Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-08-08
Five-Percenters
Continued From First Page,

Grlndle related, that ne could
fix up" a 100000 penalty against
a firm for late delivery on a
job, because the head of the re-
view board in New York lowed
Hunt his job and when it (the
papers, came back to Washington
Feldman would take care of it."
"Close to Johnson"
7. Mr.. Grindle said Mr.. Hunt
also boasted that he was very
close" to Secretary johnson and
that he got Jess Larson appointed
to head the War Assets admins
istration, land he could see Larson
at any time
Applying this point, Mr.. Grin
die said Mr.. Hunt related that
he was at the White House talk
ing with John r. Steelman, presi-
dental aide. and was told thai
Mr.. Larson. was TO be appointed
to the WAA post.
Mr.. Hunt, according to Mr..
Grindle, said he argued with MI.
Steelman for an hour in opposi-
ton to the appointment, saying
it would be suicide for Larson to
take the job in his present state
of health"
Mr.. Grindle said Mr.. Hunt went
on to say that he later talked to
Mr.. Larson who told him he "felt
it his duty to accept the job"
Mr.. Hunt worked for the War
Assets Administration for a time
after he left the Army.
Mr.. Grindle. who is a Framing
ham, Mass, furniture manufac-
turer, said Mr.. Hunt called him
to Washington to discuss the
furniture contract after an in
spection tour of his plant by
men whom he identified as j.
Leonard Nicholson, A. j. Conlon
and Arthur Small. They discussed,
he said, a proposed $13,000,000
government contract for foot
lockers.
Charges Denied by Hunt.
Mr.. Grindle said that Mr.. Con-
lon at one stage telephoned a
Washington number which he
later identified as Mr.. Hunts.
MIR. Grindle said Mr.. Conlon asked
Mr.. Hunt about the foot locker
contract and was informed that it
already had been awarded
A couple of days later, Mr..
Grindle said, Mr.. Conlon tele-
phoned from Washington and put
MIR. Hunt on the telephone. Mr..
Hunt, he said, told him he thought
he could get him part of the fur
niture contract and suggested
that Mr.. Grindle come to WASH
ington Immediately. Mr.. Grindle
said he flew to Washington the
next morning and went to Hunts
Office.
Mr.. Hunt, once a lieutenant
colonel in the Quatermaster
Corps, has denied that he ever
attempted to sell influence, and
he has said he knows no one in
Government who could be in
f1uenced.
In a hearing room packed with
high ranking Army officers and
the few spectators who could
crowd their way in. Mr.. johnson,
the first witness, told the COM
mittee that when he became Sec
rotary he promised he would
break the power of the five-per-
centers in Washington.
Welcomes Investigation.
Welcoming the committee in
vestigation, Mr.. johnson told the
Senators:
Both of US want to change the
environment which has con-
tributed toward the growth Of this
sinister figure, the f1ve-percenter.
Ignorance and uncertainty on
the part of the businessman as to
how he should proceed or whom
he should see in the Government
when he is trying to sell his prod
uct has been a basic cause for
his succumbing to the blandish-
ments OF the five-percenter."
To overcome the ignorance Of
businessmen on how the military
departments operate and to dispe
the fog of uncertainty as to whit
buys what and where, Mr.. John
son said. he directed the estao