Evening star., 1942-11-28
Senate Group Lays
Plans for Hearing
On Puerto Rican Crisis
Food Shortage Dispute
Centers on Move to
Investigate TueweII
ES the Associated Press.

ES the Associated Press. -'- -.a
A f1ve-man Senate committee
headed by Senator Chavez, Demo-
crat, of New Mexico, started plan
ming today. to begin public hearings
soon on Puerto Ricos food shortage
under authority granted yesterday
by the Senate after a heated debate.
The controversy on the floor was
not on the resolution for the inves-
tigation. which had no opposition,
but on whether the committee also
should investigate the administra-
ton of Gov. Rexford Guy Tugwell.
Called Revolutionary.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican,
Of Michigan, insisted that it should.
calling Gov. Tugwell "a frank revolu-
tionary" and "the Don Quixote of
the New Deal" Senator Wiley, Re
publican, Of Wisconsin, then offered
an amendment that political as we'll
as social and economic conditions
be investigated.
Majority Leader Barkley and
Senator Lucas, Democrat, of Illinois.
chairman of the Audit and Control
Committee, backed the resolution,
but insisted that the investigators
stick to its terms and confine them
selves to the food crisis and shipping
shortage.
Senator Barkley said of Gov. Tug
well, "he may be a revolutionary.
So was Jefferson. So was Lincoln.
So was Theodore Roosevelt, because
they had ideas a lot OF people could
not accept"
Senator Wiley's amendment was
defeated on voice vote, after Sen
ator Vandenberg himself had dis
avowed it because it would be i'm
practical" and would cost more than
the $1,000 allowed in the resolution,
But Sentor Vandenberg said he
hoped the committee at least would
recommend later investigation of
the political situation.
Committee Named.
Chairman Tydings of the Terri
tories and Insular Affairs Commit
tee appointed the subcommittee
composed of Senator Chavez. au-
thor of the resolution, and Senators
Bone, Democrat, of Washington
Ellender, Democrat, of Louisiana !;
Nye, Republican, of North Dakota,
and Danaher, Republican, Of Con-
necticut.
Senator Chavez said the first
phase of the inquiry would be here,
and later, if desirable, the group
would 60 to Puerto Rico.
Senator Vandenberg referred to
the amazing administration of DR..
TugWell," and said that ever since
the Senate confirmed Gov. Tug
wells appointment by one vote in
1941, the musical comedy 'Hellza-
poppin' has had its Puerto Rican
counterpart in real life"
When Senator Vandenberg cited
that the House Agriculture Com
mittee had approved $4,000, 900
food appropriation for the island
only after amending it so that
more Of the money would be avail
able during Gov. Tugwells admins
tration, Senator Barkley declared:
1T seems to me the House COM
mittee was more interested in strik-
ing lick at Gov. Tugwell than in
feeding the people of Puerto Rico,
for they are apparently willing for
people to die Of starvation If Tug
well is still in the Governorship."
Worth Investigating.
Senator Vandenberg agreed that
the committees action was totally
indefensible," but said the very fact
it was driven to such a position
showed there was something worth
investigating In Gov. Tugwell's
administration.
II there Is food crisis We ought
to investigate It," Senator vanden-