Evening star. [volume], May 27, 1948, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Angry Congress
Orders Probes
Of Broadcasts
Ferguson Will Head
Senate Inquiry Into
Voice 'Sabotage'
BULLETIN
The Senate was arguing this
afternoon over which of three
committees should investigate
the Voice of America broad
casts. Senate President Van
denberg ruled that the Ex
penditures Committee should
conduct the inquiry, but back
ers of both the Commerce and
Foreign Relations Committees
asked the Senate to overrule
the chair. A formal vote was
expected later this afternoon
to solve the jurisdictional
fight.
Ry tht Associated Press
Angered members of Congress
ordered a double-barreled in
vestigation today into Voice of
America broadcasts they say
have libeled and misrepresented
the United States.
Senator Ferguson, Republican, of
Michigan, the Republican's top in
vestigator, will head one by the’
Senate.
Representative Chenoweth. Re
publican, of Colorado will direct the
House inquiry
Indignation, anger and amaze
ment were mixed in the congres
sional reaction to disclosure that
the broadcasts have told the world
such things as—"New England was
founded by hypocrisy a no Texas by
iin."
The importance attached to the
matter was emphasized by the fact
that, Senator Vandenberg, Repub
lican. of Michigan, the Senate's
presiding officer and chairman ot
its Foreign Relation* Committee,
announced plans for the Senat^ in
vestigation.
Vandenberg Is ‘‘Amaaed.’
Senator Vandenberg said he is
“amazed" by reports of the broad
casts. He conferred with Chairman
Aiken of the Expenditures Commit
tee Senator Aiken named Senator
Ferguson to dig into the record.
Mr. Chenoweth said a House Ex
penditures Subcommittee which he
heads will start a general investiga
tion tomorrow.
"We have had a lot of complaints."
Mr. Chenoweth told newsmen. "We
want to find out who is responsible
for these programs and for some of
the script that has been going out
at the taxpayers' expense.”
Mr. Chenoweth said officials in
charge of the foreign information
program will be the first witnesses.
NBC Prepared Broadcast.
The programs which stirred up
Congress were prepared and broad
cast by the National Broadcasting
Co. for the Voice of America. NBC
said the writer of the scripts was
fired and a section head was re
lieved of duty and later resigned.
An NBC spokesman identified the
writer as Rene Borgia. The section
head was Alberto Gandero, now be
lieved engaged in radio work in
Cuba, the spokesman said. He added
that the backgrounds and definite
whereabouts of the two were un
known at NBC.
The spokesman said that the ac
tual broadcasting was performed by
NBC. not through another agency.
Senator Capehart. Republican, of
Indiana touched off the storm when
he read some of the scripts to the
Senate yesterday.
Government Defended.
Those which particularly angered
Congress members were translations
of Spanish-language broadcasts to
Latin America.
When the House met tc ' he
controversy was taken up th
Saving he wanted to “keep
record straight.” Representative
Jackson. Republican, of California
reminded the House that Congress
restricted the personnel for the
Voice programs and required pri
vate enterprise to "take over mast
of the functions."
While the broadcasts compiaineo
about were unfortunate, he said, "it
was not the act of any Government
department."
Senator Capehart said 300,000
words are being broadcast daily by
the Voice. Referring to this. Sen
ator Vandenberg commented to re
porters:
"It is obvious that there can't be
any real supervision by the Govern
ment over such a volume. It might
be much better to send out far fewer
words and have strict supervision
over what is sent."
Report Expected Today.
The Senate expected to receive
today a State Department report
on the broadcasts beamed to Latin
America. But nothing the depart
ment could say by way of explana
tion was likely to lessen senatorial
anger over the series, which pur
ported to deal with life and history
m the 48 States, as seen through
the eyes of two travelers.
The department already has ex
TSee VOICE’OF AMERICA. A‘-5.)
Late News
Bulletins
New Note Sent to Lebanon
The United States is making
a second protest to the gov
ernment of Lebanon over the
seizure of 41 American citi
zens from the S. S. Marine
Carp last week, the State De
partment said today.
