The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-07-28

n ~ 81
~ unduly fat bar
gains for seekers after government
contracts. Possibly some of them
have been at the game for a long
time, but 1t appears that Uncle
Sam 5 present enormous wartime
requirements have stimulated 'em
in their activities and multiplied
'em numerically.
In the first place, II broker col
lects pay from one Of his customers
for promised services that he can't
perform, he's grating on the GUS
toner. who hasn't any remedy for
Il, or he'd incriminate himself. Not
that l think the greedy contract
hunter IS entitled to any sympathy.
Attorney General Biddle's inves-
tigation and another one by Chair
man Carl Vinson Of the representa-
tives' naval affairs committee have
strongly indicated a good many
cases in which crooked contractors
have employed crooked brokers and
have had their moneys worth from
the latter in the form Of mighty
Juicy contracts, and a good many
other cases in which crooked con-
tractors have been swindled by
crooked brokers.
Many Need Hell.
II such discoveries hadn't been
made, it wouldn't have been nee
essary for congress to pass a law
to put a stop to the system.
Now. I don't for a minute intend
TO suggest that the average con-
tract applicant wants in excess Of
fair return or his stuff. He may
even consult a broker with no bad
intention, but merely because he's
inexperienced in Washington and
believes he needs an old hand to
advise him. If he gets a better
deal than he'd expected, I presume
he generally bears up under the
shock with no particular lamenta-
ton.
Suppose, though, that contrac-
tor. either by la5'-7 or accident,
closes a decker on considerably IA
vorable terms to himself.
A contractor and a broker COM
bined can't dispose Of a big order
Of goods to the government, at a
fancy figure, without a bit Of ac-
quiescence on the part Of the gov
ernmental boys who subscribe to it
for Uncle Samuel.
Far be it from me to so much as
hint that as many as one in 1,000,-
900 Of our wartime contracting
agents are otherwise than 100 per
cent on the level.
A corking high percentage OF
'em, however, are as unsophisticat-
ed as babies.
What chance does one OF EN-
stand, in conference with slick,
sly broker. who could sell an imi-
tation gold brick TO the treasury
department?
What the government needs. 10
stop grating. isn't so much a law.
to punish it after it's been perpe-
trated, as a lot OF educational
courses, for the benefit Of its exec
utive crew, to prevent il in its in
cipiency.
There are three groups:
/. The contractors.
2. The brokers'.
3. The governmental guys.
think I've given a pretty clean
bill Of health to the governmental
tiles. except as to intelligence
I've said that the contractors are
okey, on an average.
Brokers as Guide.
Now I propose to speak a word
for the brokers.
OF the big ores In suspicious, as
everybody IL.
Many Of EN-, however, are per-
fectly well intsntioned. The fact is
that they're not brokers. They're
guides around ne capital
Washington now is the cussedest
( place ever invented, to come into,
with the best intentions Of promot-
ing our war effort and good gov
/ eminent miscellaneously.
l know a big out-of-toWn sup
plisr summoned in to see a cabinet
member. Arriving. he reported at
the proper department. Got an ap-
pointment ," asked the desk clerk.
Nope" conceded the applicant,
who'd neglected to bring his tele-
gram, but phone his Office. He
knows ne" Nothing doing" said
the clerk You gotta 60 outside
and phone IL for an appointment.