Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-12-27

tion--.for a third term In the Sen
ate beginning January 3. A Sen
ate campaign investigating sub
committee held hearings on thes'
charges In Jackson, Mississippi
recently.
The second part concerns his us'
Of influence TO obtain contracts fol
Mississippi contractors from th'
War and Navy Departments and
his acceptance of Rratuities from
these contractors for his aid. A
Senate war investigating commit.
tee has been delvinR into these
charges for more than a week.
Build Good Case
With consummate skill, the sub
committee and It's counsel has
built up the latter case against
Bilbo. The burden Of the eEamina-
ton Of unwilling witnesses has been
carried by Senator Homer Fergu-
son, Republican Of Michigan. a
former circuit court Judge Of
Wayne County who presided over
the trial Of and sentenced John
RoxborouRh and other defendants
In the policy racket cases In De.
trOIt.
First, they proved that BIlbo
was particularly active In recon-
mending contractors 10 the War
Department 10 build various Army
projects In Mississippi. By the
testimony Of Army officers II was
established that he frequently
visited the Corps OF Engineer
headquarters; interceded to have
the Jackson Army Air Base con-
struction job transferred from the
jurisdiction Of the Mobile, Ala
hanna, District Engineer office TO
the VickSburg, Mississippi, Office;
introduced TO the Assistant Chief
Of Engineers the contractors 10
whom Cost.plus-fScd-fee contracts
were let for the building Of that
project. the keesler Field Army
Air Base ut Biloxi. and other Army
jobs.
Next. they proved that these
contractors contributed cash and
other things Of value TO Bilbo. The
record Ia replete with such gifts.
For example. Big Boy Newton,
whom Bilbo helped to get the con.
tract to build the $4,000, 900 KEGS
Ter Field rs q co-venture with other
contractors, gave Bilbo campaign
contributions totaling s25. 900. $3.50
TO help build n church and parson.
age for the Juniper Grove Baptis,
Church located on Bilbo's property
Mt Poplarville. and contributed S7t
for furniture M q Christmas gift
Bernie Knost. another contractor
who had n piece Of the Keesler
Field deal, gave Bilbo n campaign
contribution Of $1,000. lent Bilbe
200 on which. he says Bilbo still
owes him $3.50; gave Bilbo's former
secretary. Edward Terry. u political
contribution Of $3.50, and lent
Terry $1,000,
Mike Morrissey gave Bilbo q
Cadillac ear as n Christmas pres
ent, lost approximately $4,000
managing Bilbo's farm over a four,
year period under an agreement
whereby Morrissey paid the taxes
and was to split the profits with
Bilbo but absorb the losses him
self; built Bilbo an artificial laks
at = cost Of s3,672i9. exclusive OF
rental Of equipment which would
have cost about $500 II rented al
the rate Morrissey was renting
such equipment to the Government,
for building kreslcr Field. and len,
Bilbo $4,000 on his note,
Amos and Andy Bookkeeping
The way these Mississippi con,
tractors kept books would hRv'
done credit 20 Amos and Andy IL
their most comical radio show, Foi
example, John r. Junkin, president
Of the ST. Catherine Gravel Com
pany, Matches, Mississippi, fur
nished labor and material In tn,
amount Of si,i9If0 to build ,
swimming pool for Bilbo, Hi
eompany's ledger showed IN,
amount paid in cash, but II wa
reported in the eompany's ineom'
tax returns rs an item Of expense
The Internal Revenue Bureau dis
allowed the item as deduction
because Il considered Il as q elf
TO an individual. Junkin testi
fed that Bilbo still owes him thi
sum.
These are just some u the rami
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