Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-20
Witness Says Letter Indicated
9. O. P. Wanted PoWeIFs Job
Builder Tells Housing Probers Ex-FHA Aide
Asked Him for q Job Before Custer

testified that the letter Mr..
Powell showed him purported to
be copy of one from the Re-
publican National Committee.
He said that to the best of
his recollection the letter said,
When is Mr.. Powell going to
leave? Would you let us know
as we have been waiting for
some time?"
Mr. Muss said that Mr.. Powell
had applied to an associate of
Mr.. Muss for employment in
March. He said this associate,
Norman K. Winston of New
York, had quoted Mr.. Powell as
saying. 1--WE got my notice. They
want my job"
MIR. MusS said he talked to
Mr.. Powell in Washington about
a week later and that MIR. Pow
ell showed a letter from Guy T.
O. Hollyday, Of Baltimore, who
was ousted as head Of FILA
April IL.
This letter, Mr.. Muss said, was
addressed to Dear Clyde" and
said that MIR. Hollyday was in
closing a letter from the. Re-
publican committee and Mr..
Hollyday's answer. In the COPY
Of the second letter Mr.. Hollyday
quoted Mr.. Powell as saying he
would leave about April /.
Three New Developments.
Among other developments in
today's hearing were these:
!. There was testimony that
profits from FILA building pro-
grams were international, a
Swiss syndicate making 1910, 900
from an investment of $2,175.
The Swiss group. Mika Stiff
tung, also provided $3.50, 900 as
advances for operations, accord
ing to testimony.
2. Robert L. Pine, Dayton real
estate man and builder. testified
Washington loan brokers put
pressure on him to turn over an
option on property in Dayton
wanted for a defense housing
project to Luke Cowan, Okla
homa builder, who had had the
option but let it lapse.
3. Mr.. Muss testified that
about 50 million cash was left
over from the mortgage proceeds
after completion of the Page
Manor Apartments at Dayton
and the Billy Mitchell Village
at San Antonio. These were
both defense housing projects
built by a group which included
Mr.. Muss, Mr. Winston, Mr.. CO.
wan and Clint w. Murchison, jr.,
of Dallas, son of the multi
millionaire Texas oil man.
Knew Mr.. Powell Well.
Mr.. Muss testified he knew Mr..
Powell well and said the former
FILA official had been a guest
speaker at building conventions
and had had much building ex-
perience.
This. is the same man who
refuses to answer questions of
this committee after IA years
with the Government" Senator
Capehart, committee chairman,
commented
Mr.. MuSs said it was tenta-
lively agreed that Mr.. Powell
would work for him and Mr..
Winston at about $12,200 a year,
and that if he originated some
business, that there was no rea-
son he should not have a small
interest and make some money.
The witness said he told Mr..
Powell that such employment
should be cleared with Mr.. Hol-
lyday, and that early in April
MIR. Powell had said it was okay
for him to accept the job. But
then the Investigations began,
and Mr.. Muss said Mr.. Powell
never Joined his group.
Probing 'tPhony" Telegram.
AS an outgrowth of yesterdays
session, a telegram sent in the
name of Senator Capehart, and
branded by him as ''phony"
presumably was under Justice
Department investigation, al
though that agency declined
comment.
The telegram was addressed to
James McAteer, clerk of the
Criminal Division Of the Circuit
Court in st. Louis. It directed
that he or a deputy appear yes
terday to testify about the court
(See HOUSING, Page A-2.)