Curtis on Contracts

The U. S. is about to spend a quarter-billion dollars on new public buildings. Chicago is to have a $14,000,000 post office. Federal court houses and post offices will soon sprout throughout the Mid-West. Chicago builders hunger for these fat federal contracts. Charles Curtis is Vice President of the U. S. Harry King Curtis, his son, is a Chicago lawyer. Last week Assistant State's Attorney Richard Jackson at Chicago began to investigate charges that Son Curtis had taken some $10,000 in "fees" from Chicago builders on promises to obtain for them federal construction contracts, presumably through his father's influence in Washington.

Held was one Mike Malloy, accused of steering eager contractors looking for U. S. jobs to the law office of young, debonair, Son Curtis.

At the State's Attorney's office contractors told their stories of jobs they never got. The standard "fee" was $500 for a contract in 30 days. One man had been promised good jobs in Wisconsin, Illinois or Indiana. When he failed to get them, he said he stormed into the Curtis office, received back $400 of his "fee." Another builder paid in his $500, he said, and later invested $15 in a set of Federal statutes from which he learned that only by the strictest competitive bidding could he hope to get a U. S. contract legally. Other men paid for the profitable roofing and plumbing subcontracts on the new Chicago post office. They got part of their fees back on demand. Mr. Curtis spent two hours explaining at the State's Attorney's office. Said he:

"Last year I was approached by Malloy and asked if I could secure government contracts for his clients. I told him NO. Later he asked if I would represent his firm in legal matters. I assured him I'd undertake any legitimate legal work. I received $500 as a retainer. ... I told these men all I could do would be to keep in touch with the situation, let them know when bids were to be made. ... Of course anybody could have done this work. ... I never promised to get any of them contracts. ... I began to think something was wrong along toward the end of the year. ... Of course I do not know what Malloy may have said to various contractors. He may have told people that, because of my father's position, I had some influence -- but I most certainly did not. . . . Anyone who complained or was not satisfied was given back his money. . . . I've returned al most all the fees."

Declared Vice President Curtis in Washington : "I hope Harry hasn't done anything he has no right to do. I feel he hasn't, because he isn't accustomed to do things of that kind "

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