govern
ment official, officeholder or employe
had any connection with the sale of
the building and its leasing to the
Federal Government.
In response to inquiries from COM
mittee members who said Mr..
Sawyer was not an official. office
holder or employe of the Govern
ment, Mr. Newman declared: ::
Charles Sawyer has no more in
terest in anything connected with
the building than you do"
Asked, Weren't you jeopardizing
the good standing of a member of
Congress-" by taking Senator Tyd-
lngs with him to inspect the build
ing, Mr.. Newman asserted, IF that
Is fact, it is his place to jump on
me"
Senator Tydings has told reporters
that he visited the building only at
the request of friends, and that he
had no interest in the sale or leasing.
Members Urging Subpoena.
Members who urged that sub
poena he issued for Mr.. Newman
included Representatives Hebert of
Louisiana, McGregor of Ohio, Harris
of Virginia. Manasco of Alabama
Wright of Pennsylvania, Elliott of
California and Gibson of Georgia.
Members of the committee ex-
pressed amazement to hear the
president of the corporation, whose
property is valued at S2,500,000, ad-
nit that he does not know how
many shares of stock there are in
the corporation, or what their par
value is. He refused to tell the
committee, when asked several
times, how many shares of stock
he owns or how he acquired them.
Returns to Stand.
Committee members fired a bar
rage of questions at Mr.. Newman
when he took the witness stand for
the second day.
What is the par value of the
stock?' Chairman Lanham inquired.
Mr.. Newman said he did not know.
How many shares of stock do you
own, what is the par value and
from whom did you acquire them?'
he was asked. The witness reply
was that he didn't consider it peril
nent.
DID you own any shares of stock
In 1872 This question was not
answered.
Asked how many people were
present at the meeting July 3, at
which he was elected president of
the corporation, Mr.. Newman re-
torted: i do not consider that per-
tinent."
Lanham Presses for Reply.
Chairman Lanham insisted it was
pertinent because the names of two
men appeared the same day as
president of the corporation in the
recorder of deeds office.
Mr. Newman protested that the
information sought by the investi-
gators was corporate matters and
not at issue"
At this point, Chairman Lanham
said: I'VE are not able to get in
formation regarding the ownership,
how much stock you own or when
you got it"
Mr.. Newman then testified that
ION or about May 81 he had rea-
sonable hope of leasing the building
to the Government. and said he was
not president at that time, but de-
clined to state what his position was.
Several committee members then
warned the witness that they will
Insist on his answering questions.
Names Offered in Confidence.
When Mr.. Newman offered to
give 'in confidence" the names OF
stockholders of the corporation since
1887 several committee members de-
clared they did not want the in
formation lin confidence" or of the
record"
Chairman Lanham asked what
accommodations and conveniences
are offered to tenants now as COM
pared with the period before July l