U. S. Rejects Red Protest
The State Department an
nounced today that the United
State has flatly rejected Rus
sian protests claiming Amer
ican airplanes have interfered
with Soviet shipping in the
vicinity of Japan.
Senators Vote, 17-2, to Invite
Mac Arthur to Testify Here
Could Arrive in 48 Hours, Wherry Says;
Saltonstall and Reed Oppose Resolution
ly the Associated Press
The Senate Appropriations
Committee today voted to re
quest Gen. MacArthur to return
to the United States to testify
on the Far Eastern situation.
Chairman Bridges announced the
committee's action at .the end of a
short, closed session. The vote was
17 to 2.
Gen. MacArthur is supreme com
mander of Allied forces in the Far
East with headquarters at Tokyo.
Senator Bridges said Senators Sal
tonstall. Republican, of Massachu
I setts and Reed. Republican, of Kan
sas voted against requesting Gen.
MacAithur's return. Senator Green.
Democrat, of Rhode Island voted
present and Senator Ball. Repub
lican, of Minnesota was out of town
and did not vote. Senators McCar
ran, Democrat, of Nevada and
O'Mahonev, Democrat, of Wyoming
voted "yes" by proxy.
Senator Wherry of Nebraska, act
ing Republican ieader and a com
mittee member, offered the motion
to request Gen MacArthur to re
turn. Senator Wherry said politics
wasn't involved so far as he is con
cerned. I
Gen. MacArthur has said he:
would accept the Republican presi-1
dential nomination if it were of
fered him.
Senator Wherry told reporters
Gen. MacArthur could return to
the United States '‘within 48 hours”
if other plans did not prevent.
Senator Wherry’s motion was sec
onded by Senators Ferguson. Re
publican, of Michigan and Tydings.
Democrat, of Maryland.
The text of the motion:
“I move that the chairman of the
■Senate Appropriations Committee
be instructed bv the committee to
request the appearance through
proper military channels of Gen.
Douglas MacArthur to appear be
fore the committee on hearings
now being held, or to be held, on
all appropriations affecting the Far
East.”
Senators voting to request Gen.
MacArthur'.s return were:
Bridges, Gurney, Republican, of
South Dakota: Brooks, Republican,
of Illinois; Reed, Ferguson, Wherry,
Cordon, Republican, of Oregon;
Young, Republican, of North Da
kota; Knowland. Republican, of
California; Dworshak, Republican,
of Idaho; McKellar, Democrat, of
Tennessee; Hayden, Democrat, of
Arizona: Thomas, Democrat, of
Oklahoma: Russell, Democrat, of
< See”MacARTHUR, Page A-4.T
100,000 'Quislings'
Threaten U. 5., Says
Mundt Bill Witness
Griffith, Former Legion
Head, Testifies Million
Others Aid Red Drive
By the Associated Press
An American Legion leader
told Senators today that ‘T00.000
trained and seasoned Quislings
of the Communist front” now
threaten the United States.
Paul Griffith, past national Legion
commander, made the statement [
before the Senate Judiciary Com
mittee as he urged speedy Senate ap
proval of the House-passed Mundt
Nixon bill to curb Communists.
“We have today in our midst the
largest fifth column of potential
spies, saboteurs, demoralizers, trai
tors and wreckers ever seen in
modern times," Mr. Griffith said.
He said the 100,000 "Quislings
are aided and protected" by an
"estimated million or more fellow
travelers, sympathizers and dupes.”
Mr. Griffith testified the Com
munist Party is "collecting a war
chest" of $500,000 in an attempt to
defeat the Mundt-Nixon bill.
“Every fellow traveler, stooge and
deluded dupe has been thrown Into
the line,” he said.
As the three-day hearing opened.
Chairman Wiley ruled out "any
political speeches"—by Henry Wal
lace or anybody else. Mr. Wallace,
third party presidential candidate,
has asked to testify against the
measure.
