Evening star., 1946-07-11
Gen. Hardy Says May Protested
Batavia Cutbock, Demanding
More Than Company Deserved
Officer OverruIed
Chicago Agency
On e Award
BULLETIN
BULLETIN

Milton 4. Pettlt, chairman
Of the Ordnance Committee
for "E" awards to war pro-
ducers, wrote what price
political expediency" as
comment on the beStoWal of
the honor to Batavia Metal
Products, Inc, he told the
Ser ate War Investigating
Committee today Chairman
Mead commented that the
record showed the Batavia
award was "a disgraceful pro-
cedure."
By Carter Brooke Jones
Intervention of Chairman May
of the House Military Affairs
Committee at the War Depart
men in behalf of Batavia Metal
Products, Inc, largest of the
Carson munitions companies
under congressional scrutiny
was described today to the Sen
ate War Investigating Commit
tee with these new points
brought out:
l. Mr.. May asked ordnance Off
GERS what was being done to ease
a sharp cutback in production Or
dered for Batavia, explaining he was
going to Chicago to attend its e
award banquet and wanted to re-
port to Henry M Carson.
2. Brig. Gen. Roswell E. Hardy
then head of the munitions branch
of the ordnance department, testi-
fed Mr.. MAY asked in connection
with the cutback more than the
department felt Mr.. Carson was
entitled to-
3. Gen. Hardy admitted he over
ruled the Chicago ordnance Office
in recommending that Batavia be
given the e" award.
Says Carson Sought Spread.
Gen. Hardy said Mr. Carson had
complained in June. 1945, of the
cutback in shell production ordered
for Batavia, and Mr. May had
phoned the general and some of
his subordinates, backing up the
Carson claim. The production of
shells was being reduced from 25,0OO
to 10000 a month, Gen. Hardy ex-
planned, and Mr. Carson wanted
the reduction spread out more
equltably over the two months,
which the Ordnance Department
did not consider out of line.
But Mr.. Carson, the general add
ed, cited the Kaiser and Budd cor
porations, complaining that he was
being cut back more than they were
and that he had a good produc-
ton record with less machine equip
ment than they had been allowed.
Gen. Hardy said the Kentucky
representative phoned about the
same matter, explaining that he
was going out to Chicago to attend
the e" banquet and wanted to
be able to tell Mr. Carson what
was being done about his complaint
Mr.. May was quoted as saving he
didn't think it was fair to cut back
Batavia to the extent ordered
'CiCI al hNdtu.
I'VE thought that Mr. May was
asking more than Batavia was
entitled to-" Gen. Hardy said.
Gen. Hardy engaged in a pointed
discussion of the e" award to
Batavia with Chairman Mead and
Francis S. Flanagan, associate coun-
sci for the committee.
The general admitted he had
recommended the honor after the
Chicago Ordnance Office had sent
in report opposing it.
The witness said he thought
Batavia S record in producing the
8-inch shell, the most critical item
on the ordnance program at the
time, had been good. and he thought
the award should be made as an
incentive to increase production.
Gen. Hardy said he was not con-
cerned with the other criteria in
volved labor turnover, manpower
utilization and other factors. which
the Chicago Office had taken into
consideration.
Carson Complaints Relayed.
Your recommendation was un-
usual because the district ordnance
office had opposed the award?'
Chairman Mead suggested.
Quite" said Gen. Hardy.
Gen. Hardy said Mr.. Nav had
called him a number of times in
regard to Batavia, relaying COM
plants which Mr.. Carson made
about various matters.
He pointed out that "E" awards
were made by an Army Navy board
consisting of several generals and
admirals and he could only recon-
mend.
Milton E. Petit, chairman of the
ordnance committee for "E" wards
testified that only about four per
cent of all the companies engaged
in war production received the "E. -
They had to be good in most in
stances to get it?" George Meader
chief counsel, suggested.
Yes"
It was his impression" that the
first suggestion that Batavia get
the e" came from Representative
May. MI. Petit told the committee
The committee also learned today
g. JIv,D npoETrC r