Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-19

Influence in
Nickel Project
Republicans DenyAI
Soy Political Foes
Suppress Evidence
BY the Associated Press

Democratic House investiga-
tors today alleged political and
private influence" in a $43 mil
lion Government nickel plant
expansion project.
Republicans on the Govern
merit Operations Committee is
sued a blanket rejection" of the
charges. They accused the COM
mittee's Democratic majority Of
AN amazing suppression of evil
dence."
The charges and denials were
contained in a split report on q
subcommittee inquiry early this
year into contracts awarded in
connection with expansion Of a
big nickel producing plant at
Nicaro, Cuba.
Subcommittee Chairman Jack
Brooks, Democrat of Texas, &C.
cuSed the Justice Department of
keeping secret some microfilm
records Of private files (which
might well point toward further
Irregularities in the expansion
program"
Justice Conducts Own Study
The Justice Department has
said it is holding on to its files
while it conducts its own study
of the matter.
The three Republicans on the
eight : man subcommittee de-
manded further hearings before
any such sweeping conclusions"
as those in the report could be
drawn. They spoke Of "scanty
evidence" and said the majority's
findings shave not been properly
suhstantiated."
The Democratic charges
ranged from alleged loss of SOS
million worth of nickel output
because of delays due to "politi-
cal favoritism." They also con-
tanned an implication of per.
jured testimony concerning what
was termed a Flush brokerage
fee" for a Chicago insurance
agency headed by Republican
friends of Edmund F. Mansure,
then head of the General SerV-
ices Administration. That agency
had charge of the nickel project.
Mr.. Mansure quit as GSA chief
on February s, while the investi-
CATION was in progress. He said
he wanted to leave because Of
personal obligations" not be-
cause Of the nickel investigation.
The inquiry dealt with an ex-
pansion project begun in 1854
with q construction subcontract
held jointly by the Frederick
Snare Corp. and Merritt Chap
man & Scott. It provided for a
half million dollars in fees for
each Arm.
Also involved was insurance
brokerage on the project, two
thirds of which went to the Chi
cago lrm of Balmer 81 Moore.
William j. Balmer and Edward
F. Moore, partners in that firm,
are Cook County G. o. p. leaders
and acknowledged friends of Mr..
Mansure.
Inconsistencies in the evil
dence," the report said, warrant
the conclusion that false testi-
mony was given under OATH" It
recommended that the Justice
Department determine whether
it should start perjury prosecu-
ton.
The Republicans on the COM
mittee said the Democratic find
ingS were based almost entirely
on the testimony of only one
man-Randall Cremer, a former
executive vice president of the
Snare Corp. and project manager
at Nicaro. Mr.. Cremer said he
thought Snare should have had
the whole expansion subcontract,
instead of just so per cent.
The Democrats did not specify
who may have played a decisive
role in the award.
They said Mr.. ManSure wrote
Sherman Adams, President Eli
senhower'S top aide, asking for
helpful suggestions" about who
should get the contract, and that
Mr.. Mansure also submitted a
list Of four or five potential con-
tractors to Republican National
Chairman Leonard w. Hall. The
replies from Mr.. Adams and Mr..
Han ~ onu Vxyara .aak ,kok1A