Evening star., 1947-08-04
$159 Hughes Expense Voucher
For Roosevelt Wedding Party
Under Attack in Senate Probe
Ferguson Says Other
Plane Firms Had No
Such High Costs
BULLETIN

"A bitter dispute broke out
as the Senate War Investigat-
ing Subcommittee adjourned
for a. noon recess today with
Senator Pepper, Democrat, of
Florida charging, Elliott
Roosevelt is the only one being
investigated" In the exchange
were Senator Pepper, Chair
man Brewster of the full Sen
ate committee and Chairman
Ferguson of the subcommittee.
The Senate War Investigating
Subcommittee inquiring into
Howard Hughes Airplane con-
tracts today turned to an ex-
pense account voucher of the
Hughes Aircraft Co. for $159.41,
labeled "Col. E. Roosevelt we'd
ding party"
This development came as Chair
man Ferguson of the subcommittee
investigating the $40, ,o0o. 900 Hughes
wartime contracts said the books of
other aircraft companies show no
such "glaring examples" of wartime
entertainment expenditures as those
of Howard Hughes.
Earier today, John w. Meyer
Hughes publicity man, admitted that
he sometimes labelled expense ac-
counts as having been for the enter
tainment of Elliott Roosevelt mere
ly because his name was the most
important of the Is or 80 persons
being entertained at the time.
Mr.. Meyer also told from the wit
ness stand that he had visited the
late President and Mrs. Roosevelt at
Hyde Park at about election time in
1914.
The wedding party voucher was
the basis of inquiry as Elliott Roose-
velt sat in the background waiting
to testify and to give mis- explana-
ton of expense accounts totaling
S5,083 between 1943 and 1945. These
expenses on which Mr.. Meyer has
been questioned contain frequent
mentions of MIR Roosevelt and Miss
Faye Emerson, his actress wife.
Roosevelt to Testify on Contract.
Mr.. Roosevelt is expected to give
his tsory of how and why he recon-
mended that the Government buy
Mr.. Hughes photo-reconnaissance
plane after the-Army Air Forces had
rejected 1t.
The "Col. z. Roosevelt wedding
party voucher was paid by check to
Paul Franklin, a test pilot, in De-
cember, 1914, according to testimony.
Roy Sherwood, assistant control
Ter of the Hughes Aircraft Co., told
Senator Ferguson the payment indi-
Gated it could have been for flying
the wedding party somewhere.
Mr.. Meyer testified, however, that
Mr.. Roosevelt was flown to the
Grand Cayon for his marriage to
Miss Emerson by Jack Frye, former
president of Trans World Airlines
and that Mr.. Eyre paid the expenses
Meyer May Have Made Flight.
This pilot may have flown me
there" Mr.. Meyer added, referring
to the $159.41 payment made by the
Hughes Co. to Mr.. Franklin.
While Senators and witnesses
from the Hughes Co. argued back
and forth about his wedding, Mr.
Roosevelt sat a short distance away
waiting for the chance to tell his
side of the story.
He was on hand promptly at 10
am. but Senator Ferguson decided
to complete the quizzing of Mr.
Meyer on all of his expense vouchers
first.
Mr.. Roosevelts appearance served
to pack the Senate caucus room, and
left an overflow crowd trying to
get in.
The detailed voucher for Mr.
Franklin was itemized as 500 for
four days flying time and $59.41 for
other expenses.
Gould that have been a bill for