Evening star., 1946-08-12
Surplus
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awarded the refrigerators at the
lower price.
During questioning On this deal.
Fields said he did not know who had
obtained the inventory data on the
refrigerating units.
The witness said that "customaril-
ly'' he had buyer when he placed
an order with WAA for surplus ma
terials. but when pressed by Mr..
Wise agreed that If he saw some
thing good he placed an order for it
and then went about finding a pur-
chaser.
That is not an uncommon prac-
tice," he asserted. for anybody" !"
Earlier, Fields had told the in
yestigating committee that his Gus
tomary fee was per cent of the
purchasing price of surplus war ma
terials sold through his brokerage
ONCE. Under committee examina-
tion, however, he said it would be
more correct to say 1t was per
cent plus so percent of savings he
could make for the ultimate pur-
chaser.
Shortly before the end of the
opening hearing. Fields fatty re-
fused to answer when Representa-
tive Riziey, Republican, of Okla
homa asked him what his business
was before he set up his Wash
ington brokerage of1ice in 194l.
With some heat. Fields asserted,
I will stand on my constitutional
rights and refuse to answer that
question. 1t has no connection with
the WAA'
Mr.. Riley again demanded an
answer and wanted to know why he
couldn't answer the query.
Fields said it was his constitu-
tional right because I might in
criminate myself"
Clash on Holding Letter.
He said he was present to explain
dealings in surplus war materials
and that his business before I94l
had no connection with that.
Mr.. Ridley agreed the subject Of
inquiry was the WAA business, but
added land all the surrounding
circumstances"
The line of questioning was
dropped at that point.
Another clash between Fields and
the committee developed when Mr..
Wise went into the refrigerator unit
deal. At the request Of the commit
tee counsel, Fields produced his cor
respondence with Mr.. Gilrein, and
Mr.. Wise announced he would hold
it temporarily until 1t could be pho
tostated, and then returned to the
witness.
Il see no reason for you to take
my original letter" shouted the wit
ness. III have it photostated."
Chairman Slaughter interrupted to
say that the letter as offered in evi.
dence would be retained by the COM
mittee until copied and then re-
turned
Had 81 Lot of Friends.",
Its my file ana it's up to me TO
oder 1t in evidence, If it is offered. I"
Fields insisted When Mr.. Wise
then placed it in the record, Fields
said he would refuse" to offer It.
but the wrangle was ended when
the witness said he trusted" Mr..
Wise and allowed him to keep 1t for
photostating on assurances he would
get it back.
Under questioning by Mr.. Ringley,
Fields testified he had "a lot of
friends-both political and lay
friends"
You mean political friends would
make the entree for you In Govern
ment departments?" asked Mr.. Rig
ley. When Fields responded that
he always made his own entree. Mr..
Ridley protested, But you knew
no one when you came here"
Mr.. Ridley, who said he would
question Mr.. Fields for at least an
hour after the luncheon recess, said
what ne was trying to find out was
now stranger could make con-
facts In Government departments
when veterans, wholesalers and re-
tailers had SO much trouble In find-
ing surplus property.
Fields responded, Maybe was
more progressive"
In answer to Mr. Rizleys cues
tions, Fields testified that he got
into the surplus property business
at the request of clients, but he
didn't remember who the clients
we're or who had sent them to him.
He said he could not remem-
ber exactly how his brokerage
business Office received detailed
information about materials to be
sold or who finally had concluded
the deals.
He told the committee he had
delegated full authority to act in his
absence to Glenn A. Dies, who was
associated with him, and that for
this reason 1t was difiicult for him
to remember just who had closed
out certain negotiations.
Quixzed ON Bronse Screen.
Mr.. Wise inquired specifically into
the sale Of large quantity OF the
III AINTAATS