Evening star., 1947-08-05

tee the hospitality OF the Hughes
Aircraft Go. only went to this extent
Il participated and was a guest
at various parties. I paid for my
fair share. The fact that STAYED
in their quarters can be explained
legitimately. Moreover, these were
not my parties"
In one case, Mr.. Roosevelt insisted
he's and the officers travelling with
him on the inspection of the Hughes
plane in California in August, 1943,
had reimbursed Mr.. Meyer after
the latter had paid the officers
hotel bill for four days.
Called to sit beside Mr.. Roosevelt
at the witness table, Mr.. Meyer said
he did not recall them paying it.
The hotel bill was included in the
list of Hughes expense accounts.
Mr.. Roosevelt explained he and
the other officers had been registered
at Los Angeles hotel before going
to inspect prototype of the Hughes
plane. Mr.. Roosevelt testified that
when they arrived in California
Mr.. Meyer had urged them tc
stay at a house the Hughes
company had rented during the
war, but they refused. Mr.. Roose.
velt said Mr.. Meyer did not explain
at the time that the house belonged
to the Hughes organization.
After the officers had inspected
the plane at an outlying point Mr.
Roosevelt said they accepted an in.
vltation to party at the house.
When we got there" Mr.. Roose.
velt testified, I'VE found our bags
had been brought from the hotel
Mr.. Meyer had taken us over in
good style. When we started to &c
back to the hotel to pay the bill
Meyer said, oh, no, it's all taken
care Of"
Checked With Fellow Officer.
At this point Mr.. Roosevelt told
the committee that last Sunday he
telephoned to one of the other
officers, Maj. w. r. Boyd, Sd, In
New York to refresh his own men,
ory that one of them had collected
from the group of officers the
money to pay the hotel bill in 1913
and handed it to Mr.. Meyer.
Mr.. Roosevelt said his recollection
was cloudy" as to- whether he OF
Maj. Boyd handed over the hote
money to Mr.. Meyer, but he in
sisted he was present when payment
was made.
When Mr.. Meyer was asked tc
comment on this testimony, he re-
piled, Il am very cloudy"
Mr.. Roosevelt questioned anothe,
item on the Meyer expense account
which, he said, purported to show
$499 spent for entertaining him in
a New York hotel in October. 1914
at a time when he was on duty ir
the European war zone in Luxem-
bourg. -
Near the close of yesterdays ses-
sion, Senator Ferguson wanted te
know what Mr.. Roosevelt's mission
in New York was at that time. 1t was
late in August, 1943, about the time
the report was being prepared te
urge that the plane should be adapt
ed for the AAF.
Mr.. Roosevelt thought he might
have been there in connection with
camera equipment. Senator Fer.
guson asked if he could inquire at
the War Department whether there
were any orders issued to him for
that week end. The Presidents son
suggested Senator Ferguson hac
more influence to get documents
from the War Department than he
would have as a private citizen, and
added:
II must admit frankly I do not
know whether I was up there on
orders or week end pass. If there
are no orders, I was probably on
a week end pass" &
Explains Shift From Africa.
In explaining how he happened to
be brought back from North Africa
in 1943. Mr.. Roosevelt said the then
Assistant Secretary of War for Air