Evening star., 1952-05-15
Agriculture Solicitor
BIames Congress for
Commodity Troubles

agriculture department. SOllcl
tor Carroll Hunter says his recors
of prosecuting irregularities il
the form program is excellent
and If there has been any failure
Congress is to blame.
Mr.. Hunter told the Senat,
Agriculture Committee late yester
day he does as well as he can will
the men he has.
For four hours, Committe,
Counsel Paul J. Cotter hat
bombarded Mr.. Hunter with evi,
dence showing that the Agricul
ture Department sat on cases {
year before referring them to tn,
Justice Department for crimina
prosecution.
Mr.. Hunter finally exploded.
Il am not going to take thu
blame" he shouted. Congress i,
partly to blame. We need more
men and I have told Congress.
that time after time"
No Claim to. Perfection.
Mr.. Hunter pointed at Mr.. Cot.
ter and added:
Il don't say the Agriculture De-
partment and my off1ce-or ever
you-are perfect"
After listening to you," snapped
Mr.. Cotter, II was beginning tt
think you thought you were per-
feet"
Indeed. Mr.. Hunter and three
assistants had made a noisy de-
tense against every complaint Mr.
Cotter had raised.
Mr.. Cotter sought to show that
the Agriculture Department did
not seek criminal prosecutions
against persons who stole Govern
ment commodities, if they were
able to make up the dollar loss to
the Government.
MIR. Cotter listed series of cases
which the Agriculture Department
Kept for a year, only to send them
to the Justice Department this
spring after Congress began to in
VeStigate
Publicity Revoked Action.
Committee Chairman Ellender
OF Louisiana finally elected from
MI. Hunter Acknowledgement that
some cases went to Justice only
because Of publicity that news
papers were giving to the Short
ages in Government grain.
1t took you a long time to ad-
NIT that" Senator Ellender said
Senator KEN, Republican. OF
Missouri Joined Mr.. Cotter in
crltlcizing the Agriculture Depart
ment's handling of the case of the
Page Milling Co., Luray, Va.
The company was storing wheat
Tor the Government, but milled
part of it and sold it as flour
pocketing the money. The COM
pany made up the loss to the Gov
ernment, and the case appeared
closed. More than a year later
on January Is of this year-the
Agriculture Department referred
the case to Justice, which got ar
indictment against the company
treasurer. William C. Harnsberger
He pleaded guilty and paid 9
small fine.
duplicates Other Officers.
Mr.. Harnsberger told the COM
mlttee, on April 81, that other off
GERS of the company knew about
the mlsappropriation of Govern
ment grain. He said the shortage
even was discussed in minutes of
a stockholders meeting.
Mr.. Hunter, however, said he did
not seek prosecution of other Off
GERS because he did not believe
Mr.. Harnsberger's story. He con-
ceded that nobody investigated the
possibility of a stockholders meet
ing that Mr.. Harnsberger men,
toned.
That" said Senator KEN, sis
like saying there is no dirt under
the rug even before you look"
Mr.. Hunter and the Senators
then matched notes on what Mr.
Harnsbei - said and what Miller
E. Roudabush, president of Page
Milling, told Agriculture Depart
ment investigators. They founc
some apparent differences.
This prompted Edward Schulz
man. associate solicitor, to COM
ment: IF Mr.. Roudabush made
a false statement for the purpose
of influencing the Commodity
Credit corporation. I think he i.
subject to prosecution.
Screening Agreement Cancelled.
The Justice Department yester-
day took away some of the Agri.
culture Department power tt
block criminal prosecutions.
Under 1943 agreement, Justice
authorized Agriculture to screer
all cases of irregularities, throw.
ing out any that Agriculture fell
should not go to criminal court
Yesterday. Justice Cancelled thi.
agreement. I asked Agriculture Il
refer to the Justice Department
all irregularities except incident!
involving farmers.
Mr.. Hunter told the Agricultur,
Committee about the decision.
rs this decision a credit to th'
committee?" asked Senator KEN.
Every one will be claiming
credit for it, including Mr.. Cot
ter" replied Mr.. Hunter, perhap
with some bitterness.
A NJ