The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-07-10
SoIons Call Profiteers To estify
 Three Executives
 Slated To Tell Side
 In May inquiry

| Washington, July 10 - (UP) - Three executives of a Midwest mu- nitions combine accused of war profiteering were summoned for questioning today by the Senate War Profits Investigating Commit | tee.
 Leading the three was Dr. Henry Carson, glib master mind of the 16-firm combine that rolled up spec tacular profits and turned in equal | ly spectacular expense accounts for Government payment. The committee lists Carson as president of the Cumberland Lum- Der Company a paper empire sub sidiary assertedly formed by Rep. Andrew J. May, O., KyD. Also call- ed were A. B. Gellman, president of the combines Erie Basin Metal Products Company, and J. T. Weiss, Erie treasurer. Carson was vice. president of Erie. To End Army Testimony
 They were slated to tell their side of the story after the committee rounds out the first phase of it's in- quiry with testimony from Under secretary of War Kenneth Royal and Brig. Gen. Roswell Hardy, Army ordnance officer.
 May has said he served as pro cess agent" for the Cumberland Lumber Company in Kentucky. But he has steadfastly insisted he made not a single penny from the ven- ture.
 Carson, Gellma nand Weiss = in addition to their Erie jobs-also were on the directorate of Batavia Metal Products Company. It and Erie handled nearly 50 percent of the S78,000000 in Government war contracts won by the paper em- pire."
 Events Summed Up
 The day in court for the paper empire chiefs was set as the com mittee::
 l. Was thrown into a tumult
 by 47-year-old Washington pub
 licist Henry M Paynter, an un-
 scheduled witness who charged
 the committee with holding
 star chamber proceedings" and
 ssuppressing the facts" and
 then beloved into a micro
 phone that you're not going to
 scare mel"
 2. Received testimony from
 Secretary of War Robert P. Pat
 terson that May interceded
 thrice with him on behalf of
 the Carson interests but never
 spoke to me about awarding any
 contract"
 3. Was told by Royall that
 May telephoned him on three
 occasions after the Army froze
 Erie basin funds to protect the
 Government during renegotia-
 ton.
 Paynter, the most colorful char acter 10 testify since a self-styled race track gambler told how he cashed some Empire" cheeks. was subpenaed by the Senators when they heard about telegrams he had been sending to Washington news papers.
 Hired by Johnson
 large, ruddy-faced man With bristling moustache, Paynter said he was hired by Wayne Johnson. attorney for the Garssons. after he had thought it all over for two days and two nights"
 He said he sent telegrams to newspaper editors because he thinks there is "a malicious plot on the part of the employees of the com mittee."
 Royall said he had prepared Sept. $, l945, order signed by Pat terson freezing Erie funds.
 Telling of two of the telephone calls made to him about this by May Royall disclosed the Congress man had asked him what legal au- thority" the War Department had for such move.
 Royal said he told May there might be some doubt" about the legality of it but the interests of the country required it"
 And l don't think he had any, thing more to say after that" the Undersecretary added.
 Heard of Complaint
 Patterson said he had never heard of Batavia Metal Products until May called him in March. l943 complaining" about cutback at the firm.
 Subsequently, he said, the Con- gressman CD called up 'inquiring about the possibility" of having an Army-Navy E" awarded to Ba- taVia and (2) summoned him to his office to discuss the freezing of Erie Basin funds.
 Patterson testified that he had full confidence in the decisions of the board which awarded eff ciency "E's." -.... .-. ..
 He introduced in evidence a let ter he had written April 29, l945, informing May that Batavia had won one.
 An Army colonel testified previ- ously that he believed the award was unjustifled in view of the firms record.