Mr. Wallace has repeatedly blasted
the House-passed measure. He is
scheduled to appear before the com
mittee Saturday. He said in Coeur
D'Alene, Idaho, last night:
"I am going to those hearings to
uphold the old-fashioned, funda
mental principle of free speech.'
Senator Wiley said he intended to
see to it that the hearings do not
provide an opportunity "for some
folks to get political advertising."
He also said the hearings "will
not be turned into a three-ring cir
cus."
Donald Richberg. lawyer and for
mer New Deal administration offi
cial, was the first witness today. He
told the committee it seemed "ob
vicusly necessary” to have some
legist:' !on against Communist ac
tivities in this country.
He said the Mundt-Nixon bill at
tempts to deal with an organization
“that is notoriously engaged in what
is a conspiracy against ail other
See MUNDT BILL. Page A-5.7
Poland, France Sign Pact
WARSAW, May 27 (/Pi.—Poland
and France signed a five-year trade
accord last night. France Is to
supply Poland wtih $60,000,000 worth
of motor cars, machinery and other
goods. Poland will pay with coal.
Clark Says Hatch Ad
Excludes Communists
From Federal Jobs
Work Nearly Completed
On Supplemental List
Of Subversive Groups
By Miriam Ottenberg
Attorney General Clark today
advised the Loyalty Review
Board that under the Hatch Act
members of the Communist
Party must be dismissed from
Government employment.
Mr. Clark made public a letter
to Seth W. Richardson, chairman of
the Loyalty Board, at a press con
ference at which he explained that
Mr. Richardson had asked for a
ruling on whether the Communist
Party comes under the Hatch Act.
At the same time, the Attorney
General disclosed that the Justice
Department has nearly completed
work on a supplemental list of sub
versive organizations and will send
it to Mr. Richardson late today or
tomorrow.
Mr. Clark said the new list in
cludes between 25 and 30 organiza
tions. among them some locals of
■‘over-all” organizations previously
labeled subversive. No groups have
been struck off the original list
which Included more than 70 or
ganizations, he said.
History of Law Cited.
In his opinion on the coverage of
the Hatch Act, Mr. Clark cited the
legislative history of the act to back
up his contention that Congress was
referring to the Communist Party
and the Nazis in the section of the
act forbidding payment of Govern
ment funds to any person belonging
to "any political party or organiza
tion which advocates the overthrow
of our constitutional form of govern
ment in the United States.”
He pointed out that Communists
were banned by act of Congress
from employment on work projects
under the WPA. The intent of Con
gress, he said, w-as further expressed
when, in 1941, it provided for an
appropriation of at least $100,000 for
the Federal Bureau of Investigation
to investigate Federal employes who
were members of subversive organi
zations. i
At that time. Mr. Clark recalled,
the Justice Department instructed
the FTBI to consider Communist
Party members as well as German
American Bund members as sub
versive.
Mr. Clark also cited the court
decision in the case of Friedman vs.
Schwellenbach, where it was ruled
that the Government has the right
to prescribe the qualifications of its
employes and to attach conditions
to their employment.
The Attorney General pointed
out that under the Hatch Act as
well as under the executive order
setting up the loyalty board, the
appointing authorities are responsi
ble for dismissing employes and the
• See CLARK, Page A-5.»
Discharged NBC Script Writer
Says He Acted Under Orders
Gandero Told How
To Handle Material,
Borgia Declares
By the Associated Press
NEW YORK. May 27—Rene
Borgia, discharged NBC script writer
who prepared the controversial
Voice of America scripts which are
under attack in Congress, declared
today he was not responsible for
them.
In a telephone interview, Mr.
Borgia said “I was told to write them
that way. I didn't even sign them
because I didn't believe what was
in them.”
He identified Alberto Gandero as
the man who told him what to
write and said Gandero was heaa of
the Spanish language section in
NBC's short-wave department.
Gandero was relieved of his duties
and then resigned, NBC said.
The scripts which several Sena
tors charged libeled and misrepre
sented the United States aroused
a storm of criticism in Washington.
