Evening star., 1943-04-25
Truman
Continued From Page BID

having minority report remained un-
broken. Their surrender was due to
fundamental policy of the committee,
which operate chiefly as a fact-finding
body. In the case of rubber, so over
whelming a mass of evidence was as
sembled that not even Connally, fellow
Texan of Secretary Jones, could stand
against it.
In Truman's view, the appointment Of
rookie Senators to the committee did
him a favor. He found himself asso-
ciated with youthful, energetic and am
bilious men who in many cases still had
their spurs to win.
Delegates Much Work.
The chairman has availed himself of
the talent at his disposal by means of
an unprecedented use of the device
known as the subcommittee. Various
members have become experts in partic-
ular fields of the war effort Senator
Mead conducted the aluminium man
power and Carnegie-Illinois investiga-
tlons. His reports rank among the COM
mittee's ablest contributions. In addi-
ton to specializing in light metals and
airplanes, Senator Wallgren instigated
an inquiry into lumber, which straight
ened out diplomatic difficulties regard
ing this material between the United
States and Canada. Other Senators and
their favorite subjects include Senator
Kilgore, shipbuilding and transportation;
Senator Brewster, shipbuilding and fuel
oil; Senator Burton, Alaskan transporta-
airplanes.
1t is the chairmen of the subcommit-
tees, and not Truman, who generally
present the committees supplementary
reports to the Senate.
On the face of things, public sessions
of the Truman Committee, which have
necessarily grown less frequent since
Pearl Harbor, are not dissimilar to hear
ings OF other committees. They are held
In the largest compartment in the Sem
ate ONCE Building, the caucus room.
1t is so spacious that committee mem
bers, witnesses and counsel are supplied
with individual microphones.
Dignified but Informed.
The atmosphere is dignifed and at the
same time informal. Senatorial and
judicial courtesies are strictly observed.
At routine hearings two or three men,
bers only may be present. At important
ones there are five or six or even a full
panel.
But after one has attended many of
the hearings number of singularities
grow visible. Perhaps the outstanding
one is that the Truman Committee has
no prirna donnas.
Instead Of ''hogging" the examination
OF witnesses, Truman almost invariably
calls upon other members to ask the
first questions. The chairman is so un-
willing to advertise himself that the
committees identification with his name
appears to have been due mostly to con-
venience. Another popularity is that
non-member Senators are free at all
times to sit with the committee and
participate with full equality in its pro-
ceedings.
A third oddity is the committees
studious avoidance of dramatics. There
has been no bandying of insults, with
threats of personal violence, between
members and witnesses.
Forbearance shown toward belliger-
ent John L. Lewis caused the group to
be charged with "unheroic conduct and
enabled the union leader to march forth
with what looked like personal victory.
One. member replied by asking which
should be thought the more heroic
a contest in adjective changing with
Lewis, which was avoided, or the quiet
courage of Senators Mead and Kilgore
In not merely signing the report but
contributing some of its most blistering
passages. Mead has made his career as
friend of labor, and politics in Kilgore's
State, West Virginia, is dominated by
the United Mine Workers.
Scrupulous Economy.
With meager staff and funds, the
committee administers its business per-
force with the most scrupulous econ
omy. The power of subpoena is sparingly
used, partly because witnesses so mus
tered are entitled to mileage to and fro,
as well as per diem fees. When there is
a fairly distant inquiry in hand wit
nesses are not summoned to the Capital.
Instead, one or two Senators and an in
vestigator pack their grips and travel to
the scene. Through this method the
cost OF given investigation may be
reckoned in hundreds instead Of thou
sands of dollars.
Besides Its is stenographers, the COM
mittee has a stan Of IS men, Of whom
fiye. in addition to Fulton, are employed
regularly at once work.
Printed b. special a1rsngsmsnt With NE d.
Louis roDe-OlspAtoh.