Evening star., 1941-08-05

OpcfAtCu IIOutAUlys
Mr.. Furey also testified the apart
ment hotel had been operated on q
profitable basis and the ownership
was not keen to sell.
Replying to a question by Repre-
sentative Herbert, Mr.. Furey ad-
mitted that the $35, 900 allowance"
testified to on Friday by Harrison
Somerville, president of the corpora
ton from 1887 to July 3, 194l, was
really brokers fee credited to
the purchases since there was no
brokers' commission involved.
Answering repeated questions, Mr..
Furey reiterated that 'Mr. Newman
had no authority at any time to
negotiate for the stock owners with
the Government"
Mr.. Furey also said that Mr.. New
man told him on May % that there
was no lease to the Government"
and that the Government had never
approached the former owners after
that time.
1t was then Representative Her
bert said the testimony indicated
that Mr.. Newman had made mis-
representations"
Signed Lease July 1.
In previous hearings, it has been
brought out that Mr.. Newman on
July / signed papers to lease the
Dupont Circle to the Federal Gov
ernment.
Today, in answer to questions, Mr.
Furey testified that Mr.. Newman
had no authority to sign the lease
with the Government on July l and
that the seal of the corporation was
not turned over to him until July
3 with the stock certificates and
other properties.
B. w. Anderson, manager of the
apartment for the former owners
and manager for the new owners
until Saturday when he resigned,
testified that up to July he had
not been advised Of the prospect of
a lease to the Government and there
had been no complaint by the ten
ants against the service.
Replying to questions, he said the
placard placed in the lobby as no
tice to the tenants on July was
written by Mr.. Newman, who also
wrote the letter of notice to tenants.
He testified that the new owners
were not cooperative in his efforts
to smooth the way for the tenants
and that the effort was to get them
out as soon as possible.
Some Rebates Allowed.
Representative Hebert referred to
testimony by Mr.. Newman and
asked if the new ownership had
shown broad humanitarian interest
in the evicted tenants and had
loaned or given them money.
Mr.. Anderson replied that there
had been some rebates.
To a direct question if Mr.. New
man had shown sympathy toward
the tenants being forced out, Mr.
Anderson said, Not too much"
Another Representative asked
about employment Of the William
j. Burns detective agency-if they
were employed to watch any par
ClCuldT INDIVIDUAL.
Not to my knowledge was Mr..
Anderson's reply.
The detective agency was brought
in after July /.
Mr.. Anderson testified that the
602 tenants would still have been
occupying their apartments but for
the forceful attitude and conduct
of the new owners in forcing them
out and in some instances COM
pelling them to give waivers on
their leases. Rugs were taken out
on July Is, chairs from telephone
booths and other inconvenience for
tenants to facilitate the moving in
of the Government.
Efforts to Help Futile.
In your opinion did you think the
tenants were fairly treated?"
Not as I would have treated
them"
Asked if the tenants had not been
abused" Mr.. Anderson said more
so after July 15." He said he had
stayed on hoping to make it easier
for them, but when he found such
efforts were futile he had quit Sat-
urday.
At this point Chairman Lanham
closed the hearing on the Dupont
Circle inquiry and the committee
went into its executive session to
discuss recommendations.
Chairman Lanham notified rep
resentatives of Government agencies
that tomorrow at 10 am. after ac-
ton on the Dupont Circle is decided
on, hearings will begin on the pro-
posal of Chairman SABBATH of the
House Rules Committee for decen-
tralization of Government agencies.
Representatives of the Department
of Agriculture and the Federal
Home Loan Bank Board will be
heard tomorrow. Representatives Of
the War and Interior DEPARTMENTS