Evening star. [volume], December 14, 1951, Image 1

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

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'(Vf®th.ern Forecast Guide for Readers
Two inches of snow today. Snow and P,„. p.„
rain tonight. High and low today and r , T„f anri F.imrt . ,
tonight 34. Tomorrow, cloudy and colder. 1 r f FoundA;|
(Pull report on Page A-2.) . -
2fi l A iLn —2 Editorial .....A-12 Sports ..C-l-3
I f'm-2fi o.m .2 • Edit’l Articles-_A-13 Woman’s
4 a.m. ...26 8 a.m. ...27 1 pjn. ...26 Financial .....A-31 Section ....B-l-4
_Late New Yorfc Markets, Page A-31. -——-. ---
■ . —■ - --— An Associoted Press Newspaper
99th Year. No. 348. Phone ST. 5000 Rom* Delivery. Monthly Ratei: Evening and Sunday. #1.75: C ni’MTQ 1
__ Evening only. #1.30: Sunday only. 45c; Night Pinal, 10c Additional. ** V/AJlv A O
Grunewald Told Him He Acted
For Senator Bridges in Inquiring
About Tax Case, Oliphant Says
Informed Caudle
ThatWilliamsWas
Probing Returns
By Cecil Holland and
George Beveridge
Charles Oliphant testified to
day that Henry Grunewald, mys
terious Washington figure, onct
told him he was representing Sen
ator Bridges, Republican, of New
Hampshire, in an inquiry aboul
a tax case.
Mr. Oliphant, former chiel
counsel of the Internal Revenue
Bureau, brought out the name ol
Senator Bridges as the House
Ways and Means subcommittee
Investigating tax scandals lookec
* further into his relations wit!
Mr. Grunewald.
The slight, graying former offi
cial, testifying for the second day
acknowledged that he had tipped
off Theron Lamar Caudle that
Senator Williams, Republican, ol
Delaware, had asked for his in
come tax returns.
Truman Confers With Chairman.
But he vehemently denied the
suggestion made by Representa
tive Byrnes, Republican, of Wis
consin, that he had informed Mr.
Caudle, fired by Mr. Truman as
assistant Attorney General in
charge of the Justice Depart
ment’s tax division, that the
House investigating subcommittee
also had requested Mr. Caudle’s
income tax returns.
As the hearings proceeded,
Chairman King of the House
Ways and Means Subcommittee,
conferred with President Truman
for 35 minutes this morning but
would not discuss their conversa
tion later with reporters.
Mr. King had only a “no com
ment” to successive questions, re
fusing even to say if he had
sought the meeting with Presi
Grunewald Owes U. S.
$51,157 Income Taxes
For '50, Lien Charges
Henry W. (The Dutchman)
Grunewald, mysterious \yash
ington figure and confidant
of former Internal Revenue
Bureau officials, today was
named in a $51,157 Federal
income tax lien filed in Dis
trict Court.
The lien charges that Mr.
Grunewald and his wife Chris
tine owe that sum for unre
ported income, interest and
penalties for the year 1950.
Mr. Grunewald, who lives
in the Westchester Apart
ments, is in Georgetown Hos
pital and could not be reached
for comment.
dent Truman or had been called
to the White House.
When a reporter quipped that
It was rather difficult to write a
story on “no comment,” Mr. King
responded that “sometimes that’s
more interesting than the story."
Oliphant Defends Actions.
Mr. Oliphant defended his ac
tions in informing Mr. Caudle of
the Delaware Senator’s request
as “the fairly natural thing to do,”
and added:
“I think it was proper.”
In other testimony as the sub
committee sought to wind up this
week the present phase of its in
quiry Mr. Oliphant also testified
that Mr. Grunewald had discussed
with him the matter of obtaining
a pay raise.
He also said he had lunch fre
quently with Mr. Grunewald, who
is under subpoena to appear be
fore the committee, and that Mr,
Grunewald “always paid the bill.”
The discussion of whether Mr.
Grunewald ever tried to help Mr,
Oliphant get a pay raise revolved
around a period when the chiel
counsel’s job was being consid
ered as one of 25 to be moved
into a higher pay bracket.
Adrian W. De Wind, the sub
committee’s chief counsel, asked
if it were not true that Mr. Grune
wald was trying to get this classi
fication through.
