Evening star., 1948-11-29
$4,000 Held
AsCar Deposits,
Dealer Testifies
Ourismun Tells Probe
He Favored Friends,
But Defends Policy

Benjamin Ourisman, president
of Ourisman Chevrolet, Inc, 61O
H street NE, today told House
subcommittee he had about
$151 1000" of customer deposits on
new cars in two Washington
bank accounts.
He said he was getting no in
terest from these accounts.
The statement was developed as
the Subcommittee on Questionable
Trade Practices of the House Pub
lie Works Committee resumed its
airing of charges that new-car buy
ers here had been fleeced, calling
to the stand Mr.. Ourisman and two
other Chevrolet dealers.
At the outset, Mr.. Ourisman pro-
tested that his firm in its 81 years
here had dealt with its customers
"as honorably and honestly as we
know how"
Favored" Relatives, Friends.
While generally it was a case OF
"first come, first served" as to pros
pective buyers on waiting lists, he
told the subcommittee that he had
favored friends, relatives and
others.
The subcommittee. headed by Rep
resentative Macy of New York, to-
day was devoting special attention
to what happens to persons on walt
ing lists for new cars and dealers
policies on trade-ins and accessories
A committee report earlier claimed
BUYERS were given much less Tor
their cars than the dealers got on
resales and were forced to take un-
wanted accessories.
Anticipating the waiting list ques-
tions. Mr.. Ourisman said that lob
viously" since there was scarcity
of new cars "I favored my friends
my relatives, my business associates
people with whom I had served IN
the Army, doctors, veterans and
customers of long standing"
Later he added that some mem
bers of Congress were included
among the favored class.
Percentage Called Negligible
Representative Larcade, Democrat
of Louisiana asked what percentage
got cars "at the expense of the 9TH
ers on the list"
"It's so few it's not worth men.
tioning," Mr.. Ourisman replied.
Then it is negligible?'
"very negligible, Mr.. ourisman
assured him.
MIR. .Larcade then told of trying to
buy a new car here In 1945 but, un-
successful, was able to get a car
later in Louisiana. He told Mr'
Ourisman II certainly would have
called you'' if he had known Mr..
Ourisman could sell him car with
out doing SO at the expense OF per-
sons on the waiting list"
Owner Of Two Companies
However, Mr.. Ourisman said MS
Arm had endeavored within the
frailty of human nature to do bust
ness on a frst-come, flrst-served
basis"
Mr.. Ourisman said he was the
orincipal owner of the Mandell
Chevrolet Co., Inc, 1900 Nichols ave-
nue. Sc, as well as the H street flrm
The Mandell firm also was called to
testify today and also third dealer
Kenyon-Peck, Inc, of 1925 Wilson
boulevard, Arlington. His son, Man.
dell Ourisman, who heads the soutn-
east Washington firm, is vice presl-
dent of Ourisman Chevrolet.
The elder Mr.. Ourisman said ne
was responsible for the two policies
Of both companies.
AS to the favoring Of friends In
the purchase of new cars. the wit
ness said he had never regarded
this as morally wrong" He added,
'I am certain that it is not against
the law to do So"
He estimated that in the % years
he has been a salesman or dealer in
Chevrolets here. he had sold about
$4,000 cars. Since the war, he said
he had received orders for 1O,467
cars. If this number he said he had
1,710 orders on hand, that 6,627 had
been delivered since the war and
that 2,13O had been cancelled by
customers.
He said deliveries now were be-
ing made about II or 18 months
behind the placing of orders. Ir
many instances of the "older" or.
ders, Mr.. Ourisman went on, Gus.
toners had been offered cars, but
preferred to wait for newer models
to come along. He cited the case OF
one customer, who placed his orig
inal order November %, 1916. In
this case the order record was
marked mot ready and the witness
said this meant the prospective pur-
(See AUTO SALES, Page A-4)
SnnhnuIie fallad HnnaIns,