Evening star., 1946-07-23
Coffee
Continued From First PageD

would do so if he were asked to ap-
pear before the Mead Committee.
IF the Mead Committee. after
completing its preliminary investi-
CATION, invites me to appear before
it, shall be present promptly and
discuss the affidavit of Mr.. Anderson
at that time in detail" Representa-
tive Coffee said.
In Home State.
"Mr. Anderson is now making
statements quite different from
some Of those he made in the affi.
davit. I understand out here dr
Tacoma, that he now believes the
transa ction was thoroughly honor
able. That affidavit was made. yol
remember. during the political cam.
paign out here last March"
Mr. Coffee said he realized thai
publication of the af1idavit as re.
suit Of its formal presentation to the
Mead Committee by Senator Brew
ster may be news in Washington
today But in the State of Wash
ington, he declared. it is old stuff :
and can be easily refuted.
Representative Coffee said he pre-
ferred not to comment on every
charge in the affidavit unless anc
until he appears before the Meac
Committee. When pressed for com
ment on Mr.: Anderson's statement
that he and Mr.. Olson and Mr.. An.
derson met in a basement corridor
at the Capitol and discussed tn.
$500 matter, Representative Coffee
declared
Il emphstically deny that. 1t Il
ridiculous. AS I said last week in 8
public statement. the $500 checI
was in no way a payment to me o.
Mr.. Olson for assisting Mr.. Ander
son in connection with the war con
tract. 1t was strictly a campaign
contribution. as I said before"
Senator Brewster said TODAY h,
sees no reason why the Mead Com
mittee,s current hearings on III,
Carson munitions combine shoulc
prevent speedy consideration of tn,
Coffee charges.
Senator Brewster said he does no
believe the preliminary examination
of the material referred to the com
mittee has yet been completed bu
that lit should be we'll under wa,
by now The committee announced
last night that as soon as the coun.
sells investigation is finished "th,
matter will then be presented TO tn,
committee in executive session. afte
which the committees decision car
be announced "
The affidavit was placed in tn,
committee records along with s
request for study of section 5A o.
the Corrupt Practices Act and thre,
sections of the criminal code con
corning penalties for payments OF
promises to members of Congress.
concerning contracts. Senator Brew
ster said today. He explained tha
the criminal code provisions ar,
much more explicit" than the Cor
rupt Practices Act section.
Reason for Payment Disputed.
According TO Senator Brewster
the AFFIDAVIT contends that the 81
500 payment by Mr.. Anderson tc
Mr.. Olson was not a campaign con-
tribution.
The check was paid to Mr.. Olson.
the affidavit states. for service.
rendered in connection with m,
contract for building construction
at Fort Lewis, which contract wa
for a lump sum and amounted t,
approximately $1,000, 900"
Mr.. Anderson declared "emphat ii
cally'' in the affidavit that:
In none of my converse tions O
discussions with Mr.. Olson or MI
Coffee was it ever agreed or men
toned that ! was to make the psv
ment as a campaign contribution
! A Justice Department spokesmal
refused again today to confirm O
deny that it had investigated tn
matter. The only reply to question
aoout past or current investiga ito,
was: There is no comment at tn
! l.
Senator Brewster today insiste,
that the Mead Committee shoul,
look into the matter for possible VIC
lation of the Corrupt Practices Act
He said that he would submit to tn
committee further and more ex
plicit' sections from the crimina
code
/ Law Quoted.
! The Corrupt Practices Act sectiol
which he called to the committee
attention. he said. provided that:
No person or firm entering int
any contract with the United State
or any department or agency thereo
- il payment . is to be mad
L