“Not that I recall,” Mr. Oli
phant replied. He said he under
stood the jobs were being consid
ered “on their merits” by the Civt
Service Commission and that Mr
Grunewald “didn’t ever tell m<
h* could help me.”
Phone Talk Record Read.
He then read from his record
of a telephone conversation with
Mr. Grunewald on November 9
1949, in which Mr. Grunewald
asked if the President had th<
power to elevate the job. Mr
Oliphant replied, according to hu
(See REVENUE, Page A-3.)
Santa's Helper
Came From Norway
Krit Kringle, Santo's helper who
drives the reindeer, was originated by
Norwegians who thought Santo Claus
needed aid m his gift-distributing job.
If you need help m selecting eco
nomical Christmas gifts, consult the
"miscellaneous for sale" columns of
Star classified section. The Star offers
mere classified selections than the
three other Washington newspapers
combined.
If you wont to sell outgrown toys
•nd other gift items, place a classified
ed in The Star. The deadline for Sun
day ads is 2 p.m. tomorrow, but you
can avoid a last-minute rush by call
jfi now. Phone SterKn| 5000.
G. 0. P. Seeks Cabinet Firings,
Fresh Probe of Truman Regime
President's Defense of T&x Scandal Inquiry
Draws Protests From Republicans
By Joseph A. Fox
President Truman’s declaration
that he had been cleaning house
in the Government, and would
continue to fire wrongdoers, today
was countered by Republican de
mands for cabinet dismissals, a
new congressional inquiry into ad
ministration operations and a
challenge to make an issue of the
scandals in next year's campaign.
The President’s defense of his
course at a news conference yes
terday brought a prompt retort
from Senator Taft, Republican, of
Ohio, who said that he doubted
the administration “can ever suc
ceed in reforming itself.”
j Senator Nixon, Republican, of
; California, another foe of the ad
!ministration, told reporters he re
gards Mr.Truman's news confer
ence statement as equivalent to
“telling the country there will be:
no cleanup."
In the brisk news conference'
colloquy, the President said flatly
that no cabinet heads were due
' to roll, and he left open the ques
tion of whether he would set up
some special investigative machin
ery to go into the tax scandals
and similar developments in other
fields. He held out the possibil
ity that something would be done
this week.
Arguing that the magnitude of
the wrongdoing in the tax serv
ice, which House investigators
have bared, is no greater than in
former years, the President said
that his administration has been
constantly at work to eliminate
wrongdoers, and had moved in on
several cases before the House sub
committee came along and made
the headlines.
His statement that the number
of dismissals was about the same
this year as in past years recalled
that Revenue Commissioner John
B. Dunlap reported two days ago
that at least 113 officials and em
ployes in the tax service have been
ousted so far this year, as com
pared with 40 last year, 36 the
pear before and an average of 46
over the past five years.
Senator ’ Smathers, Democrat,
of Florida said in a statement
that the country will emerge
stronger and healthier from a
:leanup, and added that inquiries
<Sec POLITICS. Page A-8.)
Appeal Is Studied
By Service, Ousted
As Acheson Aide
*
Review Board Reports
'Doubt' About Loyalty on
Basis of Amerasia Case
By Garnett D. Horner
John Stewart Service today
studied a possible appeal of his
firing by the State Department on
a finding by the Government’s top
loyalty board of a “reasonable
doubt” about his loyalty.
The finding by the Civil Service
Commission Loyalty Review Board
Texts of Findings in John S. Service
Loyalty Review Cose. Poges A-6-7
reversed previous clearances by
the State Department’s own Loy
alty Security Board of the much
investigated career diplomat.
Lengthy conflicting opinions of
the review board, dated Wednes
day, and of the department board,
dated October 6. 1950, were made
public by the State Department!
last night in announcing dismis-;
sal of Mr. Service
Dismissal Effective Today. j
The dismissal, effective at the
I close of business today, was prac
tically automatic in view of the
review board’s decision trans
mitted to the department yes
terday.
The review board emphasized
that it did not find Mr. Service
actually guilty of disloyalty, and
that it did not have any evidence
that he ever was a member ofi
the Communist Party or of any
other subversive organization.
