Evening star., 1941-07-25
Dupont Circle
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that Harry L. Newman, the new
president of the ownership corpora
ton; Riley A. Gwynn. whom he
thought represented the Govern
ment; B. w. Anderson, former man.
ager; Thomas r. Robertson. former
acting manager, and Harrison Som
erville, former president of the
Dupont Circle, Inc, be called before
the investigating committee.
Mr.. Reedy also told the commit
tee that "air conditioning units are
being installed at terrific cost" in
the Dupont Circle Apartments now
being fitted as Government Offices
and advised the committee that
'the costs of taking over the build
ing by the Government are going to
be enormous" and should interest
the committee.
Representative Hebert, Democrat,
of Louisiana, a member OF the
committee. questioned Mr.. Reedy
regarding what he called "Shenani-
gans" concerning stock transfers
incident to sale or control of the
apartment Immediately preceding
the leasing of the building by the
Government. He said he wanted
the record of the hearing to show
who got the money" Several
members of the committee asked
questions indicating they were not
satisfied that the real estate trans
action was above board"
Mr.. Ingham, questioned about Mr..
Reedy's charges, said there had been
great deal of disorderly conduct
in the building and agents were
employed for the protection of the
tenants and Government property.
He denied detectives were en-
ployed in espionage work.
Replying to questions, Mr.. Ingham
said efforts had been made to find
suitable quarters for the tenants.
The building. he added, is now 70
per cent vacated.
Questioned by Representative
Manasco. Democrat, of Alabama,
about the corporation now owning
the apartment. Mr.. Ingham said it
Is a Delaware corporation.
Persecution Charged.
Mrs. Helena Hill Weed, daughter
of the late Representative Ebenezer
J. Hill of Connecticut, who is still a
tenant, and whose lease was execut-
ed week after the Government
had made a commitment to take
over the building, complained that
she has been prosecuted"
She is lame and said the bench
near the elevator where she has been
accustomed to sit has been removed
and put in storage. She said that
other conveniences advertised to be
furnished tenants have been re-
moved. that corridors are not swept.
there is racket all night, the stool
in the telephone booth removed, and
lobby chairs and rugs removed.
She said she had been threatened
with eviction and told publicly they
propose to cancel her lease because
she had not paid her rent. She told
the committee she had paid her
rent and holds receipt, but the
acting agent refused to accept it
She showed her lease to the COM
rnittee.
Representative Holmes, Republi-
can, of Massachusetts, and other
members on the committee asked
Mrs. Weed who Mr.. Gwynn is and
she replied that she and other ten
ants had been unable to determine,
that he had been represented as
Government agent and that he him.
self said he was lust an employe
trying to straighten things out"
On July 3, she said, all employees
at the apartment received a bonus
from Mr.. Somerville when they re-
ceived their pay.
Accuses Owners.
1t was on July when she asked
the acting manager why Mr. Somer-
vile had told her he would not sell
or lease the apartment to the Gov
ernment. she received the smiling
reply, He spoke the truth because
he no longer represents the owners
and of course could not sell or lease
the building to the Government"
She suggested to the committee
that their investigation will show
that the apartment ownership in
their relations with the tenants
illustrates playing both ends
against the middle"
Chairman Lanham emphasized
that the exact name of the apart
ment should be indicated in the
record of the hearing-the Dupont
Circle, Inc, Apartment-as there is
another Dupon Apartment which
should not be confused with the
one the Government is taking over
Mrs. Weed also told the commit
tee that living conditions in the
apartment are almost unbearable
and dangerous. She has been fear
full and several times there have
been sharp raps on her apartment
door in early morning hours.
Mrs. Weed told the committee she
has been put to great expense, in
convenience and suffering by her
experiences during the past month
at the Dupont Circle, Inc. She as
sured them her fight has not been
against the Government in leasing
the apartment but against the own
ership.
Couldn't Learn Ownership.
Representative Wright OF Pennsyl-
vania suggested that the Govern