Evening star., 1937-04-11

came up yesterday OeIOTe oeHute
subcommittee.
BY tn. Associated Press.
Approval by a Senate Commerce
Subcommittee of five appolnteeS TO
the Maritime Commission cleared the
road yesterday for their speedy con-
firmation by the Senate.
Administration leaders said they
hoped the nominations would be con-
firmed early this week, so the COM
mission can get to work on the huge
tasks which it must complete before
June 30"
Without dissenting vote the sub
committee recommended confirma-
ton OF Joseph P. Kennedy, former
Securities Commission chairman, to
head the maritime body: rear Admiral
Henry A. Wiley, Admiral Emory 5.
Land, former chief of naval construc-
ton and repair: Thomas M. Wood
ward of Pennsylvania and Edward c.
Moran, jr., of Maine.
The favorable report was voted
within 10 minutes after the commit
tee ended a four-hour hearing, In
which nomination of the two ad-
mirals was hotly attacked or defended
by dozen witnesses.
The hearing was held at the re-
quest of Senator Black, Democrat, of
Alabama, who had accused the re-
tired naval officers of prejudice
against maritime labor unions. Ha
did not attend the session.
The other three nominations were
not questioned, although some Re-
publican Senators said they were
Checking up to see whether their
party would be properly represented"
on the commission.
Both Wiley and Land were greeted
with a burst of applause from the
capacity crowd of spectators, when
they defended their long naval records
and said they were impartial on labor
questions.
When Wiley, silver-haired and
ruddy-faced. stepped away from the
witness seat, Chairman Bailey re-
marked:
Il think We all agree you are first
class fighting man"
Sharpest criticism of the rear ad-
miral came from E. L. Oliver, spokes-
man for the National Marine Engi
neers' Beneficial Association and other
maritime labor organizations.
Charging that Wiley had shown ''in-
disputable bias against unions, he
read letter in which the naval Off
Ger wished success" to Emil Topp Of
San Francisco in his efforts to or
ganize what Oliver termed "a COM
pany union of licensed officers"
The Government has condemned
company unions" he asserted, and
no Government official ought to in
dorse them, but Wiley has done just
this"
Stands by Letter.
The rear admiral replied that he had
not intended his letter to be taken as
an Endorsement, but insisted that he
thought "Topp had fine plan" and
would stick by the letter.
divers contentious were supported
by Capt. James j. Delaney, president
of the Masters, Mates and Pilots As
sociation, who testified I'VE have lost
all confidence in Wiley"
President John P Frey of the Amer
ican Federation of Labor's metal trades
department urged rejection of Lands
appointment on grounds that he was
disqualified to hold any administra-
tive position which has to do with
labor"
He protested the admiral's "vigor-
Gus opposition" to labor provisions in
the N. r. A. shlpbuilding code and to
the Walsh Healey act, establishing
minimum labor standards for COM
panies which bid on Government con-
tracts.
Ralph Emerson, legislative repre-
sentative of the International Sea-
mems Union, Atlantic district, told the
committee that Wiley had no expert
ence whatever" with the merchant
stand" in the recent Pacific Coast
strike
Testimony of the labor representa-
tives was described as "undiluted
bunk" by Joseph E. Sheedy, former
president of the United States Lines,
who asserted that Wiley had sue
cessfully handled personnel all over
the world"
1T is despicable to attack these
men, who have had lifetime of hon
orable service" he declared hotly,
"and all this talk about democracy
at sea is bunk.
There is no such thing as democ-
racy aboard ship. When you have it,
the merchant marine is doomed"
Fred B. Ryons, Millard w. Rice
and Land J. H. McVay, appearing for
q group of veterans organizations,