But it did decide there is a
“reasonable doubt” about Mr.
Service’s loyalty because of his
admitted loan in 1945 to Philip J.
Jaffe. then editor of Amerasia
magazine, of copies of some of his
own reports to the State Depart
ment from China.
These reports had been classi
fied by Mr. Service himself as
"secret” or “confidential,” but he
contended they were carefully se
lected to give Jaffe only the same
•sort of “background information”
that he had been accustomed to
give newspapermen in China as
part of his official duties.
"Serious” Indiscretion.
The State Department’s Loyalty
Security Board reported the loan
of the documents to Jaffe was a
“serious” indiscretion and a
breach of regulations, but did not
(See SERVICE, Page A-3.)
NPA Dropping 200
From Staff by Dec. 31
In Economy Hove
Other Expenditures
Are JJeing Trimmed,
Kimball Announces
The National Production Au
thority is cutting down its staff
of 4,695 classified employes by 200
persons by December 31, to econ
omize.
Prank C. Kimball, director of
the personnel-division, and Arnold
Sukrow, director of the employ
ment division, said today dismis
sal notices have gone to 100 em
ployes and additional notices are
to be issued.
Some of the notices, however,
were withdrawn when employes
quit for a variety of reasons—
what is* described as natural at
trition.
NPA is financed through appro
priations to the Commerce De
partment, of which It is a part,
although initially it was financed
through funds appropriated to
President Truman for emergency
purposes and other funds.
Other Expenses Cut.
According to Assistant NPA Ad
ministrator William A. Murphy,
Commerce allotted about $30 mil
lion to the agency which means
its expenses have to be trimmed
by about $1 million. In addition
to reducing the staff by 200, Mr.
Murphy said, the agency is trim
ming expenditures for printing,
travel and certain contractural
services.
Mr. Sukrow said some of those
dismissed are being placed in jobs
in the Small Defense Plants Ad
ministration which has just re
cently begun operations. He said
an “out placement” program is
being conducted to find places for
others.
Mr. Kimball Indicated that NPA
employment operations are in a
state'of flux as changing pro
cedures shift needs from employes
with one skill to employes with
another.
First Problems Over.
For instance, he said, the Con
trolled Materials Plan, under
which available steel, copper and
aluminum are allotted carefully to
users, is now over its initial diffi
culties. In addition, about 15,000
users of controlled materials have
been relieved of the necessity of
filing applications for allotments,
and a considerable number of ap
plications are to be diverted to the
Commerce Department’s field of
fices.
The amount of paper work is
thus cut down substantially.
Missing U. S. Soldier Believed
To Have Deserted to Czechs
By tlw Associated Pratt
FRANKFURT, Germany. Dec.
14.—An American constabulary
trooper was missing from his post
today and indications are that he
has deserted to Czechoslovakia.
The private, whose identifica
tion was withheld by United States
Army authorities and probably
will be for several days, was on
sentry duty at Wildenau, near Re
hau, when he disappeared Decem
ber 12, leaving his rifle behind
him.
A United States Army officer
said tracks in* the snow led from
the sentry post near the German
Czech border toward Czechoslo
vakia and then dwindled out on
windswept ground.
‘We do not know where he is,”
an officer said: ‘‘Indications are,;
however, that he headed into
Czechoslovakia.”
J
Prom other sources it was
learned that the soldier had told
comrades he planned to desert,
and indicated he wanted to go
East.
It was understood from in
formants in the border area that
the soldier had been picked up
by Czech frontier guards and put
aboard a train for Prague.
United States Army authorities
said that as of now the soldier
is listed, as being absent without
leave until it has been clearly
established he deserted.
Unofficially they expected to
hear soon if he de-camped to the
East.
“The Communists will undoubt
edly attempt to use him as a
propaganda device if he volun
tarily crossed the border and
asked to stay,” one officer com
mented.
Three 'Neutrals'
Approached for
Armistice Role
U. S. Asks Sweden,
Norway, Switzerland
To Inspect in Korea
®y th* Associated Press
The United States has alerted
three nations—Sweden, Norway
and Switzerland—that they may
'be proposed as members of “non
belligerent” inspection teams in
i event of an armistice in Korea.
