Evening star., 1949-08-07
Five.Percenter Probe
Will Come Into Open
AT Hearing Tomorrow
Continued From First Page }

Herald Tribune's irresponsible
truths have gone a long way
toward running my business
The public hearings. to be con-
Quoted without benefit Of news
reels or television in a committee
room Of the Senate Office Build
ing. are expected to last between
two and three weeks.
Secretary johnson probably will
be asked for a general statement
on procurement policies of the
military esta blishment although
he may also be- questioned about
Mr.. Hunt. Mr.. Grindle said Mr.
Hunt claimed he was very close
to the secretary. Mr.. Hunt has
denied he said that.
Feldman and Watt May Appear.
Mr.. Grlndle will be asked to
trace his business dealings with
Mr.. Hunt. particularly any con-
versations that led him to believe
Mr.. Hunt could obtain favors
through influence. Mr.. Hunt has
said he never claimed influence
and, in fact. knows no Govern
ment officials who could be inf1u-
enced.
Later in the hearing, two sus-
pended generals. Maj. Gen. Her.
man Feldman, the Quartermaster
General, and Maj. Gen. Alden H.
Watt. chief of the Army Chem
ical Corps. are expected to testify.
The two were suspended July 16
by Secretary of the Army Gray
who said evidence obtained by the
committee indicated the generals
exhibited lack of that judgment
and sense of propriety which must
be expected of persons in their
position"
The name of third general
Maj. Gen. Harry H. Vaughan, the
Presidents military aide-also has
cropped up frequently in meager
reports of the committees private
inquiries.
Both Mr.. Hunt and John Mara
gon. the ex-bootblack from Kansas
City who is also a key figure in the
investigation. have called Gen.
Vaughan their close friend. The
general himself has had nothing
to say since he remarked he knew
about 300 "f1ve-percenters' oper-
ating around Washington.
References to Maragon.
Senator Hoey. Democrat, of
North Carolina, the subcommittee
chairman, told reporters last night
the investigators have evidence
that Mr.. Maragon turned to the
White House in connection with
more than one Government con-
tract.
He discussed secret testimony on
that point after Senator Mundt
Republican. Of South Dakota, dis
closed that officials of low
bidding Detroit auto parts COM
pany said they got fast clearance
on a $3.50 900 Army contract after
reaching an Army officer.
This meeting was arranged
Senator Mundt said. through a call
to some one at the White House
by Mr.. Maragon-one- time holder
of a White House pass.
Senator Hoey told reporters that
In addition to the Detroit men,
I'VE have examined other con-
tractors about relations with John
Maragon."
Some of them" he said. shave
testified they sought Maragon's S
help in getting Government con-
tracts. Some of them also have
admitted that Maragon made
White House contacts for them,
but in some instances helped them
deal directly with Government de-
partments."
Calling Of Vaughan Urged.
Led by Senator Mundt. several
members of Congress have de-
manded that Gen. Vaughan be
called before the committee. There
are no indications yet whether
he will testify.
1t Is virtually certain that Mr..
Hunt will not testify-at least for
the first week or two of the hear
ings. His doctors said after he
comes home from the hospital