Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-06-07
Lost Letter Delays Hearing on Maxons 1872 Food Points
Lodges Rdtions
Laid 10 Advice
Of Fitzgerald

vi IHNycIolu
Hearing into Go charges that
Maxon. Inc, obtained illegally a
large number OF ration points for
it's lodge at Onaway was under
adjournment today until June 10
as officials Of the firm contended
they followed the advice of w. f.
Fitzgerald. senior OPA ratloning
officer, in obtaining the points.
An adjournment was ordered
last night by members OF Ration
Board No. 1895 TO allow officials
OF the firm 10 produce records
Of the number of persons who
visited the lodge and a copy of
the letter in which the firm ex-
planned its position 10 Fitzgerald
LETTER Is MISSING
The original OF the letter Is
repeatedly missing from OPA files.
Fitzgerald will be asked 10 ap-
pear at the June 10 meeting,
board officials said.
The Investigation was started
after r. J. Thomas, president of
the UAW-CIO. asserted the firm.
headed by Lou Maxon. deputy
OPA director, violated four OPA
regulations in applying for the
ration stamps and demanded that
both Maxon and Fitzgerald be dis
missed by the OPA.
The hearing last night was at
tended by Paul Silver. chairman:
David Connery and DR.. G.. Flint
Purdy, members OF the ration
board, and G. Reginald Nickel
secretary; ". T. O'Niel. treas
urer. and Butler A. Sumner. pub
J ication director, representing
Maxon Inc.
Maxon officials coun'ered OPA
questioning with ross-examina-
ton Of their own. and Indicated
that the explanation IN the al
legged violations is in a letter from
N7yon, inc. 10 Fitzgerald. now
repeatedly missing from OPA files.
ASKS FOR LETTER
where IL this letter ." Sum-
nor asked the OPA board
I'VE don't have II here" Sill
yer replied 1T probably 1, at
the other office"
GA. sA..-
open 10 the public ."
Silver "No. they are not pub
lie records"
Sumner: "Was Mr.. Thomas
here looking AT the records"
/ Silver: NO. ne wasn't"
Sumner. who said duplicate
copies Of the letter are in DOS
session NJ MsXon. indicated the
letter may have been los, when
pho'oStatic copies we're bein
taken Of other records.
NO ACCESS TO FILES
Silver denied that Thomas or
any NJ his mon had been digging
through the file and taking photo
static copies
But where did Mr.. Thomas
get the photostatic copies ."
sumner querled
THAT YOU will have TO ask
Mr.. Thomas" Silver came back.
In reply TO A question ny Or.
Purdy refSrrlng n food consump-
ton Al n lodge. Nickel. Maxon
secretary. said the firm owns II
buildings a, Onaway. necessitatlne
large staff
/ The lodge which ne said was
maintained for the benefit Of en-
ployes. normally accommodates 70
persons. but often is required II
handle as MANY as 700 persons on
week-endS or longer.
! Nickel said that employees and
their families often STAYED for two
or three months for reasons ~
health during the summer. and
on shorter visits during hunting
fishing and skiing iaunts
MOSTLY EMPLOYEES
How many ~ these people
would he employees ." Silver de-
manded
About 90 per cent" Nickel
replied.
Upon questioning by Connery
The MaXon officials admitted that
IN addition 10 employees. they had
entertained number of prominent
citizens, including representatives