Evening star., 1935-07-11
TYD|NGS RECESSES
QUIZ AFTER CALL
AT WHITE HOUSE
Virgin Island Inquiry Chair
man Gives No Explanation
for Sudden Action.
ROOSEVELT TAKES HAND
| AFTER BITTER EXCHANGE
Ickes Preceded Senator at Execu-
tive Mansion and Was Due to
Return to Luncheon
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated PreSS.
The Senate's investigation OF the
Virgin Islands was recessed today,
subject to the call of the chair" by
Chairman Tydings, whose action was
taken on his return to the hearing
room after a conference with Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
The recess was snnounced without
explanation after Mr.. Roosevelt per-
sonally had taken a hand in the
controversy between Secretary Ickes
and Tydings over the conduct of the
investigation by summoning both to
the White House.
No indication of what the President
said to Tydings during their talk last
ing an hour was given beyond a
statement by Senator Robinson, the
Democratic leader. who accompanied
the Territories Committee chairman
TO the White House.
we have discussed various phases
of the Virgin Islands situation" he
said.
Tydings Is Silent.
Immediately on his return to the
room where the investigation was in
progress Tydings abruptly announced
the hearings were recessed. He would
make no statement beyond saying:
There is nothing to add to Robin
sons statement"
He asked witnesses summoned from
the islands to leave their names and
addresses with the secretary, but gave
no indication as to when or where
the inquiry would be resumed. He
then left for the Senate floor.
Ickes, who precipitated a heated
clash with the committee chairman
by charging that Tydings had white
washed" a witness at the inquiry,
preceded Tydings to the White House
He was to return there again for
luncheon with the President.
Tydings answered with letter ad-
vising the Interior Secretary TO
first get elected to the Senate" If he
wished to tell that body how to
conduct it's business" He charged
Ickes sought cheap publicity
The investigation was recessed
shortly after Paul Yates. deposed ad-
ministrative assistant of Gov. Paul
M. Pearson. had completed his testi-
mony before the committee in support
of his charges of maladministration
of the Virgin Islands government.
Hottest Clash of Year.
The controversy between Ickes and
Tydings has f1ared into one of the
hottest clashes of the year. with
charges of all kinds being tossed back
and forth.
Tydings' letter today followed 1ckes'
verbal demand that Judge T. Webber
Wilson of the Virgin Islands be re-
moved for judicial misconduct" and
letter from the Interior Secretary
accusing the Marylander of white
washing" Wilson in testimony before
the Investigating Committee.
Refused Cross
The row began when Tydings, as
chairman of the committee, refused to
allow Ickes to cross-eXamine Wilson.
Yates, former newspaper man, and
other witnesses appearing against
Gov. Pearson, whose administration
of the Virgin Islands is under fire.
Wilson told the committee there had
been administrative interference"
with his court. In reply to this, IckeS
wrote Tydings:
There was no cross-examination to
test his truthfulness and if any state
ment ever needed such a test, it was
his"
The Interior Secretary, whose de-
partment has supervision over Ameri-
can island possessions. also charged
that Tydings and the Investigating
Committees lawyers aided Wilson in
"glossing over his maladministration
of the district court of the Virgin
Islands"
Cheap Publicity" Charged.
Tydings' letter accused Ickes of in
dulging in cheap publicity" and ad-
vised him to "confine yourself to the
duties for which you were appointed" ]"
Tydings also asserted Ickes had
libeled Wilson in press release, said
the Secretary did not know the defini-
ton of the word fairness" and added:
1T would have been far better, Mr..
Secretary, if you would retract your
own libel of Judge Wilson and put
your own house in order before in
truding your unwelcome person into
purely legislative matters"