The proposed teams would main
tain a check on whether the Com
Thrc* Allied Planes Lost to Flak While
U. S. Jets Destroy I MIG. Page. A-2
Allies Put Full Home on Reds if Talks
Fail Over Prisoners. Page A-32
Geneva Convention Flouted Deliberately
by Reds, U. N. Soys. Page A-32
munists, on the one hand, and the
United Nations forces, on the
other, were abiding by the armis
tice terms.
The approach to the three na
tions was made through their Am
bassadors here yesterday by John
D. Hickerson, Assistant Secretary
of State for United Nations Af
fairs.
Mr. Hickerson, it was learned,
i told the Ambassador the United
States would like to know wheth
er their governments had any ob
jections to participation on an in
spection commission.
They were told that in principle
the United Nations Korean com
mand probably could accept the
armistice inspection idea.
The Communists have referred
to this idea as inspection by
“neutral” teams; the United Na
tions, as Mr. Hickerson explained
it to the envoys, call for "non
belligerent” teams.
Mr. Hickerson is reported to
have said that the American Gov
ernment did not believe that any
United Nations member could be
considered as neutral in the Ko
rean conflict but that many mem
bers without troops in Korea were
clearly “non-belligerent ”
feeds Refuse to Supply
List of Their Prisoners
MUNSAN, Korea. Dec. 14 UP).—
The Reds flatly refused today to
lift the curtain of secrecy sur
rounding their prison camps, but
said they would okay the rotation
of 5,000 troops a month if the
Allies accept other Communist
terms for enforcing a Korean
truce.
The limited rotation plan was
part of a new six-point Com
munist proposal which made
little impression on Allied negoti
ators. An official U. N. communi
que made no mention of rotation
and said the proposal showed
"little significant departure from
the unacceptable proposal of
December 3."
The Allies have indicated they
might accept a Communist pro
posal to use representatives of
neutral nations for behind-the
lines inspections if an armistice
is agreed on.
Red delegates said International
Red Cross inspection of Commu
nist prison camps was “out of the
question:”
Communists Make Slip.
They again refused to turn over
l'sts of Allied prisoners unless the
U. N. command first accepts the
Communist idea of exchanging all
prisoners. Rear Admiral R. E.
Libby wanted to know why. He
asked:
“Is it because your list contains
just a handful of names and you
are ashamed to give it to us?”
Later a U. N. spokesman said
the Allies would be “more recep
tive” to the Reds’ all-for-all ex
change proposal if the Commu
nists first turned over a list of
prisoners the U. N. command con
siders accurate.
The Reds complained the great
majority of prisoners held by the
U. N. would not be returned if an
exchange were made on a man
for-man basis as the Allies want.
-A U. N. spokesman called the
Communists’ remark a sliD.
A U. N. command broadcast
from Tokyo to Korea again
charged that the Red secrecy con
cerning prisoners was “blackmail”
to win their armistice demands.
Below'Present Rotation Rate.
Brig. Gen. William P. Nuckols.
official Allied spokesman, said the
rotation of 5,000 troops a month,
as proposed by the Communists,
would be well below the current
American rotation level.
He said that while the new Red
proposal appears to follow closely
one offered December 3, many
points need clarification.
There is a possibility the Com
munists may accept the Allied
plan for truce inspectors operating
under a joint military armistice
commission, he said.
An Allied negotiator said the
whole Red proposal will be studied
carefully “for any gimmicks it
might contain.”
i' ... : ,r, u. »< * •>! i . '.. • ■ ,1 ; " , ' , I< ' - - AT -■ ■ ’3 ! •
I
Joan Bennett's Husband Faces
Court in Shooting of Her Agent
Walter Wanger Wounds TV Executive Twice
As He Chats With Actress on Parking Lot
fry th* Associated Press
BEVERLY HILLS. Calif.. Dec.
14.—Before the horrified eyes of
his wife, Joan Bennett. Producer
Walter Wanger, 57, shot down
her agent in a parking lot last
night "because he broke up my
home.”
The greying moviemaker ap
proached the pair as they were
chatting and without saying a
word fired two shots from a .38
caliber pistol at point blank range.
The agent. Jennings Lang, 39.
was seriously wounded in the
groin and leg and underwent
surgery lasting an hour and a
half. Miss Bennett said she and
Lang had been together on bus
iness during the afternoon. She
denied any romantic interest in
him.
