Evening star., 1954-08-08
Racket Case Involving $1,000
Repeatedly Paid Union Officials
Goes to Grand Jury Tuesday
Possible Violation
Of 7 Tuft-HurtIey
To Be Examined
By Miriom Ottenbero

Inc 1lFSI case OUT OF the House
anti-racketeering hearings to
reach Federal grand jury here
involves a $1,000 payment which
Robert E. Minte. Washington
painting contractor, says he gave
to painters union officials in
1851, it was learned last night.
United States Attorney Leo A.
Rover said the case would be
presented Tuesday to the grand
jury in U. S. District Court for
the District of Columbia for in
vestigation of possible violations
of the Taft-Hartiey Act.
He explained this case was
being pushed ahead of others
because the statute of limita-
tions involved expires August II.
He said he understood the full
record of last weeks hearings
before the House Anti Racket
eering Subcommittee is going to
tho Justice Department and will
be forwarded to his Office to de-
termine whether other possible
violations should be prosecuted.
Guard for Witnesses Asked.
The grand jury presentation
was disclosed shortly after Rep
resentative Hoffman, Republican,
OF Michigan. chairman of the
House Committee on Govern
ment Operations and a member
OF its misunderstanding subcom-
mittee. wrote Attorney General
BroWpell asking protection of
one Of the witnesses.
Mr.. Hoffman pointed out that
during the hearings Archie B.
Moore. former business agent of
District Council No. /, Brother
hood OF Painters, Decorators and
Paperhangers OF America, AFL,
testified that in 1851 the coun-
ellis secretary treasurer, Robert
C. Lowry, had accepted pay
ments of at least $4,000 from
contractors who employed union
members. in return for special
beneficial exemption from some
of the terms OF certain con-
tracts"
Mr.. Moore was the one for
whom Mr.. Hoffman asked pro-
lection.
Both Mr.. Moore and Mr..
Lowry have been subpoenaed to
appear before the grand jury
Tuesday and Mr.. Rover said
subpoena also has been issued
for Mr.. Minte.
In the testimony involving Mr..
Minte, MI. Moore testified that
on July 25. 1851. Mr.. Lowry
called Mr.. Minte from a Balti-
more hotel room and told him:
Il have thousand questions
to ask you about the Forest Glen
Hospital job" Mr.. Moore testi-
fled that Mr.. Minte,s reply was:
"And I have a thousand answers
for you." The witness said he
connected that dialogue with
Mr.. Lowry's previous assertion
TO him that he planned to ask
MIR. Minte for $1,000.
Denies Receiving Money.
On July 26, Mr.. Moore testi-
fed, the District Council of the
painters union agreed to give
Mr.. Minte permission to spray
paint on the Forest Glen job.
Union contracts ban spray paint
ing in most cases and contrac-
tors have to get special permis-
sion from the union.
Mr.. Moore told the subcom-
mlttee that he and Mr.. Lowry
went to Mr.. Minte's Office, were
taken behind the office to
warehouse and Mr.. Minte pulled
out an envelope and handed it
to MIR. Lowry. He said Mr.. Lowry
refused to take it, so Mr.. Minte
handed it to Mr.. Moore. AS Mr..
Moore took it, he testified, Mr..
Lowry said to Mr.. Minte: "You
see, / told you the guy was all
right"
On the witness stand, Mr..
Lowry swore he did not get the
money from Mr.. Minte.
Mr.. Minte, who is president
Of the Edward w. Minte Co. at
1918 Twelfth street NV, testi-
fed he did tur mover the envel-
ope with $1,000 in it to MIR.
Moore and Mr.. Lowry in his
He said it was his way of apolo-