Evening star., 1947-08-04

include Mrs. Alice Roosevelt
expenditures" Senator Ferguson
asked.
They were in the line of business
Senator" the witness replied.
Would you say the getting of wa
contracts was in the line of bus,
iness?" the chairman continued.
Senator" Mr.. Meyer said slowly
Il did public relations for the
Hughes Companies. What resulted
from it or what we got was up te
Mr.. Hughes"
Senator Ferguson displayed (
voucher stating that a party giver
by Mr.. Meyer at the Waldorf Astoria
Hotel in New York city in Novem.
Der, 1914, was "at Elliott Roosevelt
request"
Said Party "Would be Nice
THAT party was my idea," MIR
Meyer explained. Il probably wrot,
it down wrong on the voucher wher
said Elliott requested the party
He did not. :" what did he say wher
you, arranged the party for hi.
friends?" Senator. Ferguson de.
manded.
oh" the publicity man responded
Il think he said 1t would be very
nice"
The voucher. as read by Senator
Ferguson, did not reveal the amount
spent on the party. Attached to il
was long guest list.
Are you going to read all those
names just so they can all get theil
names in the papers?" Mr.. Meyer
wanted to know.
| Senator Ferguson said he hac
obtained all the information HI
needed for the time being.
Was Invited by Mrs. Roosevelt.
Concerning his trip with severa
Army officers and other friends tt
Hyde Park shortly before the 1884,
election, Mr.. Meyer said he hao
been invited by Mrs. Eleanor Roose.
welt. He added that he had moi
previously met her.
Senator Ferguson then asked the
witness whether the November
1914, trip to Hyde Park was "in the
line of business"
wouldn't it be business to 60 tt
the home of the President Of tht
United States?" Mr.. Meyer coun'
tered. "It was a great privilege ane
a great honor"
But" Senator Ferguson broke in
you charged 1t as business ex
pense of your COMPANY"
"Why should I pay it personally?
the witness retorted.
do you think the Government
should pay it?" Senator Ferguson
asked.
How the Hughes company spen
its money was not my concern,
the witness said.
Paid for Baggage Transfer.
In further explanation of SOM
of the charges listed in connection
with entertainment of Mr.. Roose
velt, Mr.. Meyer explained that h
livd in New York City at the Wal
dorf Astoria Apartments. Although
that was a part of the hotel. h
said, it was my New York home
and If Elliott stayed there he wa
a guest In my home
Turning to details of gifts listet
as having been given to severa
women other than Miss Emerson
Senator Ferguson asked what tha'
had to do with war production.
1T may have been BE Nice
to Soldiers Week." the witness
snapped. ....
One such expenditure paid for tn.
transfer of baggage Of a couple
from one New York hotel to an.
other.
Now that shows what happen.
when you try to do a favor" Mr.
Meyer said. TT looks bad in print
But the fact is that the young lady
and her husband had to leave the
one hotel because of the three-day
rule. So I was able to get a placs
for them at my hotel"
Bill for Wallets Under Fire.
At the start of the session Senator
Ferguson questioned Mr.. Meyer
about bill amounting to $139.75 ir
September. 1914, for two small bag.
and two metallic wallets, that wer,
charged to Hughes Aircraft. An.
Eother exhibit showed the metallic
wallets were returned to the dealer
and the bill reduced to $109.75 fol
the two small bags.
Senator Ferguson said the record:
Indicated they we're gifts for Mr.
Roosevelt's wife and Judy Cook
Hollywood swimmer and model
Pressed by Senator Ferguson a.
Ito why the expense was incurred
and what it had to do with tn,
manufacture of aircraft. Mr.. Meyel
replied. "It was general entertain
ment, as charged by everybody il
business
! A little earlier Mr.. Meyer said,