INQUIRY INTO THE COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 



THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1961 



U. S. Senate, 

 Pkeparedness Investigating Subcommittee 



OF the Committee on Armed Services, 



Washington^ D.C, 



The subcommittee (composed of Senators Stemiis (chairman), 

 Symington, Bartlett, Jackson, Bridges, Sahonstall, and Smith) met, 

 pursuant to recess, at 10:10 a.m., in room 235, Old Senate Office Build- 

 ing, Senator John Stennis, presiding. 



Present: Senators Stennis (presiding), Symington, and Saltonstall. 



Staff members, Pi-eparedness Investigating Subcommittee: James 

 T. Kendall, chief counsel; Stuart P. French, professional staff 

 member. 



Senator Stennis. May we have order, please ? We want everytliing 

 arranged where all can see and all can hear, and we cannot accomp- 

 lish that unless everyone cooperates in keeping reasonably quiet and 

 being attentive. 



This morning the subcommittee is privileged to have Mr. Given A. 

 Brewer and Mr. Robert Vanstone as witnesses. Both of these gentle- 

 men are from the Brewer Engineering Laboratories, Inc., of Marion, 

 Mass., and they are here at the request of the subcommittee. 



Gentlemen, in keeping with the unbroken custom of this investigat- 

 ing subcommittee all witnesses here are sworn. So if you gentlemen 

 will please rise now you will be sworn. 



Do you solemnly swear that your testimony in this hearing will be 

 the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you 

 God? 



Mr. Brewer. I so swear. 



Mr. Vanstone. I so swear. 



Senator Stennis, All right, gentlemen, have a seat. Mr. Reporter, 

 you have the names of these gentlemen. 



Tlie Chair will not review the testimony that was heard yesterday, 

 although the Chair considers it quite valuable. 



The Chair reiterates that it is the subcommittee's position to avoid 

 transgressing in any way into any hearing that may be held by the 

 Air Force as a result of charges against militarjT^ personnel. 



We are not going to take any substantive testimony beyond Janu- 

 ary 12, which was 3 days before the unfortunate collapse of this tower. 



Our inquiry is directed into design, construction, and repair of the 

 physical and structural part of the tower. These gentlemen are emi- 

 nently qualified in this field. 



Now, the Chair is going to ask Mr. French, who has been the chief 

 investigator in this matter, and who has done a fine job, to pixjceed 

 with the examination of Mr. Brewer. All right. 



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