Evening star., 1943-05-06
R Street Host Tells
Of Generous Gifts 10
Democratic Party
Monroe Asserts Farley
Indorsed Him for Job
In Maritime Commission
By JAMES E. CHINN.

John P. Monroe, the manufac-
turers' agent who wined and dined
men high in Washingtons public
life in the palatial red brick house
at 2101 r street, revealed today he
had been a generous contributor to
the Democratic war chest and few
years ago was recommended for ap-
pointment to the Maritime Commits
sion by the former higher ups" in
the Democratic party.
He admitted that James A. Farley,
former chairman of the National
Democratic Committee who at one
time served in President Roosevelt's
cabinet as Postmaster General, was
one of his indorsers for the job. He
declined, however, to name the
others, saying:
Il was we'll sponsored, but I don't
want to drag any more people into
this case" (the one under investiga-
ton by the House Military Affairs
Committee), was his response to
request for the name.
Says Phone Line Tapped
Mr.. Monroe, who talked with a
Star reporter over telephone at
2101 r street, which he said is still
"tapped'-the line was noisy with
incessant clicks at the time of the
intervieW-also declined to unfold
any more information about the job
he sought with the Maritime Com
mission. ...-
He vigorously denied, however,
published reports that he had
worked for the Reconstruction
Finance Corp. at salary said to
have been less than 5000 q year.
THAT report is absolutely untrue" :"
he declared.
AS to other published reports that
he may lose his $20O, 900 palace in
the exclusive Jamaica Plains suburb
of Boston, Mr.. Monroe declared:
That, too. is another fabrication"
He admitted he is involved in
controversy" with tax officials in
Boston over the interest due on the
taxes, but said the amount was less
than $4,000. A recent increase in
the assessed valuation of the prop
erty, he said, led to the controversy.
And, he added, obviously In a face
tious vein: I've been losing so
much money lately can't even pay
my taxes"
Calls r Street House Hut
Mr.. Monroe described his Boston
home as far more palatial than the
big four-story red Brick house in
which he is now living at 21O1 r
street. The garage alone. with space
for 10 cars, he said. cost $65 900.
The estate also has a surrounding
wall, he explained, which cost
100000.
And you newspaper men, he
remarked, call this place at 2101 r
street a mansion. It's just a hut
by comparison.
Chairman May of the House Mill
tary Affairs Committee said, mean
time, it would be another week be-
fore efforts are renewed to shed
more light on the social activities
of Monroe and Mrs. Eula Smith,
occupants of the r street house.
Meanwhile, he declared, commit
tee investigators will seek additional
information on which to base the
questioning of Mrs. Smith.
The committee yesterday subject
ed Mr.. Monroe, who identified him.
self as manufacturers representa-
tive, to five-hour examination but
failed to develop any sensational
disclosures. The hearing ended with
threat of possible contempt pro-
ceedings hanging over Mr.. Monroe's
head.
The contempt threat arose when
members of the committee who are
investigating war contract fees
sought to draw from the witness
names of high New Deal ofIicials"
he had charged, told him he was
going to be framed" and "perse-
cuted." He said he couldn't remem-
ber and Representative Sheridan,
Democrat. Of Pennsylvania, proposed
that he be held In contempt.
Mrs. Smith, who last week refused
to testify. was not called to the wit
ness stand. She waited through part
of the hearing in a nearby ONCE.
And when the hearing ended she
was called into the committee room
and told by Chairman May she
would continue to be under subpoena
for testimony later.