Evening star., 1946-07-06
Questioning Of May Demanded;
'Bribe' Offered by Spokesman
Of Combine, Senator Charges
Legislator Listed
As Agent Of Firm
Headed by Carson
BY Corter Brooke Jones

that Chairman May of the House
Military Affairs Committee, be
brought before the Senate's Wal
Investigating Committee.
Senator Mitchell made the de.
mand after the committee received
evidence that:
l. Mr.. May was Kentucky agen
for the Cumberland Lumber Co.. o.
which DR.. Henry M. Carson was
listed as president
2. Mr.. May indorsed a check fol
s3,l56.57 made oft by Erie Basin
Metal Products, Inc, to the Cum
berland Lumber Co.
3. The Erie firm and Batavia
Metal Products Co., advanced S48,-
634 to the Cumberland firm for lum-
Der which never was delivered.
Tax Records Sought.
Erie and Batavia were two of 1e
linked companies represented by DR.
Carson, for whom Mr.. May re-
peatedly brought pressure at the
War Department, according to
earlier testimony.
After this mornings hearing
Chairman Mead announced that the
committee would go to President
Truman, if necessary, to get permis-
sion to obtain the income tax rec
ords of the Cumberland Lumber Co.
All Of the firms stock records are
missing, the committee was told.
Senator Mitchell told newspaper
men that man purporting to rep
resent Erie Basin Metal Products
had attempted to "bribe" him last
fall.
The can, he said, came to him
last October or early November
and presented card on which were
engraved his own name and shat of
King Farouk of Egypt.
Senator Mitchell said that he soon
learned that his caller wanted to
discuss the Erie company which was
even then under investigation by
the committee. The Senator related
that the man contended that the
investigation was a persecution of
the company and unfair and he
wanted Senator Mitchell to inter-
cede with the committee on behalf
of the company.
up to that time his conversation
was OK" Senator Mitchell re-
marked.
Then, the Senator continued. the
man stated that his principals"
@rst.
$4,000 to Senator Mitchell's cam
paign fund.
"It was nothing but a bribe,"
Senator Mitchell SAID, IAN effort to
brlbe me in the case. In IA years in
Washington that is the first time
that's happened to me-"
Senator Mitchell told the commit
tee that the integrity of Congress"
demanded that Representative May
be called to testify. He proposed
that the Legislative machinery" to-
ward that end be initiated
The committee planned to con-
slider this and other questions in
volved at an executive session this
afternoon.
Levin Listed as Director.
Sam Beard, a local gambler, testi-
fed few days ago that he cashed
checks totaling more than $4,000
for the late Albert Levin, a Wash
ington attorney, made out by the
Carson interests.
Mr.. Levin's name appeared on
Delaware incorporation paper as
director of the Cumberland Lumber
Co.
Senator Mead explained that
While Mr.. May had been invited to
appear before the committee, he
could refuse to do so and even was
immune from a subpoena as a men,
Der OF Congress and it might be nee
essary to require him to appear by
formal resolution of Congress.
No Record of Ownership.
The evidence concerning the al
legged business connection of Mr.
May, who represents the 7th Ken
lucky district, and DR.. Carson was
brought in by Edward Shaffer OF
the General Accounting Office. He
said he obtained it at the request
of committee counsel at the Offices
OF the Batavia Metals Products. one
of the largest of the Carson NUM-
tlonS corporations.
There was no record of who owned
the Cumberland Lumber Co. stock
the witness said. This was con-
spicuously missing, with only stubs
left in the record book, he said.
Asked If Cumberland paid any
income tax, Mr.. Shaffer said he die
not know.
DO you know whether the Cum
berland Lumber Co. was able to pro-
duce and deliver any lumber
whether 1t had the lumber or the
equipment?" asked Francis D. Flan-
agan, associate committee counsel
Mr.. Shaffer said he did not know
Did you find any correspondence
at Batavia showing whether any
effort was made to have this Iun-
Der delivered?" asked Chairman
Mead.
No, we didn't said the witness
I'VE did ask officers at Batavia
They told us they knew nothing
about it."
Licensed in Kentucky.
Papers from the Kentucky secre-
tary Of States Office licensing the
Cumberland company to do busi-
ness in Kentucky named Andrew
j. May of Prestonburg" as IAN agent
VINO upon process may be served. 4"
1t did not further identify the
agent. Representative Mays home
Is at Prestonburg.
Gen. Hardy Called to Stand,
Meanwhile, the committee sum-
moned Brig. Gen. Roswell Hardy.
assistant chief of ordnance dur
ing the war, to explain why he
went to Chicago to smooth the way
Tor one of the Carson munition
companies to obtain a contract for
8-inch shells.
Evidence has Indicated that Gen
Hardy went to Chicago with DR..
Carson, who had been introduced
to Maj. Gen. L. H. Campbell. jr.
chief of ordnance. by Representative
tses WAR CONTACTS, Page A-3J