Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-07-30
Contractor Insists
Coffee Got $500
For Aiding Interests
Believes Giving 1t
Was All Right, but
Accepting 1t Wrong
By Miriam Ottenbera

Accepting 1t Wrong
By Miriam Gutenberg
The Senate War Investigating
Committee today drew from Eiv-
ind Anderson. Tacoma (Wash)
war contractor, statement that
in his opinion it was all right
for him to give $4,000 to Repre-
sentative Coffee, Democrat, Of
Washington, but wrong for Mr..
Coffee to accept it.
Under two-hour grilling, the
Tacoma contractor insisted that he
agreed to send $4,000 to Mr. Coffee's
secretary, Paul Olson, during a con-
versation under Capitol stairs. that
the sum was for services rendered"
in carrying through war contract,
and was not campaign contribu-
ton, as Mr.. Coffee has commended
In making his statements. Mr.. An-
derson drew the fire of Senator Con-
nally. Democrat, of Texas, who IN
formed the witness, According to
my theory, you ought to have been
indicted"
Wanted to Get Things Done.
Mr.. Anderson testified that he
called on Mr.. Coffee and Mr.. Olson
tor assistance as his Washington
representatives "a couple dozen
times" that the purpose of the
,,,o,oey uac not to Influence ary ana
in the War Department, but only to
get me something the Government
was obligated to give me under the
contract"
Then you didn't pay them for in
f1uence," observed Senator Ferguson,
Republican, of Michigan. you
merely paid them to do what the
Government should do. You actu-
ally paid them for services they
rendered"
The witness agreed, adding that
he wasn't interested in where the
money went but only in getting
things done"
Il made out the check to Olson
he said, IF he give it to Mr., Cof-
fee. that's none of my business"
Under Senator Connally's angry
questioning, Mr. Anderson testified
that he had no idea until late in
1914 that he might have committed
a obstructive act.
Disallowed as Tax Deduction.
He said he first got the idea that
the payment was destructive" when,
III 1914. the Internal Revenue Bureau
refused to allow a $4,000 deduction
he claimed for representation in
Washington in 194l"
After hearing you say you we're
paying a member of Congress for
services, did any OF the lawyers you
told about this last spring tell you
that the statute of limitations had
outlawed prosecution and that now
you could make this public without
danger to YOURSELF" asked Senator
Mead
Mr. Anderson said the statute of
limitation was never mentioned in
his presence
Chairman Mead had brought out
earlier in questioning that Mr. An
derson had given the check to Mr..
Olson in 194l but had kept the in
terchange a secret until the spring
of 1916 after Mr.. Olson had defeated
him in the primaries of a Tacoma
fnayoralty election.
Denies Contribution"
After reading the statute from the
original code which calls for a s10.-
900 fine or two years Imprisonment
for those who offer or accept money
to use influence in accepting war
contracts, Senate Mitchell asked Mr..
Anderson if he had heard of the
statute.
1T says influence" replied the
witness. There was nothing in this
| case of using influence to get any,
thing from the Government"
| In other words" Senator Mitchell
/ retorted. you made contribution
! to a Congressman because he did
the right thing
/ Il didn't make a contribution"
/ the witness insisted
Did you think it was morally or
! legally wrong for Mr.. Olson or Mr..
Coffee to accept this check" asked
George Meader, chief committee
counsel.
Doubts Doing Wrong.
Il didn't think that till I heard
this statute read just now the
witness replied. but Coffee must
have known. That's why he had
the check made out to olson
What do you think about your
own conduct" asked Mr. Meader,
I don't think it was wrong" re-
piled Mr.. Anderson.
DO you think Mr. Coffee was
wrong?" asked Mr.. Meader.
That I don't want to give OUT
the witness responded.
In other words" summed up Mr..
Meader, you mean it was all right
for you to give, but wrong for him
to receive it"
The witness shrugged and replied
that he doubted Mr.. Olson had de-
clared the $4,000 in his income tax
returns.
When the witness turned over to
the committee letters and kilograms
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