A spokesman for the interna
tional broadcasting division of the
State Department here said Borgia
never had been on the division's
staff, but that he might have done
some translating for it on a fee
basis.
Borgia said he protested "a thou
sand times" against the material
he was given to write
"The material for the broadcasts
ALBERTO GANDERO.
—AP Wireyhoto.
w as prepared in the research depart
ment and given to me," Borgia said.
"I was told. ‘You write that. If you
don't like it we will get somebody
else.’ ”
He said he was told by Qanhero
that the broadcast material had
been approved by Stanley Richard
son. who Borgia said was in charge
of NBC's short-wave department
The State Department spokesman
said Borgia came here from Vene
(See BORGIA, Page A-5.)
Egypt's Advance
Unit Destroyed,
Israel Claims
Arab Forces Launch
Attack in New City
Of Jerusalem
By th« Associated Press
CAIRO. May 27.—The Jewish
army said today it wiped out an
Egyptian advance position north
east of Gaza, on the coastal
plain below Israel.
At Jerusalem Arab Legionnaires j
and Egyptians attacked in the New
City.
A Hagana unit struck at Beit
Hanoun, four miles northeast of
Gaza in Arab territory, killed 30
Egyptians and seized or destroyed1
three heavy guns of the Egyptian
Artillery, the Israeli communique
said. It added a great number of
light arms were captured.
Jews’ Planes Lash Arabs.
The communique said Jewish
planes last night lashed at Arab
[positions in the Ramallah sector,
northwest of Jerusalem, and at posi
tions around the Holy City itself.
Other planes attacked Arab concen
trations and artillery emplacements
near Kfar Biddu, along the Tsl
Aviv-Jerusalem road, from wnich
shelling had been directed at a
Jewish settlemient, the communique
said.
Arab forces paced by Egyptians
and including Arab Legionnaires
and irregulars mounted an attack
from the outskirts of Bloody Ramat
Rehel, between Bethlehem and Jeru
salem. against Jewish positions in
the New City of Jerusalem, Arab
officials in Cairo said. They struck
at the K&tamon, Talpiyot. Mekor
Haim and upper Raqaa- sectors.
In the north, the Jewish com-:
munique said. Hagana troops coun
terattacked the Arabs near Gesher,
King Abdullah Pays
Surprise Visit to
Jerusalem Old City
• y tb* Associated Press
IN THE OLD CITY OF JE
RUSALEM, May 27.—King Ab
dullah paid a surprise visit to
the Old City today and prayed
at Christian and Moslem
shrines.
The monarch of Trans-Jor- i
dan made his demotions at the
Holy Sepulchre, Calvary and
the Mosque of Omar, among
the holiest shrines of Christ
endom and Islam.
The King, cheered by 25,000
Arabs, toured the Old City.
Less than 300 yards away from
him in the Jewish quarter,
shells of his Arab Legion’s guns
crashed into the last holdout
row of Jewish army machine
gun posts along the southern
wall.
'
south of the Sea of Gallilee, and
occupied a key point. Samakh and
Shaar Hagolan near the South Gali
lee coast were shelled during the
night without casualties, the bulletin
said.
Jew* Clear North Galilee.
Associated Press Correspondent
James M. Long reported from Tel
Aviv that the Israelis, in “Opera
tion Broom,” have swept exposed
Northern Galilee clear of Arabs.1
heating back Syrian and Lebanese
invasion drives in counterthrusts
across the frontiers. The dispatch
said the Jews .now occupy Western
Galilee, which the United Nations
partition plan mapped out as Arab
territory.
(The American Government
prepared to evacuate its citizens
from the Middle East by air "in
case of need.”
(The State Department an
nounced late yesterday that “in
view of unsettled conditions" in
the area, about two dozen Air
Force C-47s have been sent to
Cyprus in the Eastern Mediter
ranean, and will be held on the
British-controlled island for pos
sible service.
(tress umcer Liincoin wimc
said the planes are not intended
necessarily to remove Americans
from Jerusalem, but could be used
anywhere trouble broke out.