Mr. Wanger was booked on sus
picion of assault with intent to
commit murder. He spent the
night in jail and was to be ar
raigned later today on a similar
formal charge or one of assault
with a deadly weapon.
A bullet ripped through the left
front fender of Miss Bennett’s
green Cadillac convertible. She
was sitting in the car when the
gun roared, about 5:30 p.m., in a
parking lot across the street from
the Beverly Hills police station.
Mr. Lang was standing by the
car, talking to her. He doubled
over, clutching at his abdomen.
Chief Anderson quoted Miss
Bennett as saying she told Mr.
Wanger:
"Get away and leave us alone."
She told the police chief that
her relations with her agent were
purely business.
Sid Holtzman, manager of a
service station on the parking lot,
drove Mr. Lang to his doctor’s
office on Wilshire boulevard in
Miss Bennett’s car. She went
along. Mr. Lang later was re
moved to a hospital.
Two policemen took Mr. Wanger
into custody on the parking lot.
Miss Bennett, 41—one of the
movies’ "glamorous grandmas”
like Marlene Dietrich and Gloria
Swanson—was quoted by Chief
Anderson as relating:
About 2:30 p.m. she went into
the nearby Music Corp. of Amer
ica building to see Lang, her agent '
for 12 years.
They took a drive around Bev
erly Hills and Hollywood in his car,
discussing a proposed television
(See JOAN BENNETT. Page A-8.)
Winter's First Snow
Hits District Area; •
Two Inches Forecast
Rising Temperatures
Tonight Expected to
Turn It to Rain
Winter’s first snowstorm struck
the Washington area shortly be
fore noon today and spread a
treacherous coating over the city's
streets.
Eighteen traffic accidents were
reported between 12 and 12:30
o’clock.
The Weather Bureau warned
that 2 inches of snow will fall
— ----———
Midwest Highways Hazardous in Wake
of Big Snow and Sleet Storm. Page A-2
before nightfall and will be fol
lowed by freezing rain. Motorists
were advised to dfive with utmost
caution.
Rising temperatures during the<
night will bring rain, which is ex
pected to wash away the snow
and ice before morning, the fore
caster predicted.
The city’s snow-fighting equip
ment was mobilized shortly after
11 o’clock.
Sanders Ordered Out.
William A. Xanten, superin
tendent of the District sanitation
division, ordered 6 big, automatic
sanders and 12 trucks with crews
of laborers out to cover hills in
heavily traveled sections.
Extra crews from the Highway,
water and sewer departments
will be sent out before the eve
ning rush to spread sand, Mr.
Xanten said.
The Capital Transit Co. also:
sent out extra crews to sand routes
traveled by its buses.
A rush call for sand came at
(See WEATHER, Page A-4.)
Maj. Gen. Frank Merrill
Is Recalled to Duty
By the Associated Press
CONCORD, N. H., Dec. 14.—
Maj. Gen. Prank D. Merrill,
World War n commander of the
famed Merrill’s Marauders, will
leave his pgst as State commis
sioner of public works and high
ways and return to active duty.
Recall of the China-Burma
India fighter by the Army was
announced today by Gov. Sher
man Adams, who approved Gen.
Merrill’s request for a military
leave of absence.
Gen."Merrill said he has been
ordered to Washington for fur
ther assignment. *
T
Rigsbee Is Acquitted
In Poolroom Slaying
01 Gambler Scheve
Jury Reaches Verdict
After 8 Vi Hours Here;
Defendant Is Freed
A District Court jury today ac
quitted James A. Rigsbee. 36, of
a charge of first degree murder in
the fatal shooting of Joseph H.
(Big Joe) Scheve in a Ninth street
poolroom in December, 1949.
The jury had deliberated ap
proximately eight and one-half;
hours when it returned its verdict
at noon.
The jury also acquitted Rigsbee'
on a charge of assault with a dan- i
gerous weapon in the shooting
and wounding of David Silverman.
The latter was struck by a stray
bullet in the shooting.
The jury did not elaborate on
its verdict of not guilty. It could
have reached such a decision
either on grounds of self-defense
or temporary insanity. Defense
Counsel James J. Laughlin had
claimed both self-defense and
temporary insanity on behalf of
his client.
