Evening star., 1955-07-21
Talbot Wants
Public Hearing
On Ties toFirm
$120, 900 Income
During Two Years
As Partner Cited

As Partner Cited
Air Force Secretary Talbot
today demanded "as soon as
possible" a public hearing by
the Senate Investigating sub
committee on his connections
with a New York industrial
engineering firm.
The Secretary issued the fol-
lowing statement:
I'm view of the rumors. pub
licity and discussion regarding
my relations with Paul B. Multi
gan & Co., management engi-
Ineers Of New York, I have asked
Senator Mcclellan, chairman Of
the Senate Investigating sub
committee, to grant q public
hearing as soon as possible so
that the public may have a
complete understanding and
accurate information about this
matter"
Talbot Declines Comment
Mr.. Talbott's statement was
released through the Pentagon
press department. He himself
declined to talk with reporters.
Senator Mcclellan Immediately
called a meeting of the subcom-
mittee for 2 pm. and told re-
porters he would strongly" rec
ommend that a public hearing
be held.
The Arkansas Democrat said
Mr.. Talbot had requested a
hearing-this afternoon if pos
sible--in a telephone converse
ton with him this morning.
"On the basis Of the informa-
ton the committee has" Senator
Mcclellan said. "the committee
has a duty to conduct an investi-
cation, at least to the extent OF
a public hearing"
Senator Mcclellan said the Air
Force Secretary had been "co-
operative in every respect" He
|said there was a ''bare possibil-
lity" that Mr.. Talbot could be
heard tomorrow.
! $4,000 Income Cited
The Air Secretary's statement
was issued as a Senate source
told The Star that Mr.. Talbot
had netted about $4,000 in each
Iof the last two years in his
capacity as special partner" in
the Mulligan firm.
! This source also reported that
Mr.. Talbot told the Mcclellan
subcommittee that he would
lose in excess of 100000 in the
next 18 months if he severed
connections with the engineer
ing firm.
Mr.. Talbot and his partner
Mr. Mulligan, meanwhile have
supplied subcommittee investi-
gators with records of the firm
These included letters Mr.. Tai
bott write in which he appeared
to have solicited business for
Mulligan & Co. Some of the
letters were written on Air Force
stationery.
Correspondence Provided
Senator Mcclellan, in discuss
ling the letters, emphasized that
Mr.. Talbot and Mr.. Mulligar
voluntarily gave the subcommit-
tee their file of correspondence
and that photostatic copies were
distributed to members with the
understanding that they woulc
be kept in confidence.
The Senator added that it was
agreed that the letters would moi
be made public unless there was
a public hearing on Mr. Talbott's
business connections.
PhotoStats of the letters were
printed, however, in the New
York Times this morning.
AS to Mr.. Talbott's profits
from the engineering firm, The
Star learned they had amounted
to about $4,000 in 1854 and ap.
lproximately $4,000 in 1858, the
first year he served as Air Force
Secretary. There was no i'm
mediate indication as to how
much Mr.. Talbot has benefited
from his connection with the
company so far this year.
Before his Senate confirma-
ton as Air Force Secretary in
January. 1858, Mr.. Talbot told
the Senate Armed Services
Committee that he was severing
connections with other firms
but was retaining a special
partnership" in the Mulligan
Co. He had served as a director
of Chrysler. Electric Auto Lite
and a number Of other large
companies.