(There are about 12,000 Amer
icans in the Middle East and the
State Department did not indi
cate how many it might be neces
sary to move if the Arab-Jewish
fightihg grew worse.)
War Rages On in Holy Land.
The war raged on inside both the
Old and New Cities of Jerusalem
and elsewhere in the Holy Land,
echoing the failure of the United
Nations to bring about a truce.
Referring to the Arab rejection
of an unconditional truce, Abdel
Rahman Azzam Pasha, secretary
general of the Arab League, told
newsmen here that “to stop fight
ing now does not mean peace, but
just a postponement of the war
for a short period, after which
fighting will be terrible and battles
more destructive than now."
Azzam Pasha had just returned
from conferences in Amman. Trans
jordan, on the war against Israel.
He said the Arab forces now are
in a position to destroy Jewish
strongholds in and around Jeru-1
'alem, and thus administer a crush
ing defeat to the Jews.
“We could have taken Jerusalem
earlier,” he said, “but we did not.
want to sacrifice more men when we
are sure of the ultimate result fol
lowing complete encirclement of the
Jews in Jerusalem."
Jewish Positions Shelled.
The Arabs were reported shelling
Jewish positions in Jerusalem
throughout Wednesday night. In
dications were that the Arabs
planned to tighten the encirclement
of the Jews in the modern city after
wiping out the small Jewish gar
rison cornered in the walls of the
Old City.
Azzam Jasha. declaring that a
third of Jewish forces were in
Jerusalem, indicated Arab tactics
would be to cut supply lines and
shell strongpoints rather than en
gage in house-to-house fighting.
The British-controlled Near East
(See PALESTINE, Page A-5J
What's He Riding This Time Around?
Oleo Tax Repeal Voted, 12-0,
By Senators; Labeling Asked
Amendment Calls for Identification
When Served in Public Eating Places
By Chalmers M. Roberts
The Senate Finance Commit
tee today unanimously approved
the House-passed Rivers bill to
repeal Federal taxes on oleo
margarine, adding an amend
ment designed to ‘‘assure con
sumers the right of choice” be
tween butter and margarine in
public eating places. The com
mittee vote was-12-0.
The amendment would require
that each separate serving of mar
garine bear “labeling identifying it
as oleomargarine,” either a slip
laid on the plate or some mark im
printed in the plate itself.
Chairman Miliikin said it was not
intended that the margarine pat
itself should bear an imprint. He
said that suggestion had been con
sidered but discarded "because the
stuff melts.”
The amendment also provides
that where margarine is served, the
public eating place must display a
notice to that effect “prominently
and conspicuously.” The amend
ment is so written as to put en
rol cement in the hands of the Fed
eral Food and Drug Administration
and is designed to be effective
everywhere in the United States by
declaring that the serving of mar
garine without identification would
constitute "a burden on interstate
commerce.”
The House bill would repeal, as
soon as the President signs it, the
present 10-cent-a-pound tax on col
ored margarine and the '4-cent tax
(See OLEO, Page A-4.i
Grave Crisis Created
In U. N. by Arabs'
Rejection of Truce
Next Step by Council 1$
Expected to Hinge on
U. S.-British Talks
fty the Associated Pres*
LAKE SUCCESS, May 27.—
Arab rejection of a cease-fire in
Palestine created a grave crisis
today in the United Nations.
Security Council delegates gener
ally anticipated turndown of the
U. N. appeal, but when it came they
seemed stunned.
Not one delegate spoke after the
Arab reply w-as received last night.
Warren R. Austin of the United
States appeared to sum up the sen
timent. He said the situation is so
serious that it requires careful con
sideration of the American Govern
ment.
The Jews had accepted the cease
fire. Their comment was: "If the
Arab states want peace with Israel,
they can have it—if they want war,
they can have it.”
The Arab answer was relayed to
the Council from a meeting of the
Arab League in Amman, Trans
jordan. The League agreed only
to bargain with the Council over
terms. A 48-hour time limit was set
on Council suggestions for solving
the Holy Land problem.
