Evening star., 1941-09-18
Clark Disputes Need
OF Senate Authority
For Movie Inquiry
Subcommittee Chuirmon
Plans to DeIve Into
FinoncioI Setup
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

Chairman Clark of the Senate
Interstate Commerce Subcommittee
investigating war films for the past
10 days insisted today the subcom-
mittee has the power to continue the
probe without waiting for the Sen
ate to pass the investigating resolu-
ton on which the testimony is being
taken.
He made the statement following
published reports that Senate lead
ers are looking into the question of
how far the subcommittee can GO
without a specific allotment of funds
from the Senate's contingent fund.
At the same time, the Idaho isola-
zionist Democrat revealed that when
the proceedings are resumed Tues
day, to begin hearing moving picture
executives, he plans to develop the
entire financial and economic struc-
ture of the industry, with a view to
finding out whether charges of
nonopolistic control are based on
fact"
Sees Exhibitors Affected.
Thus. the hearings, which started
out to ascertain whether war propa-
ganda is injected into movies, ap-
pears destined to turn to the ques-
ton of whether there Is monopoly
In the film industry.
Senator Clark said today the ques-
ton of whether there is monopolistic
control lis important, because If
true, it forces exhibitors to show pic
lures the industry wants shown"
When the monopoly issue was first
raised near the outset of the hear
ings, Wendell l.. Willkie, counsel for
the industry, said that question had
been disposed of year ago, when
the Justice Department complaint
against the industry was settled by
a consent decree in Federal Court.
Mr.. Willkie charged the monopoly
issue was being revived to divert
attention from the subcommittee S
purpose. which, he said, was to sab
otage this country's foreign policy
Accuracy Claimed.
Mr.. Willkie also has contended
throughout the proceedings that the
Aim industry Is against Nazi-ism,
and that the only question to be
considered should be whether the
war pictures have been accurate He
predicted the accuracy Of the pic
lures could be proven.
Answering this contention today
&f ~
'1t Is no answer to say it is true"
Defending the subcommittee's au-
thority to go on with the investiga-
ton under the general authority
extended to all Senate committees
at the opening of Congress to hold
hearings. Senator Clark said the
Interstate Commerce Committee not
long ago followed the same proce-
dure by holding two weeks of hear
tngs on the new radio rules of the
r. c. c., without Senate approval
of the resolution introduced at that
time calling for an investigation of
the rules.
Similarly, the subcommittee, in
this case. is holding its hearings on
the question of whether it should
report back to the Senate the Nye-
Clark resolution, proposing an in
vestigation of alleged propaganda
tn the movies and radio.
Cites Gas Hearings.
Senator Clark said also that. more
recently, the Commerce Committee
created a subcommittee to inquire
into the East Coast oil shortage, al
though it went to the Senate fol
approval day or two later.
The general authority granted al
the opening of the session in Janu-
ary to hold committee hearings car
ried no fixed appropriation. Ir
making known yesterday that he is
considering the question of how fal
the Clark subcommittee can &c
without obtaining special investi-
cation fund from the Senate, Chair.