Evening star., 1949-08-13
Probers Seeking
Motive Behind
Freezer Gifts
Subpoena Is Issued
For Ad Executive
Named in Testimony
TESTIMONY Shows Gen. Watt
Critical of Rivals for Army Post
Page Az
By Marvin L. Arrowsmith
Associoted Press Stoff Writer

Page Az
By Marvin L. Arrowsmith
Associated Press Stoff Writer
Senators investigating fve-per-
centers today sought a motive for
the reported shipment of unasked-
for home freezers to Mrs. Harry
S. Truman and other Washington
notables.
Chief Counsel William P. Rogers
said the Senate Investigations
subcommittee has a subpoena out
for Harry Hoffman, Milwaukee
advertising man whose name
cropped up in testimony at the
inquiry. Lawmakers hoped he
might shed some light on the sub
ject.
A committee member said pri-
vately he has seen invoices show
ing that a freezer was sent to Mrs
Truman at independence, Mo-,
and that two were shipped to Mai.
Gen. Harry H. Vaughan, Presl-
dent Truman's military aide.
Vouchers Dated in 1945 and 1946.
The Senator said the invoices
also list shipments to Chief Justice
Vinson, Federal Reserve Governor
James K. Vardaman and Presl-
Dental Secretary Matt Connolly.
The vouchers-not yet in the
record-are dated l945 and early
1946 At that time Mr.. Vinson
was first reconversion director and
later Secretary of the Treasury.
Mr.. Vardaman was President
Truman's naval aide.
The invoices were brought to
the inquiry by Albert j. Gross, a
Milwaukee businessman who testi-
fed Thursday that he shipped a
freezer to Gen. Vaughan and
other prominent Washingtonians.
He said all the units were paid
for by the Albert Verley Co.. the
Chicago perfume firm for which
John Maragon worked in 1945.
Mr.. Maragon. who once had en-
tree to the White House, is key
figure in the committee search
for influence peddlers.
Ross Has "No Information"
Mr.. Gross testimony was cut off
after he named Gen. Vaughan as
a recipient of one of the freezers.
Chairman Hoey said the commit
tee wanted to get all the facts
before putting out the rest of the
names.
He added that one person listed
already has told him he did not
get one.
Another committee member said
he was told Mrs. Truman sent a
thank-you note to Mr.. Gross,
thinking. he was the donor.
Presidential Secretary Charles
G. Ross said yesterday he had mo
information whatever" when he
was questioned about the reports
dealing with Mrs. Truman and the
others. Mr.. Vinson had no COM
ment. He said he preferred to
have the facts come out at the
Senate investigation.
The Senator who saw the ship
ment invoices wasn't sure about
whether one of the units was
tagged for Secretary of the Treas
ury Snyder, who was named as a
recipient in one news story.
Unable to Reach Hoffman.
Senator Mccarthy, Republican,
OF Wisconsin looked over a pub
lished list which included all OF
those repeatedly mentioned in the
invoices except Mr.. Connolly, and
declared
MY only comment is that
George Allen should not be on the
list"
Mr.. Allen, an intimate friend of
Mr.. Truman, formerly was a di-
rector of the Reconstruction FL
nance Corp.
Senator Mccarthy told reporters
Mr.. Gross Is entirely in the
clear" with respect to the myste-
rious freezers.
AS for the committees search
for Mr.. Hoffman, Counsel Rogers
said his staff tried unsuccessfully
to reach the Milwaukeean by
phone yesterday. 80 we issued a
subpoena for him."
1t was Mr.. Gross who first
brought up Mr.. Hoffman's name
at the inquiry into the operations
of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS who
charge a fee for help in getting
Government contracts for others.
Mr.. Gross testified that Mr..
Hoffman put him in touch with
a commission man whose aid, in
this case. he sought about OBJ
tanning scarce steel.
Mr.. Hoffman's name also has
figured in secret testimony to the
committee by Mr.. Maragon. 1t is
known the latter told the investi-
gators that Mr.. Hoffman also was
(See FIVE-PERCENTERS, AID
1900 Fired by Jopon
As Strike Threatens