The Council’s next step may hinge
on outcome of continuing American
British talks in London. The
United States has been pressing
for stronger U. N. measures such
els a stop-the-war order backed up
with the threat of diplomatic and
economic sanctions and even inter
national force.
an London, Foreign secretary
Bevin talked with American Am
bassador Lewis ‘ W. Douglas for
the fourth time in five days on
the Palestine issue.'
So far Britain has refused to sever
its ties with the Arabs and go along
with such a program. Russia and
France favor the vigorous policy.
A spokesman for a big Tower dele
gation predicted there would be ex
tended debate at Lake Success over
the Arab move, but that the Coun
cil eventually would take strong ac
tion. He held the view that the
LJ. N. had gone too far in its efforts
to stop the fighting to back down
now.
In another statement to the Coun
cil. Mahmoud Bey Fawzi of Egypt
was more outspoken than the
League.
“The Egyptian government regret
i See U. N.. Page A-4. i
Chicago ITU Strikers
Reject Print Shop Offer
By the Associated Press
CHICAGO, May 27.—Striking un
:on printers last night rejected a
settlement offer from the Franklin
\ssociation of commercial printing
Irms.
John J. Pilch, president of Local
16, AFL Chicago Typographical Un
on, said the union vote was 1.644
'or rejection to 142 for acceptance.
Hie proposal offered a $9.25 weekly
wage increase.
A union spokesman refused to say
iow far short of demands the wage
jffer fell. C. L. MacKinnon, secre
tary of the association, was not im
nediately available for comment,
rhe union has not been working in
the city’s major job shops since
March 2.
Hope of Ending Strike
At Chrysler Rises as
Negotiations Speed Up
UAW Reduces Demand
Second Time; GM Raise
May Furnish Pattern
By the Associated Pres*
DETROIT. May 27.—Hopes for
a quick settlement of the 16-day
Chrysler strike rose today as the
corporation and its auto work
ers resumed intensified wage
talks.
Negotiations between Chrysler and
the CIO United Auto Workers were
recessed last night after nearly 10
hours of bargaining. Both sides
agreed to return to the conference
table this afternoon.
I Neither the company nor the
[union had any comment on the
progress of yesterday’s talks toward
ending a walkout of 75,000 Chrysler
workers which began May 12. There
was an air of optimism, however, as
representatives for both sides pre
pared to continue their work.
Wage Demands Cut.
For the second time, the UAW re
duced its wage increase demand
from 30 to 17 cents yesterday. The
company made no official indica
tion that it had increased its previ
ous 6-cent hourly offer.
But looming in the background
of the wage talks was the 11-cent
adjustable increase agreement Gen
ieral Motors Corp. reached Tuesday
with the auto workers union.
Observers throughout the industry
expected that settlement—which
averted a threatened strike of 225,
000 GM workers—would furnish a
pattern for other contracts with
the UAW.
Yesterday the Ford Motor Co.
usually bracketed with General
- Motors and Chrysler to make up
the auto industry's big three, in
formed the union it would be will
ing to open wage talks June 14,
Average Pay Is *1.50.
Although Ford representatives
have suggested in a pre-bargaining
statement that its UAW production
workers take a wage cut, it was
believed that the GM agreement
< See~CHRYSLER, Page A-57T
Worms Invading Bay Proven
To Be Harmless, Rare Visitors
Government marine biologists to
day calmed the fears of Chesapeake
Bay fishermen and beach residents
who thought they had discovered a
new “red tide."
The experts identified the worms
that swarmed in bay waters last
night as harmless cousins of the
bloodworm—a popular fish bait.
Dr. Lionel Walford of the Interior
Department’s Fish and Wildlife
Service identified them from sam
ples brought to his office today by
Washington fishermen.
The worms, about 3 inches long,
were reported in the “millions at
North Beach, Md.. about 10 o clock
last night by fishermen who .remem
bered the “red tide" that menaced
fishing on the Florida coast last year.
