Evening star., 1944-08-30
Reports on Corrigan
Awaited From Justice
Navy Departments
BY the Associated Press.

6y tne Associated Press.
The Senate War Investigating
Committee today awaited formal
reports from the Navy and JUS
tice Departments on what steps
they have taken in the case OF
John D. Corrigan, suspended Navy
commander.
Corrigan, 43-year-old former
president Of Corrigan, Osburne &,
Wells. engineering and industrial
management firm, was temporarily
suspended by the Navy and later
placed on inactive duty" Last
May he testified at a committee
hearing that he sent restricted"
Navy document, listing firms which
had received Government money
for plant facilities, to his private
iirm and asked that 1t be burned
after use. At that time, Senator
Truman, Democrat, of Missouri,
then committee chairman, called for
Corrigan's court-martial.
The departmental reports were
requested by the committee last
night in the wake of Corrigan's re-
fusal to submit to further question
ing at a public hearing about busi-
ness which his firm had obtained
from Navy contractors.
Senator Ferguson, Republican, of
Michigan. acting chairman, said the
committee wanted to know why
court-martial proceedings have been
held up"
Admiral HuSsey Testifies.
Rear Admiral George F. Hussey,
tr., chief of the Bureau Of Ordnance,
told the committee yesterday he had
turned over what information he
had to the Judge Advocate Generals
office. in whose hands the matter
now lies and would ask that officer
to report to the committee.
Admiral Hussey added he under
stood there had been discussion be-
tween the Navy and Justice Depart
ments with view to holding up
any court-martial pending the out
come of Federal grand jury in
vestigation now under way in New
York
Hugh ODonnell, special Assistant
Attorney General, said that the
grand jury inquiry. which he is
directing. probably would be COM
pleted late in September.
Robert H. Wells of New York,
president of the engineering concern,
told the committee yesterday that
possibly 100000" of it's gross reve-
nues of s65O,0OO last year came from
clients who held Navy contracts.
Acted as Trouble Shooter"
But he denied knowing that Cor
rigan had anything to do with the
contractors engaging their company,
and contended they lost many jobs"
through Corrigan's entering the
naval service.
Before his suspension Corrigan
was head of the Navy Ordnance
Bureaus production management
unit, and functioned as a trouble
shooter" in naval production.
Corrigan, appearing yesterday in
civilian clothes, declined to answer
any questions. He said he was
standing on his constitutional rights
and refusing to testify on advice of
counsel. The committee did not
seek to compel him to testify.
Anthony Ritner, former head of
production control at an Elmira
On. " bombsight plant, testified
that 10000 parts rejected when the
plant was under Management by
Remington-Rand were taken from a
scrap pile and used after the Navy
took over the plant and placed it
under management of Carl L.
Norden, Inc. Mr. Ritner said pro-
duction was increased by this means.
Under the Norden management. men
from Corrigan, Osburne & Wells
were sent to the plant as consultants
"Au they did was sit, day after day."
Mr.. Ritner said
T. H. Barth, president of Carl L.
Norden, Inc. testified that Corrigan
got Navy consent" before Mr.. Barth
employed Corriean, Osburne e. Wells
at s500O0 fee for services at
Nordens New York plant. Later.
Mr. Barth said. the firm was en-
gagged for services at the Elmira
plant for $4,000.