Springfield Weekly Republican

Washington. May 7—The inner workings of a highly interesting partnership formed in Washington in the early days of the Harding administration to "put things across" in return for substantial sums were described to the Wheeler-Brookhart committee today by A. P. Kraffmiller of La Grange, Ill. He gave the committee a succession of thrills with his accounts of how liquor permits, tax matters and sundry other things were obtained for "clients" who were willing to pay for such service.

The partnership, Kraffmiller said, existed between himself and Howard Mannington, the occupant of the little green house in K street.

Kraffmiller, who said his home was in La Grange, Ill., testified he had given Mannington $15,000 toward the Harding campaign fund while Mannington was "managing the front porch campaign."

Kraffmiller told of securing $20,000 from the General Drug company of Chicago and $25,000 from the J. B. Scheuer company also of Chicago, for obtaining whisky permits. These sums, among others, he said, were split with Mannington, the latter getting the lion's share.

Mannington, he said, was close to former Atty. Gen. Harry M. Daugherty.

Kraffmiller said his partnership with Mannington finally dissolved because they disagreed upon a matter of principle—Kraffmiller holding that when they failed to deliver for a client the retainer should be returned, and Mannington holding that a retainer once paid was theirs.

Kraffmiller testified that he had violated no law to obtain liquor permits, although he knew nothing of what Mannington might have done.

The witness said he had occupied the little green house jointly with Mannington, whom he described as a "counselor to Atty. Gen. Daugherty in the distribution of patronage."

Outside of the liquor deals, Kraffmiller said, he also gave Mannington $2500 from the American Tank Car corporation to be used in tax matters.

The $20,000 that was split in the General Drug company's permit, the witness said, was divided $13,666 to Mannington and $6333 for himself. Mannington gave $1500 of his to a third party named "Caskey," according to Kraffmiller.

Kraffmiller said that Nick Cirino, who had managed the "Italian end" of the Harding campaign and who operated the Italian Kitchen cafe in New York, visited the Mannington headquarters in Washington and objected because he got only 50 cents cut per case on the liquor business in New York.

Mannington dismissed the matter by saying "To hell with the Dago!" the witness said.

"What was your other transaction with Mannington?" Wheeler asked.

"The Maryland Refining company tax case. I got $7500 in that and kept $2500 and gave Mannington $5000," said Kraffmiller, but he did not reveal why this alleged payment was made.

Kraffmiller said he obtained $5000 from the Meacham & Babcock Shipbuilding company on a shipping board case, which he split with Mannington.