Evening star., 1946-08-14
Surplus
Continued From First Page !

ness had not complied with the sub
poena to bring with him all speci
fled records relating to the split O.
the commission.
Fields said he did not have the
check for Mr.. Dies because it hac
been included in a settlement wher
the agent left Fields employment
July /, He said he did not have the
papers on this settlement and was
trying to get them
Likewise, he said he did not have
the papers on the Drummer deal but
had asked his auditor to produce
them and would be glad" to submit
them to the committee as soon as he
had them.
He then was excused from the
stand after Chairman SLAUGHTER told
MN to be back at 2 p. m.
Regional Director Questioned
The committee then began oues-
tlonlng number of the regional di-
rectors of WAA who had been called
10 washington for conferences this
week with WAA Administrator Rob
ert M. Littlejohn.
Inc first Of these was Frank 7,
seymour, New York regional djrec-
Tor who was asked bv Committee
counsel Hugh D. Wise, ir tn eynle IN
wnat degree OF autonomy had been
granted regional officers.
Mr.. Seymour said that when CON
Eomund Gregory was in charge q,
surplus property disposal there had
10 be reasonable" degree NJ
autonomy, with restrictions on the
regional officers"
1here has been very much more
freedom since March 25." he added
Gen. Gregory was succeeded as ad-
mlnlstrator OF the program bv Mr.
Littlejohn. 'i
AT one time, Mr.. Seymour said
regional directors could sell ma-
terlaIs only up to the value of s15 ooo
without having to send the contract
documents to WASHINGTON head
quarters, but regional directors now
are permitted to make sales I'm IN
sl'ooo.ooO on certain types of ma
tterlals, under prices fixed At Wash
ington. ''''t'
Certifications Checked.
MI. seymour testified that hand
processing of surplus pronerty
orders Is not permitted in the Neu
York regional office and "vo,,ld not
De possible. He was asked about
this by Mr.. Wise, who apparently
was referring to testimony that or
ders by Fields for surplus wire were
speeded up by having the necessarv
documents carried from Office IN
once and put through immedia atelv
Mr. Seymour explained that the
preparation of documents of that
KIND requires several days.
IN response to another Question
ABOUT certification procedure. which
accord lng to previous testimony, was
neglected" by Philadelphia WAA
oInclal. Mr.. Seymour said that his
regional office made a close check
WIN national credit organizations
local chambers of commerce and
otner sources to determine whether
the applicant for surplus pronertv
presented a truthful certification NJ
his business. ''' u
indicating that the committee will,
delve deeper into the question ~ ~
dummy companies In the purchase
Vi surplus property, Chairma n
oiauehter questioned Mr.. Sevmour
about the regional office procedure
IN determining whether the prom
erty' after being bought, actually
goes to the certified applicant.
Shipping FoIlowup Doubted.
Mr.. Seymour said that 'if A
places an order for B, it will not
oe delivered unless we have q check
ora"n against B in payment for
u; He added, however, that he
doubted very seriously" If the
regional office follows up to the
extent OF determining whether DUR.
chased property is shipped directly
10 the certified purchaser. He de-
ciared that he did not believe the
regional office would have anv re-
sponsibility for the property after
IL was bought, picked up within the
required 10 days and shipped under
specified instructions.
Another witness, John F.. Kirch.
ner, regional director of the Kansa,
City WAA Office, said surplus sale,
there at times were expedited in .
walk through" process, but as he
described 1t this permitted nothing
of the type of hand processing" a,
used in Fields orders through the
Philadelphia office.
First Of all, he said this program
was restricted to veterans. He added
that even in cash sales the custo.
mer alone could not take his pur.