Evening star., 1946-07-24
Decision on AII-0ut
Inquiry on Coffee
Awaits Checkup
BY Robert K, Wojsh


Counsel for the Mead Com
nittee had "one or two points to
clear up" today before the men,
bers decide whether to hold a
fuu-scale investigation Of the
$500 check transaction, involv-
ing a war contractor and Repre-
sentative Coffee, Democrat, of
washington, and his former sec
retary.
Mr.. Coffee promised yesterday in
Tacoma. Wash. that he would i'm
mediately appear before the COM
mittee if asked to do so. He denied
statements in an AFFIDAVIT by Eivind
Anderson, Tacoma contractor, that
the check to Paul A. Olson, the for
mer secretary, was payment by Mr..
Anderson to them for help in get
ting a 81 100000 building job at Fort
Lewis in 1941. He said the check
represented campaign contribution.
Pressed by Brewster.
Senator Brewster of Maine. a Re-
publican member of the Mead Com
mittee, continued to press for wider
study of the $4,000 payment as a
possible violation of the Corrupt
Practices Act and the criminal code
He cited four parts of the code ap-
plying, he said, more explicitly"
than does section 5A of the Corrupt
Practices Act to the general ques-
ton of members of Congress re-
ceiving money.
Preliminary investigatio of the
charges which Senator Brewster re-
ferred to the committee may be
completed today, Committee Coun-
sci George Meader Indicated After
clearing up one or two remaining
points, he will report to the COM
u1ittee in executive session, he said.
The committee then will decide what
course to take and whether to call
Mr.. Coffee and others.
Pending such a decision no COM
mittee comment was available on
Representative Coffee's comments in
Tacoma yesterday.
Ready With Witnesses.
Mr.. Coffee told The Star by tele-
phone he is prepared to "demolish'
the affidavit which Mr.. Anderson
made last March in a Tacoma may
orally primary campaign. He can
produce two witnesses, he said, to
refute any assertion that he made
any agreement or mention of any
sum Of money as payment for serv-
ices to Mr.. Anderson in getting the
war contract.
There is recent evidence in Ia
coma. he declared. that Mr.. Ander-
son no longer charges that the
S2,500 check to Mr.. Olson was any
thing more than q campaign con-
tribution. He said he understands
that Mr.. Anderson now believes 1t
was a perfectly honorable trans
action"
The material put before the Mead
committee by Senator Brewster is
"old stuff in Tacoma Mr.. Coffee
declared. He added 1t probably
was news in the National Capital
but it could be easily refuted."
He preferred not to discuss the
charges in detail unless and until
called before the Mead committee.
he said.
Says Charge Ridiculous"
He "emphatically denied and
termed as ridiculous" the affidavit
charge that he Mr.. Olson, and Mr.
Anderson in May, 1941. met in
Capitol corridor beneath the stairs"
and arranged for $4,000 as payment
for helping Mr.. Anderson obtain
the Government contract.
The criminal code sections which
Senator Brewster said he brought
before the Mead Committee to sup
plement his earlier statement on the
Corrupt Practices Act, are:
Chapter 1879, section 110. relating
to acceptance of bribes by members
Of Congress; Chapter 201, "on the
use of appropriations to pay for per-
sonal service to influence members
of Congress to favor or oppose leg
islation'; Chapter 200, section 112.
relating to members of Congress
taking considerations for procuring
contracts and Chapter 203, section
l13 on receiving pay by member
of Congress in matters affecting the
United States