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U. S. Court Test Likely On State Agency Probe By ROBERT K. WALSH Star Staff Writer A Federal Court test of the extent of a congressional committee's power to probe a State agency was in prospect today as a result of contempt citations voted by the House against three Port of New York Authority officials. Most House Judiciary Committee Democrats and Repub licans and many other members of both parties, including prominent “States Rights" champions from the South,' contended the House action ■ had nothing to do with any issue of Federal interference in State and local matters. Five Governors Protest But Republican Gov. Nelson, A. Rockefeller of New York, Democratic Gov. Robert G. Meyner of New Jersey, and former New York Govs. Harri man, Dewey and Lehman pro tested not only against the contempt citations but also against the House committee’s demand for certain "internal” records and communications of the Port Authority. Because of refusal to provide such information sought by a judiciary subcommittee inves tigating activities of the Port Authority, contempt of Con gress citations were voted late yesterday against S. Sloan Colt, unpaid Port Authority board chairman; Austin J. Tobin, $60.000-a-year execu tive director, and Joseph G. Carty, secretary. The House voted 270-124 to cite Mr. Colt and 190-60 against Mr. Tobin. The citation against Mr. Carty was adopted by voice vote. The next step is to refer the cases to the Justice Department which must pre sent them to a grand jury for possible indictment and trial in Federal court here. The maxi mum penalty for conviction would be one year imprison ment and a $l,OOO fine. The roll call vote on the Colt citation showed close divisions in delegations of the two States most directly concerned. The New York delegation split 21 for and 19 against the cita tion. with three others not vot ing. The New Jersey delegation vote was eight for the con tempt citation and six against. Defend Committee The debate yesterday was highlighted by a defense of the committee by its Democratic and Republican leaders, Chair man Celler of New York and Representative McCulloch of Ohio. They were supported by a Southern Democrat. Repre sentative Willis of Louisiana, in declaring that the commit tee had ample power to inves tigate the Port Authority. They maintained also that the material requested from the Port Authority officers was pertinent to the investigation. They said the committee and not those witnesses were re sponsible for determining the pertinency of questions. They added that the three officials RALEIGH HABERDASHER sale Wash-Wear Dacron Polyester-Cotton walk shorts regularly 7.95 4.95 now It may be a short short season for some . . . but we've had so many requests for good wash wear walk shorts, we're offering this group at this wonderful low price. 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Mr. Celler commented that Congress would be close to ad journment by then and have no chance to consider the con tempt citations. Assails Port Authority Mr. Celler described the Port j Authority as "great propagan-j dists’’ who have tried to pres- i sure Congress and the public against any investigation. He asserted that "they lie in their teeth when they charge that such an investigation would af fect every State, county and' city in the country” by en-' larging the scope of congres sional inquiry into local affairs, ! Mr. McCulloch told the House that "a false issue of States rights" had been raised. He explained that the Port Authority was originally set up in 1922 under a New York-New Jersey company approved by Congress. He contended that Congress has a right to in vestigate the Authority and to demand information it deems pertinent to the inquiry. He noted that the Port Authority in recent years has branched out into many fields, such as airport development, not en-1 i visioned in the orlgi n a 11 company. "A congressional committee has been told it is none of our business,” the Ohio Republican I said. “The committee has been refused copies of contracts and other data. We are entitled to know if interstate commerce! has been burdened, if contracts have been let to the lowest bidders, and why bridge tolls have not been lowered for the I benefit of taxpayers who have been paying for many years.' The committee has been very careful not to exceed the limits of its jurisdiction. But we have come to the stage where a court test is inevitable.” Other members recalled that the investigation was initiated at the request of the New Jer- sey delegation in the House last February. Representative Cahill, Republican of New Jer sey, said this resulted from reports that the Port Authority planned to build a jet airport in "one of the most desirable residential sections” of New Jersey. Mr. Celler denied that the controversy was merely a feud between him and some Port Authority officials, or between Congress and the Governors. "We are not persecutors or prosecutors,” he said, “We don't want to send anyone to jail. But we want these records to determine what has been going on in the Port Authority all these years. Are we going to be men or mice?” Members