Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-06
Cases INVOLVING
ChotinerC|ienfs.
AreScrutinized
By III. Associated Pres.

House investigators said to-
day they are studying some
cases in which they said West
Coast Lawyer Murray Chotiner
represented clients in matters
before Federal agencies.
Mr.. Chotiner is q Los Angeles
Republican, who managed Vice
President Nixon's campaign
Ii 1852.
He was mentioned yesterday,
along with dozens Of others, in
q report by the Senate Investi-
cations Subcommittee on q 1856 |
probe Of alleged irregularities
in procurement Of military /
clothing.
The report did not in any
way criticize Mr.. Chotiner, |
whose name came UP last year
as q former lawyer for some |
clothing manufacturers the. SUBJ
committee was investigating.
Testifying under oath, Mr..
Chotiner told the subcommittee |
he never used his associations |
with Mr.. Nixon to seek favors1
for any client. He also said he |
never used any. influence in his |
law practice.
Justice Inquiry Asked
The Investigations group said
in its report that william A.
Parzow Of Philadelphia, des-
cribed as q convicted jury
tamperer, had testified he
hardly knew Chotiner but that |
Mr.. Chotiner had told the SUBJ
committee he did know Par
zow. Mr.. Chotiner testified |
that Parzow recommended a
clothing manufacturer to him |
for some law business.
The subcommittee said the |
Justice Department has been
asked to examine Parzow's
testimony for possible perjury |
action. III
A source connected with q
House Government Operations /
Subcommittee headed by Rep
reSentative Blatnik. Democrat |
Of Minnesota. said the subcom- |
mittee staff will look into vari- |
Gus cases handled by Chotiner. |
This source said these include |
cases before the Civil Aeronau-
tics Board and the Federal I
Trade Commission.
During his testimony before
the Senate group last year, Mr.. |
Chotiner acknowledged making
some calls to the White House
in behalf Of airlines he repre-
serted. President Eisenhower
later said there was no reason
to believe Mr.. Chotiner's activi-
ties had violated any of the
rules Of ethics the President
had laid down for his admin
istration.
Emphasizing that the Chot-
liner matter still is in the pre-.
liminary stage. the House
subcommittee source said the
purpose Of the study is to find
out whether Mr.. Chotiner used
any influence in behalf of his
clients.
AS to whether Mr.. Chotinerl
viii be called to testify. the
source said that is something |
for the congressional group it.
self to decide after its men,
bers return in January.
Bribery Reported |
Generally. the Senate SUBJ |
committee report severely crit
icized about a dozen clothing
manufacturers in the New |
York area. Chairman McClel- |
Ian. Democrat of Arkansas, |
said the subcommittee found |
bribery and ineficiency in the |
negotiation Of nearly 500
million worth of Army and Air |
Force clothing contracts with !
the Quartermaster Corps in |
New York. Senator Mcclellan |
recommended criminal prose-
cution. where warranted, for a
number of the contractors.
Among those named as hav-
ing engaged in irregular prac-
tees we're Herman and Samuel
Kravitz Of Atlantic City. N. j.,
and Joseph Abrams Of Brook
Ign, all three former clients Of
Mr.. Chotiner.
A subcommittee aide said
the Senators drew no conclu-
sions about Mr.. Chotiner be-
cause Of what the aide said
were limited hearings.
Senator Mcclellan said the
Kravitzes. Abrams and Sol o.
Schlesingcr Of Freeport. Long
Island. obtained improper
favors from the Quartermaster
Corps, delivered substandard
garments and made uncon-
scionable profits at the expense
of the taxpayers"
The report said claims have
been instituted for recovery Of
Sl.223.143 in $50 clothing
contracts involved in the in
vestigation.
At the Pentagon. Secretary
Of the Army Brucker said a
review by the Army Of clothing
contracts from 1850 through
June, 1855. had turned up
overcharges amounting to ST.
$4,000.
Mr.. Brucker said vigorous
measures are being taken to
obtain restitution and that he
has ordered a general tighten
ing Of procurement practices to
insure that the Army docs
business with reputable and
responsible firms"