Evening star., 1939-05-21
House Unit and w. P. A. TunqIe
Over Akron Probe Data
Dosier Not Located After Investigator
Suggests 1t Be Consulted

fast running out. The committee
must draft recommendations for
new w. P. A. operations and write
bill appropriating the 1910 relief
money. The members are working
now under pressure.
The committee resumes hearings
tomorrow afternoon, and Represen-
tatlves WoOdrum, Democrat, of Vir-
ginia, the leading figure in the in
qulry, has said he might conduct
night hearings in order to speed
things up. There is a possibility
the committee will seek a further
appropriation to carry on its in
qulry all summer, after it makes its
initial recommendations to Con-
gress.
We have only scratched the sur
face Representative Woodrum said.
Tangle Began on Monday.
The tug-of-War between the COM
mlttee and the w. p. A. over the
Shillito information had its origin
Monday. when the investigator was
reporting to the committee on his
findings in Ohio He said he had
been with the Federal relief orpan-
lzatlon-hrst the Civil Works Ad-
mlnistration, then the Federal
Emergency Relief Administration
and finally the Works Progress Ad-
mlnlstration-from August, 1888. to
October, 1888 From August II.
1886, to October %. 1898, he was a
w. P. A. investigator. He is now
on 1urlough' from that Job.
Representative Wigglesw rth
asked Mr.. Shillito the nature of the
Akron project which he had ipves-
tlgated for the w. P. A. Just as
he was about to answer, J. OConnor
Roberts, the committee counsel, in
terposed. He said:
Il just suggest to the committee
the propriety of his testifying as TO
those facts you have questioned him
about"
Representative Wigglesworth re-
torted that 1T seems to me it is di-
rectly material to this investigation
and being within his own knowledge
is entirely proper line of inquiry"
Gives Number of Report.
Mr.. Shillito then said:
Il would prefer that the commit
tee refer to my report on that par
ticular case, which is on file with
the Division of Investigation or on
file with the Administrator of the
w. P. A. in Washington. That COW
ers the whole case. :. I can refer
you to the case number, 508362363."
When Mr.. Shillito said he was
under oath not to divulge the in
formation to outsiders, Representa-
tive O'Neal, Democrat, of Kentucky
asked:
You still feel that you are
obliged under that oath to remain
silent unless forced to testify?"
Il would feel so obliged if I was
in any division of the Government
at any time" the investigator said
Il do not want to press it at this
time Representative Wigglesworth
interposed. IF it is understood the
original record will be subpoenaed
II that Is understood, I am content
TO withhold examination of Mr.. Shil-
Tito on that matter for the time
being"
Action on Mr.. Wigglesworth's re-
quest for the record from the w
r. A. files led to the present stand
on between the w. P. A. and the
committee.
Opposes Relief Stigma"
The committee heard yesterday
from Representative Voorhis, Demo-
crat, of California, who asked that
the Federal works program be oper-
ated in the future without the re
lief stigma offering jobs and not
relief. He. submitted program
OF his own for the committee S
consideration, proposing wage
scale below the prevailing wage
level.
Representative Voorhis suggested
Congress provide sufficient funds for
the fiscal year beginning July l to
provide jobs for 5000, 900 persons, OF
10000 900 more jobs than are pro-
vided this year. He said at least one
person in every unemployed family
should get work with the w. P. A.
He proposed, too, that joblesS en-
playable men and women over As
should be allowed to ask for the
privilege of working on special
projects under which they would
produce things they themselves
needed, such as clothing. He said
these persons would be paid in kind
and in cash. He proposed that the
w. P. A. set up these projects and
then choose its operators from those
applying.
/: Chairman Taylor of the Appro-
priations Committee, yesterday re-
cetved letter from David LASER
head of the Workers Alliance, COM
planning because the comittee had
not given the alliance q hearing on
charges that in Pennsylvania the
group entertained a plot to "kidnap"
q member of Congress.
The charge was laid before the
committee 10 days ago by Chris
Doose, one of its investigators. Mr..
Doose quoted "a spy as his au-
thority. Mr. LASER asked for a hear
ing the following day.
Irked at not having had a hearing
Mr.. LASER asked in his letter:
|. rs 1t possible that the members
of your committee listened to this
testimony with tongue In cheek,
knowing that there was not a shred
Of truth in it, and that you have no
interest In hearing the real truth OF
this story. 4~.- ~