Evening star., 1947-07-26
Hughes Denial Of Aid
by Elliott Roosevelt
On Planes Reported
BY the Assoeioisd Press

sBy The A,soeiossd Press
Howard Hughes was reported
today to have denied specifically
to the Senate War Investigating
Committee that Elliott Roosevelt
had anything to do with Gov
ernment award of a $4,000, 900
wartime plane contract to Mr..
Hughes and Henry J. Kaiser.
A member of the committee told
reporter privately he was present
when Mr.. Hughes testified behind
closed doors several weeks ago that
the son of the late President con-
tributed nothing toward obtaining
the contract.
Senator Ferguson. Republican, of
Michigan said a subcommittee he
heads has been looking into reports
that Elliott may have played part
in obtaining White House backing
for the contract-described as hav-
ing been stoutly opposed by the
armed services.
That apparently was one of the
objeetives of the committee in issu-
ing a subpoena for certain papers
in the files of the late President
Roosevelt.
Truman Approves Action.
Most of these papers were de-
livered to the committee yesterday
by Solon j. Buck, United States ar
chivist, with the explanation in a
letter to Chairman Brewster of the
full committee that President Tru-
man had approved the action be-
cause 1T would not violate the in
tention of the late President Roose-
velt as disclosed in such documents
as are available"
Presumably, the committee hoped
to find among these documents sup
port for the contention of Senator
Ferguson and some other Repub-
lican members that White House
pressure" had been used to obtain
approval of the contracts after the
War Production Board and other
agencies had ruled against them.
Whether Elliott Roosevelt exerted
any influence in this situation
seemingly has been one of the mov-
ing factors of the Republicans who
are in charge of the investigation.
Mr.. Hughes explained, the COM
mittee member said, that the young
er Roosevelt had consulted with
him on the technical aspects of
building a photo-reconnaissance
plane on a contract granted after
the original agreement for construc-
ton of a plywood ship.
At that time, Mr.. Roosevelt was
an Army colonel in charge of a
squadron of pEoto-reconnaissance
planes.
Political Pressure Charged.
Disclosure of the Hughes testi-
mony came before Chairman Brew
ster called the full committee to-
gether in his Office for an informal
review of evidence assembled by
Senator Ferguson's subcommittee in
its preliminary investigation into
the affairs of Mr.. Hughes, Hollywood
millionaire.
Members gathered in an atmos-
phere pungent with Senator Brew
ster's charges yesterday that ''polit-
ical pressure" had been brought to
bear on him to stop the investigation
and an assertion by Secretary OF
Interior Krug that he was being
made the victim of "a swindle OF the
grossest kind"
Mr.. Krug said in a formal state
ment that he was not present at
three affairs about which John
Meyer, former publicity man for Mr.
Hughes, purportedly listed expend-
itures for Mr.. Krugs entertainment
At Detroit last night Mr.. Krug com.
mented that reports of lavish parties
in connection with the contract was
nothing but lot of Hollywood
ballyhoo."
Mr.. Meyer already has giver
sworn testimony before the Senate
committee and the committee ha!
in its possession photo copies Of ex.
pense vouchers, as well as othel
records concerning entertainment
activities in behalf of Mr.. Hughes
Krug Denies Entertainment.
Publication Of purported copie!
of some of these expense voucher!
led Mr.. Krug to deny specificall!
that he was entertained by Mr.
Meyer at the Kentucky Derby, thai
he was a dinner guest of Mr.. Meyer
in New York cafe and that he wa!
entertained by Meyer in New Yorl
October IA, 1946.
Mr.. Krug cited his presence else.
where on those occasions, adding:
THE expense account voucher!
now being circulated in Washington
from an unannounced source anc
purporting to represent the expendi.
lures OF John Meyer are swindlt
of the grossest kind"
Mr.. Krug has reminded the com.
mittee that the Hughes-Kaiser con-
tract was let before he became chair.
man of the War Production Boarc
(WPB) in August 1914. But Senator
Ferguson said that subsequently Mr.
Krug signed an order releasing ST..
100000 to continue operations of the
Hughes contract.
Senator Brewster told reporters al
an informal news conference yeSter.
day that he is certain the published
photos said to be copies of the Meyer
vouchers did not come from the
committee.
Senator Brewster added that he /.
convinced friends of Mr.. Hughe!
have launched a campaign Ito di.
vorce the committees inquiry from
what happened to the Government!
SAC, 600, 900 to what happened with
the girls"
This was in line with his previous
declaration that Hollywood inter.
ests" were trying to divert public
attention from "the real issues" with
stories of lavish parties, pictures
of bathing beauties and other sexy
stuff that is being fed to the news
papers and radio"
They are trying to discredit this
investigation as merely a smear,
the Maine Senator declared. ~
AS part of the campaign, Senator
Brewster asserted, Carl Byoir Of
New York, publicity man for Mr.