Dr. Walford said the Florida inva
sion was by microscopic marine
organisms. e
He added, however, that this is
the first time on record that these
worms have been reported in such
large numbers in this area.
-I would identify this worm as the
Nereis," he said. "These worms live
on the bottom, where they burrow
into the earth."
Dr. Walford said the worms spawn
the second or third night after a full
moon during the summer. A related
kind of worm from the South
Pacific, he said, spawns for two days
in October and again in November
at the same time elch year. They
are eaten by the natives.
Rather than being a menace to
fishing, Dr. Walford speculated the
worms might prove a “boon” be
cause, like bloodworms, they are de
voured by fish as food. Meanwni'.e,.
however, the fish may not be in-;
terested in fishermen’s bait.
First report of the strange worms
came from North Beach, where
(See WORMS, Page A-5.»
-A
Letter Urging Realtors
To 'Act Together' on
Rates is Given Jury
is 'Perfect Expression' of
Case, U. S. Claims, as
Judge Admits Evidence
By Francis P. Douglas
Justice Edward M. Curran to
day admitted in evidence in the
real estate antitrust case in Dis
trict Court a letter the Govern
ment says contains "a perfect
expression of the Government’s
case.”
The letter was offered yesterday.
In the trial of the Washington Real'
Estate Board and the National As
sociation of Real Estate Boards on
Charges of a criminal conspiracy to
fix commissions for handling re
alty sales and other transactions.
The letter, dictated by Herbert U.
Nelson, executive vice president of
the national association, was ad
dressed to A. R. Saunders of Lan
sing, Mich., secretary of the Michi
gan Association of Real Estate
Boards. It was dated February 27,
1946. The letter said:
“If all boards act together, each
individual board gains strength and
confidence from such action.’’
Utt<* “Uniformity.”
The letter said Mr. Saunders had
been appointed a member of the
national association's committee on
rates, rules and customs by Boyd T.
Barnard of Philadelphia, president
of the national association.'
The letter said in part: "The task
of this committee is to seek to bring
Increasing order out of the some
what confused rules of our member
boards with reference to fees, com
missions ana cnarges ior services.
This can be done by seeking Uni
formity in definitions and the basis
of charges without it any way seek
ing to suggest the actual amount
of the charge. * * *
"In dealing with the Federal Gov
ernment there is of course great
advantage in having logic and some
uniformity in our charges. In the
case of management fees the Gov
ernment can see little point in pay
ing twice as much in one community
as in another. Some of the larger
insurance companies have also made
the same point.
Boards Should Get Together.
"Generally speaking most boards
I have charges which are probably too
low in relation to the present costs
of doing business. Often a board
will hesitate to increase its charges,
fearing to lose business. If all boards
can act together each individual
board gains strength and confidence
ffom such action."
Arguments over the admission of
the letter in evidence were heard
by Justice Curran after the jury of
seven men and five women had been
sent from the courtroom.
Victor H. Kramer, Government
trial attorney, argued that a sug
gestion by, the national association
to the Washington board to raisje
rates, which was acted on, is a
violation of the Sherman Act.
Heed Equivalent of “Wink."
He made reference to a Guide
concerning rates sent out by the
national association. He said send
i ing this out was equivalent to a
"wink" and was followed by action
of the Washington board.
The phrase "a wink" was from a
ruling by Justice T. Alan Golds
borough in a case involving John L.
Lewis.
Roger J. Whiteford. attorney^for
(See REALTYTPage A~-5T>
HouseTariffVeto
Opposed by Taft
AndVandenberg
Both Leave Loophole
For Commission to
Protect U. S. Interests
By J. A. O'Leary
Two Senate Republican lead
ers—Senators Vandenberg of
Michigan and Taft of Ohio—
went on record today against
giving Congress the veto power
over tariff rates voted by the
House yesterday. 234 to 139.
At the same time, however, both
left the door open for vesting the
Federal Tariff Commission with
power to fix general standards to
protect American industry and labor
from excessive tariff cuts.