Immediately after the verdict,
Rigsbee’s release was ordered by
Judge Edward M. Curran.
First Conviction Set Aside.
The panel had been told by
Judge Curran it could bring in
any one of four possible verdicts
—murder in the first degree,
with death sentence man
datory; second-degree murder,
which carries a maximum penalty
of 15 years to life; manslaughter,
5 to 15 years, or acquittal.
Rigsbee. who in 1934 pleaded
guilty to assault wiht intent to
rob, was convicted of second
degree murder at an earlier trial
in connection with the Scheve
slaying. But this conviction and
his subsequent sentence of 15 years
to life was set aside by the ap
pellate court when doubt was cast
on the unanimity of the verdict. ,
Case Based on Self-Defense. I
Throughout the trial. Mr. ]
Laughlin painted a picture of the
defendant as one who was driven i
to the point of insanity by i
Scheve’s bullying and taunts. The i
defense also asserted that Rigsbee I
fired In self-defense after Bcheve <
advanced on him, pistol in hand. <
Prosecutor John D. Lane lashed
it Rigsbee as "a yellow a^lley rat” J
who, with premeditation, obtained i
i pistol and walked into the pool- i
room deliberately to shoot down t
Scheve. Mr. Lane denied that a
Schevs was armed and cited po
lice testimony that no weapon s
was found on the dead mai^ i
J'
Virginia Man Named
To Social Work Pos)
InD. C. Juvenile Court
Richmond Attache Picked
To Fill $7,040 Position
Formerly Held by Woman
Appointment of Henry J. Pal
mieri of Richmond, Va„ as di
rector of social work for the
District's Juvenile Court was an
nounced today by Judge Edith H.
Cockrill. The appointment takes
effect January 16.
The post has been vacant for
more than six months. The last
director. Miss Helaine Todd, re
signed May 28 in protest against
Judge Cockrill's policies.
The new appointee is the first
man to hold the post.
Mr. Palmieri for the last five
years has been chief probation
officer of the Juvenile and Domes
tic Relations Court in Richmond.
He has also been superintendent
of the Richmond Juvenile Deten
tion Home.
Served in Ohio, New York.
Previously he had been a juve
nile court attache in Ohio and
New York City, and Judge Cockrill
said he has had an extensive back
ground as a social worker. He is 42.
Judge Cockrill first disclosed the
appointment at a meeting of the
Juvenile Court Advisory Commit
tee yesterday afternoon, but with
held the new director's identity
until after informing the court
staff this morning.
In the preliminary announce
ment yesterday, the judge stressed
that the newT director would be a
man, recalling that a special study
committee last spring urged more
male staff members for the court.
The director’s post, which pays
$7,040 a year, has been a key spot
in the extended controversy which
has enveloped the court for nearly
two years.
Reached in Richmond, the new
director said he had “discussed
the full situation” of the court
with Judge Cockrill before accept
ing the appointmnet, and he
added:
“I am in complete accord with
Judge Cockrill on what is to be
done with respect to the services
rendered by the court.”
He said he had a lengthy con
ference with the judge here but
had not yet talked with staff
members.
Judge Criticized.
Mis Todd's predecessor as direc
tor, Miss Virginia Clary, also re
signed in a dispute with the judge.
Four other court workers have
handed in protest resignations.
Judge Cockrill came under
heavy fire in the spring because
jf an order she had issued, severely
curtailing the release of informa
tion to other agencies involved in
the court’s cases.
Miss Claire Fagrie, probation
supervisor, and Miss Clary were
the first to resign, in June, 1950.
Next were Mrs. Helen Cooper, a
lepartment supervisor, and Miss
rodd, both last May. They were
followed by Mrs. Grace W. Bell
ind Mrs. Caroline Hughes, case
(See JUVENILE COURT. A-4.)
Fwo Show Girls, Man Hurl
In Freak Road Accident
A New York man and two Bal
;imore show girls were injured
?arly today in a freak accident
nvolving a tractor-trailer truck
>n the Baltimore-Washington
>oulevard near Baltimore, State
>olice reported.
The car in which they were j
iding was coasting backward
lown a hill after running out of!
