Evening star., 1949-06-26
Hunt Denies 0fferinu
To Use Influence in
Getting U.S.. Contracts

VcIIlIIy ,. kVIiIIoIN
James v. Hunt. self-styled
management counselor, yesterday
called "a liar" anyone who said
that he had ever offered "to
get him Government contracts
through influence"
Mr.. Hunt. . former lieutenant
colonel in the Army Quartermas-
ter Corps and former War Assets
Administration official, declared
he would welcome a Congressional
investigation of charges by Paul
Grindle. Massachusetts, manufac-
turer. published in The New York
Herald Tribune Tuesday.
Mr.. Grindle was quoted as say
ing Mr.. Hunt offered to help him
seek Government contracts and
spoke Of being friendly with top
ofncials.
Denies Selling Influence"
The "liar" statement. Mr.. Hunt
said. includes Paul Grindle."
Mr.. Grindle. a former Herald
Tribune reporter. said he agreed
10 pay Mr.. Hunt 81, 1000 down and
m additional $500 month for
one year and S per cent Of the
Gross amount Of any contract he
rot.
MY stock in trade Is my knowl-
edge. and that of my assistants,
of the workings Of the various
Governmental regulatory bodies
and procurement agencies" Mr..
Hunt said in his first public state
ment since publication Of the story
Tuesday.
II have many friends and &C.
Quaintances on their staffs." he
continued. II have never asked
any Of them to do anything that
was not entirely proper.
If I had, they would have
thrown me out of their Offices.
and rightly so. I have never tried
TO sell influence. And none of
the people I know in Government
service are subject to influence"
Says No Check Was Made.
Pointing out there are many
regulatory bodies, and 50 many
procurement agencies" in Wash
tngton, Mr.. Hunt explained, that
unless a businessman could afford
q full-time office here, he must
employ part-time representation
either on q retainer or commission
basis.
If the small businessman Is to
do business with the Government.
he can either spend a large part
of his time personally In Wash
ington, which is obviously imprac-
tical. or employ . representative
here" he continued. ITO deny
the small businessman the right
10 do this is in effect to deny
him the right to do business with
his Government"
MIR. Hunt asserted that no Her.
aid Tribune reporter tried to check
with him before publishing the
accusations made by Mr.. Grindle.
president Of the Framingham
tMassD Woodworking Co., with
reference to the latter's statement
Mat Mr.. Hunt claimed influence
with Mai. Gen. Harry H. Vaughan,
military aide to the President:
former War Assets Administrator
Jess Larsen: Maj. Gen. Herman
Feldman, the Army Quartermaster
General and others.
Will Probe Large Fees.
Mr.. Hunt has appeared before
counsel Of the Senate Expendi-
lures Subcommittee headed by
Senator Hoey, Democrat. Of North
Carolina.
The subcommittee. which start
ed out to inquire into the reported
deal between Mr.. Hunt and Mr..
Grindle now has broadened its
investigation to cover all buying
activities Of the Government.
Senator Hoey said the group
would give particular attention
to inordinately large fees paid as
contingent commissions" He did
not say when the inquiry would
begin.
The Associated Press reported
that MIR. Grindle, at Briarcliff, N.
r.. said:
I'D be delighted to have a
Congressional committee judge
whether Col. Hunt or I am a liar.
1t is useless for me to make q
direct reply to Col. Hunts state
ment. He has already been
branded by bigger people than I
ever hope to be-"