Senator Vandeneberg said the Re
riprocal Trade Agreements Act
should be extended in virtually its
present form. As for the length of
the extension, he said that "is of no
great consequence." although he
prefers two or three years.
The measure pushed through the
House by the Republican majority
yesterday calls for a one-year exten
sion. The present act is due to ex
pire June 12.
President Truman and Secretary
of State Marshall have urged a
three-year extension without change
in the act. The House disregarded
those pleas In cutting the length of
time and providing that Congress
can veto a trade agreement.
Senate Hearing Arranged.
The Senate Finance Committee
announced it will hold two days of
open hearings next week before act
ing on the House measure.
"The reciprocal trade agreement
principle should be preserved un
weakened," Senator Vandenberg told
reporters. "It is indispensable in
today's world. This rules out any
congressional veto on tariff rates. I
shall not support this feature of the
House bill.
"But it does not rule out legitimate
procedural precautions to prevent
excessive tariff reductions which
threaten domestic industry and
labor. I favor the practical use of
the Federal Tariff Commission to set
the safety limits within which the
President may freely negotiate. This
is in the House bill.
"But if the President finds it ia
in the national interest to nego
tiate beyond these limits, it is suf
ficient restraint to require him to
publish the Tariff Commission rec
ommendations with his disclosure of
their breach. This was recom
mended one year ago by Senator
Millikin Republican, of Colorado
and me in connection with the
: executive order issued at that
!time."
Exact Position I'nclear.
It was not clear whether Sen
ators Talt and Vandenbprg have
in mlncL. giving exactly the same
degree Of weight to the Tariff Com
mission findings, but thev were in
accord on not bringing the tariff
making function back to the floor
of the House and Senate every time
a rate is changed.
Senator Vandenberg shared the
view of most other Senators that
the length of the extension, as be
tween one or three years, is of no
great consequence, because there
are no new trade agreements in
prospect immediately.
"International trade practices are
in constant flux and our attitude*
must be responsively resilient," Sen
ator Vandenberg continued. “Since
the character of the act will alwav*
depend on the administrative judg
ments, the real decisions will be
tmade after the next elections. I
prefer an extension of three, or at
least two, years for the sake of un
derscoring what is now an indispens
able principle in helping trade for
us and our customers. But the time
of the extension is largely academic
'under existing circumstances,"
Backs Standards Authority.
Senator Taft said he wants to keep
i in the House bill authority for the
! Tariff Commission to set standards
!so that tariff adjustments will not
destroy American industry.
Senator George. Democrat, of
; Georgia, ranking minority member
j of the Finance Committee, said
|he hoped the Senate would agree
I to a straight one-year eiAension.
; without the House changes in the
law, as a compromise.
The House vote of 234 to 149
shewed the Republicans did not
have the two-thirds they would need
to pass their new tariff-making
formula over a presidential veto.
This means that if Mr. Truman
ishould veto the House formula, the
Trade Agreement Act would die on
June 12, unless the Republican
leaders in Congress barked down
ana passed a straight extension bill
at the last moment.
George Agrees With Marshall.
Senator George told reporters
after the House had acted that he
agrees with Secretary of State Mar
shall that no law would be better
than the House revision.
In the House 16 Democrats crossed
(See TARIFF, Page A<i)
Czech Catholic Bishops
Fight Red Single Ticket
8y the Associated Press
PRAGUE Czechoslovakia, May 2?.
—Roman Catholic blshope in tne
Olomouc archdiocese in Moravia
brought out into the open today the
church* opposition to the Czecho
slovak government's single-ticket
election.
A proclamation from the bishops,
ruling priests out of politics, was
posted on Emausi Church today for
Corpus Christi Day worshiper*
tc see.
Many viewed it as virtually an
order to the Rev. Josef Plojhar,
Minister of Health in the Com
munist-dominated government, to
choose between remaining in the
government or in the church. Father
Plojhar is a membei of the Cath
olic People's Party. He cnee *'a*
read out of it but regained
ship in the'Communist coup ''*
February. The election »*
Sunday.
A