The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-07-29

The Erie Basin Metals Products, Inc, firm under probe, was one of eight manufacturers of AZ mortar shells, but the committee has been | unable to determine which company made the bad ones.
 Mead said his committee consid- cred the failure of shells and the resulting loss Of life "as a matter ot even greater magnitude than ex- cessive profits" The investigators, he said. should hot be conducted in any casual fashion.
 For that reason, the committee has decided not to make public piecemeal expressions of opinion as to the damage resulting from these defective shells or as to the blame therefor . because of the confu- sion the committee urges that con- demnation of any individuals or companies. including those associat- ed with the Erie Basin case be with held"
 The War Department report on the defective shells was prepared by Mai Gen. Alden H. Wait, chief of the Chemical Warfare Service. It presumably attempted to place the blame for the faulty shells. The committee rejected an earlier report from Waitt because it was non-com- initial on what company made the defective projectiles..
 Waitt, according to testimony nrpC6nrnI rn been on friendly terms with the pr. Henry and Murray Garssons and Rep. A. J. May, (D.-Ky), The Cars sons own a midwest paper empire !"
 May, in the circular letter to his constituents, said that Meads al- legged smear campaign against him had been supported by reds" and Pinks" because of his stand on atomic energy legislation
 Pinks And Reds Against Him
 He said the alleged smear cam paign had been supported by reds and pinks" because of his stand on atomic energy legislation.
 For more than a year have been Waglng a hard fight to keep the mill itary secrets of the atomic bomb in control of the armed forces to pre- vent them from being given away to some foreign nation, and this smear campaign is being contributed to by the reds and pinkS that have been after me ever since the battle start CT" May wrote.
 They want to steal the military secret and give it to Russia. I shall fight on to the end against any such thing"
 The Mead committee meanwhile summoned Comptroller Genera Lindsay Warren to explain today legal shortcomings which prevent the General Accounting Office from detecting contract frauds against the Government until too late. They now are not noticed until contracts are renegotiated, committee mem- berS claim.
 RecOvers Slowly
 May, who reportedly suffered g heart attack Thursday, was reported recovering slowly" His physician Dr. Henry M. Lowden, emphasized however, that ne would not be vel enough to testify before the con- mittee within two weeks.
 Mays attorney, Warren E. Magee said the 7l-year-old Congressman was suffering from a cardiac swell ing in his ankles. This required that Mays feet be raised on pillows as he lies in bed, Magee said.
 Mays form letter was written or stationery of the House Military Al. fairs Committee, of which May i. chairman.
 May asserted in his letter that q neither asked for nor received any compensation or fee for what I did as Kentucky agent for the Cumber. land Lumber Co.,, one of the Garssor enterprises.
 Explains Earlier Appearance
 May explained that the lumber