Evening star., 1946-07-13
that it might tend to incriminate
you or degrade you."

Glldt ~ lIukllI CcIlU W lIlCIllulildLe
you or degrade you"
Refuses to Accept Statement.
Carson had prepared a long
statement, which had been mimeo-
graphed for distribution to the press.
But this was not placed in the
record, because Chairman Mead held
that unless the witness was willing
to answer all questions and testify
fully and frankly, the committee did
not want to hear him at all.
Il don't think" Senator Ferguson
said, "the committee should accept
any self-serving statements"
The chairman, agreeing, added
I'VE are not interested in listening
to pretty speeches"
Carson left the stand, and the
statement was distributed to news
papermen. In it, he denied that his
companies did anything illegal or
improper. He said the Erie Basin
and Batavia firms both made excel
lent production records.
Defends May Intervention.
He also said the evidence proves
that Mr.. May intervened in behalf
Of either Erie Basin or Batavia
only when there was justifiable COM
plant made to Mr.. May as chair
man Of the Military Affairs Com
mittee," and that mot a single con-
tract was ever awarded to these
two companies because of his inter-
vention."
Carson, hustled away from the
committee room door by Capitol po-
lice as a score or newsmen were at
tempting to question him, told re-
porters in another corridor that no
one connected with his companies
had done anything criminal"
He said he had given-his account
of the company's wartime activities
to the committee in executive ses-
sion and, except for his attorney s
advice, would be willing to do SO
again $50 that the public can get
the other side of the story"
Gellman, Weiss to Testify.
He said that he had stood on his
constitutional rights when he ap-
peared before the executive session
but declared that he was ordered on
that occasion Ito go ahead and tes-
tify anyway"
In the turmoil which marked the
departure of Carson and Fields
Senator Mead announced that A. B
Gellman and J. T. Weiss, two OF
Garsson's associates, and Joseph
Freeman, their Washington repre-
sentative, would be called Monday
Commenting on Fields refusal to
testify, Senator Mitchell, Democrat
OF Washington, said just before the
hearing broke up:
1T seems to me that real purpose
has been served by witness Fields
His action should be a warning tc
men Of his kind and a suggestion to
those Government workers who ap-
parently must withstand improper
approaches that committees of Con.
gress stand ready to support them
in every possible way.
Mitchell Urges Precaution.
"Co-operation between individuals
IN Government with congressional,
committees would make Washington
an unhealthy place for all those
who make shady practices pay big
dividends. Unraveled here in this
case are the sordid manipulatio1ls
so foreign to the American spirit
and so costly to the taxpayers
pocketbook.
Because Of these manipulations
extraordinary precautions must be
taken by the Government against
crooks. This investigation has
proved our present precautions in
sufficient to prevent conniving be-
tween those inside and outside our
Government"
Senator Mitchell also saw as an
other alarming aspect evidence that
Erie Basin and Batavia had spen,
$4,000 to buy whisky and jewelry
for friends"
"The alarming part he added
was that Government official said
he thought it proper to 'bribe' with
gifts of whisky Or jewelry those
persons with whom a person die
business, If that bribe sped up pro-
ductiOn,"