Evening star., 1946-08-17
Surplus
Continued From First Page )

tions priority on purchases of per-
sonal property, too.
Principal unfinished business OF
the committee here is preparation
of contempt citation for Benjamin
F. Fields, Washington public rela-
tions man and promoter, when the
committee accused him of "willful
and contemptuous acts" in failing
to provide records of surplus
property transaction in which he
drew a $4,442 commission on an
$8,085 deal.
Citation Soon to Be Ready.
Mr.. Slaughter said the citation,
which will include parts of the
transcript of the hearings to lay
the background for contempt pro-
ceedings, will be ready in a day OF
two for transmittal to Speaker OF
the House Rayburn in Texas.
The free transfer of surplus Glen
dale, Ariz., auxiliary airport to a
'brand-new" educational institution
caused sharp questioning of Mr.
Whittet yesterday.
Transaction Draws Fire.
The transaction as well as the
recommendations in an appraisal
report by Los Angeles firm
brought caustic criticism from
Chairman Slaughter and Represent
tative Ridley, Republican, of Okla
homa.
Chairman Slaughter particularly
criticized the appraisal report OF
Babcock and Allies, consulting engi-
neers, of Los Angeles, for going
beyond appraisal of the Arizona
property and recommending il
should be used as a school ano
setting forth a proposed salary scale
for officers and faculty.
"You were giving away Govern.
ment property" Chairman Slaugh.
ter began when Mr.. Whittet ad'
mitted the Government received
nothing from the transaction.
II wouldn't say that" replied Mr.
Whitted.
"Well," Mr.. Slaughter observed
"you gave a 100 per cent discount
You never give more than 100 PEI
cent, do you?"
Committee members said they die
not necessarily question the legality
of the move but that they were dis.
satisfied with some circumstance.
and were fearful of some of the
possible effects.
The American Institute for For.
eign Trade was incorporated April
less than month after the Arizona
property had been declared surplus
The institute applied to WAA
April 9. It was the only applicant
Mr.. Whittet said, and it received
the sale, with the 100 per cent dis.
count, after the property had beer
duly advertised for disposal.
$724,875 Spent for Airport.
Mr.. Whittet said the school nov
has about 200 students. He said hi
did not know the number of faculty
members or their salaries. Chair.
man Slaughter read from the ap.
praisers' report suggesting that tht
president be paid from $4,000 tx
$4,000 year, and the secretary
and treasurer from $1,000 to 5000
The Government spent total o1
$724,875 on the airport property
This included $440,119 in cost Of
land and buildings on it at the time
of acquisition.
Overall tuition covering all ex.
penses is 81 ,450 year, Mr.. White
testified. He said the institution il
authorized to receive Veterans Ad
ministration payments for educa
tional benefits for ex-servicemen.
Col. Dunno said in his statemen
that the nine-month school curricu
lum Is designed to acquaint student
with the language, customs and cul
ture of Latin American countries.
Spanish and Portuguese will b
taught, and plans call for student
to speak these languages In clas
after two months, he explained.
Subjects Listed.
School subjects, he said, will in
clude banking, personnel manage
ment, markets and marketing ant
exports and imports, all with en-
phasis on the South American bust.
ness world.
The colonel explained there ar,
also facilities at the field for a Ger.
tain number OF married couples 81
that II a man plans a business ca.
reer In South America, his wife viii
not find the language and custom.
of the people there entirely strange
He said the lessons to the wives In
such cases will be free.
Gen. Yount said he could not
imagine q better use for the field
than as center where qualified
veterans and others can have the
training they deserve, and which
at the same time will prove a prac.
tical force for the betterment OF oul
relations with the South American
countries"
ed in Fountain