who sided with the views of Govs. Rockefeller and Meyner contended the matter involved a basic constitutional question touching on the “power of Congress to pry into internal workings of a bi-State agency.” They warned that adoption of the contempt cita tions would set a dangerous Stores Open tomorrow: 12 to 9 Downtown, 10 to 9:30 Chevy Chose and Wheaton Plaza your final opportunity... odds and ends of men’s summer suits This is your final opportunity to obtain fine Raleigh summer clothing at sale prices. We have regrouped our summer clothing and have reduced prices in order to clear our racks for the Fall and Winter apparel now coming in. Not all sizes in all groups but a good over-all selection to choose from. This is only a partial listing, odds and ends of other fine summer suits also avail able at substantially reduced prices. All are subject to prior sale. 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Representative Stratton, Democrat of New York, main tained that the prerogatives and responsibilities of Congress must be upheld but that in this instance he did not like "the way this matter is being handled. “I believe it is improper, un seemly and unnecessary under such circumstances to try to resolve a constitutional ques tion as complex as this in this way and by criminal contempt means. Surely there is some other way to resolve this issue in a satisfactory and dignified fashion than by voting hastily, in the closing days of this ses sion. to issue criminal contempt citations for distinguished pub lic servants.” One of the most prominent of the Southern advocates of “States Rights,” Representative Colmer, Democrat of Missis sippi, could not resist the temptation to take a verbal jab at Gov. Rockefeller. He denied . Indonesian Envoy Calls on President By the Associated Press ; Indonesian Ambassador Moe > karto Notowidigdo paid a fare -1 well call on President Eisen . hower today. The Ambassador is leaving . Washintgon at the end of this ’ month for a visit home before * becoming Ambassador to India. He told reporters he discussed a ' variety of matters with Mr. ' Eisenhower, including the dis ! pute between Indonesia and the ' Netherlands over West Irian. that the Port Authority issue involved Federal interference of the kind he said was being used against the South in civil ’ rights cases. But he added: "I wonder what Gov. Rockefeller thinks about Federal interference now. i Surely the chickens have come home to roost.” RALEIGH HABERDASHER 13 Witnesses Cited by House By the Associated Press Thirteen witnesses who re fused to answer questions of the House Committee on Un- American Activities in Puerto Rico last November were cited for contempt of Congress yes terday. All the witnesses had re fused to recognize the juris diction of the committee in Puerto Rico. The committee was investigating Communist activities in the island. The citations go to the Justice Department, which will j make the decision whether to! prosecute. Conviction could carry a $l,OOO fine and a year in jail. The citations were voted in dividually by the House and all but one was approved unani mously by a voice vote. A roll call vote forced on the other one produced a vote of 382-0, with Representative Meyer, Democrat of Vermont, voting "present.” Regularly 59.50 Dacron-Worsted Raleigh Suits It's the season's most wanted summer suit fabric ... 55% Dacron polyester, 45 c o wool tropical worsted. Crisp, cool and ft ft nr luxurious. Wrinkles hang out overnight. Also included in this group are fine all-wool tropicals and blends of Dacron V w polyester, worsted and silk. i Reg. 73.50 to s B5 HS&M Imported & Domestic Fabrics In this category you'll discover HS&M's miracle blends ... F" ft fIE the famous and much wanted Viracle, Virasil and Viralite . . . Dacron polyester mixed with worsted and with worsted and UIJ silk. 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C., Wednesday, August 24, 1960 Robert Frost In Line for Gold Medal Congress expects to complete action, perhaps this week, on a bill authorizing a gold medal for Robert Frost in recognition of his poetry, legislative leaders indicated today. But Congress probably will adjourn without acting on a proposal dearer to his heart, a National Academy of Culture. House Banking Committee Chairman Spence. Democrat of Kentucky, plans to seek prompt House approval of a Senate bill providing $2,500 for a gold medal that President Eisen hower would present to the 86- year-old New England poet. The House committee late yes terday approved the bill passed by the Senate last month. Sponsored by Republican Senators Saltonstall of Massa chusetts and Aiken and Prouty of Vermont, the bill acclaims Mr. Frost’s poetry for having i “enriched the culture of the United States and the philoso phy of the world.” Mr. Frost {currently is serving as an hon orary consultant to the Library of Congress. The bill urged by Mr. Frost to establish a National Acad lemy of Culture is still in the Senate Labor and Public Wel fare Committee. Members in dicated today that the measure is unlikely to come out before Congress adjourns. Mr. Frost appeared before the commit tee earlier this year in behaif of the bill. A-7