Evening star., 1939-02-11
Senators Call
II Presidential
Appointees
Their Qualifications
Not Challenged,
Bailey Says
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
A Senate Commerce Subcommittee
called in II of President Roosevelt's
appointees for get acquainted"
meeting today after receiving ac-
cusations of an undisclosed nature
against lone or two" of them.
Chairman Bailey of the full Com
merce Committee said mo chal-
lenge" to the qualifications of any
OF the men was intended by the
summons, but that "one or two
persons-not Senators-made accu-
sations against one or two of the
nominees and the committee thought
1t best to get acquainted with them"
The II compose the Civil Aero
nautics Authority and the Mari
time Labor Board. Congress au-
thorized the creation of both agen-
cies last session, and the appoint
ments made subsequently by the
President have yet to be passed on
by the Senate.
Senator Bailey declined to say
what charges had been made, or
against whom.
The nominees called to the sub
committee meeting were:
Maritime Labor Board-Robert
w. Bruere, chairman, Claude E.
Seehorn and Louis Bloch.
Major Controversy.
Civil Aeronautics Authority-Ad-
ministrator Clinton M. Hester, Ed
ward j. Noble, chairman. Harllee
Branch, Robert H. Hinckley, G..
Grant Mason, jr., and Oswald Ryan,
and the two members of the Author
itys Air Safety Board, Sumpter
Smith and Thomas Hardin.
Presidential appointments have
become a subject to major contro-
versy in the Senate in recent days,
the chamber having rejected the
appointment of Federal judge in
Virginia by vote of 70 to 9. Both
of Virginias Democratic Senators
opposed the appointment on the
ground Mr.. Roosevelt made it as
political stroke against them.
Indicating the intensity of feeling
aroused, one of the nine Senators
who voted with the administration
said privately today that several of
his colleagues had reproached him
for his action. He said some anti
administration Democrats were
more bitter than Republicans toward
the President, and added:
Things are in such a state that
it's impossible to tell what this
Congress may do"
Republicans Active.
The upsets suffered by the ad-
ministration so far this session on
appointments and such issues as
relief have been made possible by
loose coalitions of anti-administra-
ton Democrats and Republicans.
Republicans have been so active
that Democratic leaders in the
House have called an informal con-
ference of their members for next
Tuesday to find out what can be
done to make the Democratic ma
jority more effective.
One report current in the cloak
rooms was that House Republicans
were able to knock part of an ap-
preparation for the Tennessee VAL
ley Authority out of an appropri-
alton bill this week because. when
the vote was taken, 55 Democratic
members were out of town.
Minority Leader Martin of Massa-
chusetts has held his members on
the floor through almost every ses-
sion. Frequently more than half of
the Democratic seats were empty.
Leaders hope to remedy this situa-
ton by next Tuesdays conference.
Amlie Confirmation Test.
On the Senate side. the next real
test of administration strength is
expected to develop over the NOM
ination of Thomas R. Amlie, former
Progressive Representative from
Wisconsin, to be a member of the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Mr.. Amlie who has been accused of
"radicalism," was questioned at
length about his economic views by
a Commerce Subcommittee, which
is expected to vote In about two
weeks on whether to recommend his
confirmation.
1t is possible that some Southern
Senators will support Mr.. Amlie in
exchange for pledges of Northern
support for j. Haden Alldredge of
Alabama, an advocate of more favor
able freight rates for the South and
West, whom Mr.. Roosevelt has noni-
mated to another place on the 1. c.
G. Mr.. Alldredge would replace
Frank McManamy, whom some rail-
road labor leaders wanted reap
pointed. \
Action on several Federal Judge
ships is in the of1ing. The vote on
confirmation of former Gov. James
v. Alfred to be a district judge in
Texas has been delayed at least un-
til Monday by protest from Sena-
tor King, Democrat, of Utah.
The appointments controversy
kept most of the issues in the back
ground of the legislative scene to-
day. Both branches were in recess
until Monday.