[asoline, police said. A Baltimore
wund tractor-trailer truck, pro
:eeding up the hill, sideswiped the
ar at West Elkridge Hills.
Taken to St. Agnes Hospital in
laltimore were Harold Freedman,
!8, of New York; May Stater. 18,
.nd Terry Gayle, 24, both of Bal
imore. Miss Stater’s condition'
iras described as serious.
Police said Miss Stater is a
inger and Miss Gayle is a dancer
n Baltimore night clubs.
Sumner Pike
Resigns as AEC
Commissioner
Was Original Member
Of Board; Five Years
Of Service Praised
The White House today an
nounced the resignation of Sum
ner T, Pike as a member of the
Atomic Energy Commission, ef
fective tomorrow night.
Mr. Pike, a Maine Republican,
was one of the original members
of the commission when it waa
set up five years ago. He earlier
had served on the Securities Ex
change Commission.
The undated letter of resigna
tion disclosed that Mr. Pike had
asked to be relieved October 31
which he told the President would
mark tne end of his fifth year
on the commission.
He termed his service there
"the most interesting and reward
ing task of my working life.”
Lauded by Truman.
In accepting the resignation of
the 60-year-old commissioner, the
President said:
“I want you to know that I
deeply appreciate the more than
five years of selfless and devoted
service which you have con
tributed to the national atomic
energy program. The mature
wisdom, wide knowledge, varied
talent and integrity which you
have brought to bear upon the
problems of the commission dur
ing its crucial formative years
have been invaluable in helping
to set the course of atomic energy
development in this country.”
The President added that “aa
the sole remaining original mem
ber of the commission your loss
will be sorely felt.”
Was Reappointed Twice.
Mr. Pike was first appointed a
commissioner late in October,
1946, was reappointed in 1948, and
again in 1950. At that time there
SUMNER T. PIKE.
was a serious fight over his con
firmation.
By a 5-4 vote. Senate members
of the Joint Congressional Com
mittee on Atomic Energy reported
unfavorably on the nomination by
President Truman. The Presi
dent stuck by the nominee, blasted
the four Republicans and one
Democrat who objected, and even
tually saw the nomination go
Through the Senate by a lop
sided count.
Senator Hickenlooper. Republi
can. of Iowa had accused Mr. Pike
of opposing the development of
the hydrogen bomb but the com
missioner said he merely took time
to study the matter and finally
concluded that it should be de
veloped.
Acting Chairman.
Mr. Pike was acting chairman
of the AEC for several months
after David E. Lilienthal resigned
in February, 1950.
In 1939 and 1940 Mr. Pike was
an adviser to the Secretary of
Commerce, the late Harry Hop
kins. and for six years thereafter
was a member of the Security and
Exchange Commission.
He tried to retire twice before—
once in 1939 and once in 1946.
Then he was chosen for the first
Atomic Energy Commission.
An AEC spokesman said Com
missioner Pike wanted to retire
about a year ago. but agreed to
remain on duty because several
fellow members were new ap
pointees and he thought he should
stay to maintain continuity of
the atomic program.
Novelist Wins Divorce
RENO, Nev„ Dec. 14 (A5).—Novel
ist Betty Smith, author of the best
seller, “A Tree Grows in Brook
lyn,” was divorced here yesterday
from Joseph Piper Jones of Chapel
Hill, N. C.
Featured Reading
Inside Today's Star
THE DOWSING MAYOR—Mayer G.
LaMar Kelly, jr., of Rockville, is back
home from a round-the-world trip, and
it's about time. The Marylond city
needs a couple of new water wells,
and the Mayor is a "dowser." Haw he
goes about finding water is teld in a
story by Jayne Lynn Greene on page
A-25.
SANTA CLAUS AT GRIFFITH STA
DIUM—Santa Claus is coming ta
Griffith Stadium again. How he will
arrive Sunday between the halves at
the Redskins' game with the Pittsburgh
Steelers is being kept secret. Star Staff
Reporter George Kennedy describe*
past arrivals on page A-5.
HOMEMAKERS—The Christmas spirit
is kept alivp throughout the year by
the Homemaker Clubs of the Depart
ment of Agriculture. Their activitiea
ore pertrayed in a picture
ooae 1-1.