Exhibit 9--Letter from Thomas G. Jay, Regional Commissioner, Region 6, Kansas City, Mo. General Services Administration, to D. Murray Burns, September 23, 1959. I was extremely sorry to get your note dated September 22, 1959, I think you know me well enough to know that I am truly sincere It is unfortunate that I am going to be gone from the office for I assure you it is the intent of our office that every person that comes into this office should be received in a courteous and friendly manner. This directive has been circulated prior to this time completely throughout the office and our intent will be reiterated in the near future. Your personal conduct in this office has always been one of ut- Exhibit 10--Routing slip (GSA Form 14) from Earl H. Lund, to Personnel file of Ralph L. Warren, September 30, 1959. Exhibit 11--Letter from Earl . Lund Regional Director, Public Buildings During Mr. Jay's absence from the affice, he requested that I look into the matter of your treatment by Mr. Ralph Warren during a visit to the office on September 21. I have done so, and find that you were indeed not treated in the courteous manner which we expect all our visitors to be accorded. I, therefore, extend to you and to Mr. Marshall, who was with you, our apologies. kis incident has been called to the attention of Mr. Warren, the standard of courteous and friendly treatment of visitors to this office has been called to his attention. You can be assured that this should not occur again. We hope that you will find your future contacts with GSA carried on in a gmertlemanly fashion. I am extremely sorry that you had to report surrence of this nature. Sincerely yours Barl H. Land Regional Director 12 RECEIVED Goa. Ser. Ad Bag. Pers. Dh K. C. No. UNITED GENERAL Fart II--Documents relating to partition work, Commodity Stabilization Exhibit 12. Letter from Hon. Joseph Campbell, Comptroller General to TATES OFFICE CCOUNTING COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES WASHINGTON 25 April 7, 1960 Honorable Jack Brooks, Chairman Dear Mr. Chairman: During the hearings held by your Subco:ittee on March 25 and 26, 1960, in Kansas City, Missouri, on certain irregularities in the operation of the General Services Administration, Region 6, testimony was given concerning a discussion on January 22, 1960, between Mr. Sam Pines, Supervisory Auditor, Kansas City Regional Office, U. S. General Accounting Office, and Mr. Thomas G. Jay, Regional Commissioner, General Services Administration, Region 6, Kansas City, Missouri, concerning the construction of certain partitions in the Commodity Stabilization Service office. This matter has been carefully examined and we are satisfied Since neither Mr. Pines nor Mr. Laughlin had an opportunity to testify before your Subcommittee on this matter, we would appreciate the sworn statements being made a part of the record of the hearing. The matter of payment for partitions in the amount of $5,793.50 has been discussed with officials of the General Services Administration in Washington and it has been agreed that no payment will be made by the General Services Administration and that the claim for payment will be submitted to the General Accounting Office for settlement. Sincerely yours, Samps Cam, hell Comptroller General of the United States Enclosures Statement from Sam Pines, supervisory auditor, Kansas City Regional Office, to whom it may concern, March 31, 1960 March 31, 1960 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I, Sam Pines, Supervisory Auditor, Kansas City Regional Office, Field Operations Division, U. S. General Accounting Office, make the following voluntary statement concerning the meeting with Mr. Thomas Jay, Regional Commissioner, GSA, on January 22, 1960: I did not state or imply that I would not audit the transaction relating to partitions erected at the Commodity Stabilization Office in Kansas City. I did not state or imply that the General Accounting Office would not audit this transaction. On January 22, 1960, Mr. Laughlin and I had completed an assignment on some follow-up work on the audit of Manpower Utilizati on under Buildings Management Fund. We discussed this audit in Mr. Jay's office with him. After the discussion on the past audit was completed the matter of the payment of the bill for partitions was introduced by Mr. Jay. The following, to the best of my recollection, is the discussion we had: Mr. Jay started the discussion by referring to an unpaid bill of about $6,000 for partition work performed at Commodity Stabilizati on Service. As I started to say, I couldn't give an opinion on the propriety of a payment before it was made, Mr. Jay stated that he knew I could not give either an official or an unofficial opinion, but he requested whatever views I might have on the matter. According to Mr. Jay, the Area Manager had exceeded his authority in approving the construction of partitions. I talked about whether the Area Manager's action could be considered as binding on the Government if he acted beyond his designated authority. Mr. Jay then discussed some of the problems in connection with the work at CSS. According to Mr. Jay, in order to remedy the situation bids were solicited from a number of contractors and the contractor who installed the partition, who Mr. Jay stated was the low bidder. I asked if true competition could have been obtained since the partitions were in place. Mr. Jay talked of obtaining true competition at some length. According to Mr. Jay, true competition was obtained and he pointed out that the price for the partition was reasonable and that the contractor could probably obtain payment through a court of equity. On the matter of whether true competition was obtained I felt that even if Mr. Jay's statements were factual, at this point of time, I did not know the answer as to whether or not he should pay the invoice without reference to Comptroller General decisions and some other sources. |