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4.by the 9 R, G foM'Pb Dations Branch, OAS
B-164031(2) RELEASED APR 21 1970
Dear Mr. Chairman.
In response to a request of January 8, 1970, from Dr. D. C. Goldberg
of your staff, a representative of the General Accounting Office inter-
viewed Dr. Reinhold Benesch, Professor of Biochemistry at Columbia Uni-
versity, in connection with a statement signed by 12 faculty members of
the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University complain-
ing of unethical practices by manufacturers of scientific equipment.
Dr. Benesch had furnished the statement to Congressman William F. Ryan of
New York who referred it to the Chairman of the Committee on Government
Operations, House of Representatives, for his attention
According to the statement, the scientific apparatus manufacturing
industry constantly sells defective instruments to its customers and
maintains totally inadequate service on these instruments resulting not
only in very poor service but also the consumption of more and more funds
in terms of service and repairs
The statement suggested that, inasmuch as the greatest proportion of
expenditures in this field is covered by public money in the form of
Federal grants, a congressional investigation of the unethical practices
could result in an improvement of the situation and save the public a
great deal of money.
In accordance with Dr. Goldberg's request, a representative of our
Office interviewed Dr. Benesch concerning the practices of manufacturers
of scientific equipment to ascertain what substance there might be to the
complaint. Dr. Benesch told us that he was the primary force behind
drafting the statement of complaint and that he had requested other fac-
ulty members with similar views to sign the statement in order to demon-
strate that problems with the scientific apparatus manufacturing industry
were widespread and not confined to his experience.
Dr. Benesch told us that he did not wish to give us information on
specific manufacturers with whom he or his colleagues were having prob-
lems. When asked about the reasons for not wanting to mention specifics,
Dr Benesch explained that he had been involved in numerous arguments
with this industry before and did not wish to go beyond the generalities
outlined in the written statement. Despite assurances that discreteness
and anonymity would be maintained by our staff, Dr. Benesch expressed](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobabksd0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)