TOWNSEND INQUIRY
TURNS TO THE WEST
'One-Man Committee' Is Or-
dered to Coast After 'Hot
Tip' on New Angles.
INVESTIGATORS HERE ALSO
Meanwhile, McGroarty Says
200 Backers of Plan Will Be
Elected to the House.
WASHINGTON, April 3 (AP).—The House Committee inquiry into the Townsend pension plan took a new turn tonight when a one-man investigating committee was ordered tot he West Coast.
Chairman bell of the special committee revealed that Representative Gavagan of New York would leave soon for Los Angeles, birthplace of the Townsend organization, to take depositions desired by the committee.
This action coupled with the issuance of special orders to investigators already in the field, followed receipt by the committee of what was termed a "hot tip" on angles of the Townsend organization heretofore unknown.
Mr. Gavagan's mission to the West Coast, it was intimated, would be to follow up disclosures made by the committee of behind-the-scenes workings of the Townsend organization through recent questioning of Robert E. Clements, resigned national secre
tary.
Other Investigators Are Busy
Mr. Bell made known today that committee agents were continuing their investigations at the Washington Townsend office, which is national and Southern regional headquarters. He added that investigators had also been sent to central headquarters at
Chicago and Eastern headquarters at New York.
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Beyond the fact that Mr. Gavagan had been authorized to take certain depositions in Los Angeles and other places on the West Coast, Mr. Bell declined to discuss the nature of information he hoped to obtain.
The length of the New York Representative's stay on the West Coast was uncertain. In the meantime, Mr. Bell said, the committee would hold several closed session, but probably would not resume open hearings for at least two weeks.
The committee's original plans for procedure struck a snag when John Bloodsworth, certified public accountant, testified that the books of the Townsend organization were "muddled and confused."
McGroarty Sees Election Gains
special to THE NEW YORK TIMES
WASHINGTON, April 3.—Denying reports quoting him as saying
the special House investigation of the Townsend old-age pension plan
would smash the "idol" that has been Dr. F. E. Townsend, its founder,
Representative McGroarty of California, form
er booster off the organization, predicted that 200 Townsendite Representatives would be sent to the House in the Fall elections.
Despite the repudiation by Dr. Townsend of the McGroarty bill to pay pension to all persons over 60
years of age, which the Townsend group supported until last week, Mr.
McGroarty said that he had fifty signatures on a petition to force
considerat
ion of the bill.
Unless the House investigators "turn up" something entirely
unforeseen, Mr. McGroarty said, "we will attain our
goal of 200 Congressmen at the next election."
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