Evening star., 1943-08-31
FEC
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ords read by Mr.. Osborne, but the
committee investigator said the
commission had taken steps to have
him deferred earlier that month, be-
tween the time he was first inter-
viewed and appointed. Mr.. Denny
broke in to ask that the record show
Mr.. Erickson went into the Army
July %, l943
Olin Lloyd Seay was hired by the
commission September T. 1942, ac-
cording to Mr.. Osborne's testimony
The Investigator presented entries
from the files to show that FEC Of
ficials considered the mans draft
status before his appointment and
asked for his deferment on Sep
tember 9, 1912. Mr.. Denny said that
this employe reached the age of 38
last January and had been in de-
ferred status for only four months
after going to work.
Fly Attacks COMMITTEES.
A press release by FEC Chairman
James L. Fly, labelling as "a bid for
headlines" the committees investi-
cation into agency draft deferments,
caused brief fiare-up near the
close of yesterdays hearing.
The Fly statement was issued after
committee investigators had ques-
toned the indispensability of some
of the. men the commission had
helped to get deferred in order to
continue in their radio and en-
gineering jobs.
Hugh Reilly, associate commit
tee counsel, showed the press re-
lease TO Mr.. Miller and protested
the committee staff had tried to
present factual information on the
deferment cases.
Against Trial in Press"
Mr. Miller expressed the hope that
parties interested in these proceed
ings will not try cases in the press. y
When Mr.. Miller added that he
hoped they would have "the propri-
ETY. to await their turn at bat"
Mr.. Denny joined in to say the COM
mission regretted the necessity of
issuing press releases, but that it
would do the agency no good to
have its answer to charges present.
ed six months later.
Mr.. Reilly said he was not object
ing to the commission giving its
side, but to the terminology in which
the press release was couched. Mr..
Miller told Mr. Denny he felt sure
the committee would give Mr. Fly
or any other commission official an
opportunity to answer any charges
presented.
Mr. Reilly and Mr.. Walker yes
terday called on Harvey Walker and
Mr.. Osborne, committee investigat-
ors, to relate the details of six speci-
fic cases in which deferments were
sought. That was before the COM
nlittee decided to use names instead
of numbers.
In most of these specific cases,
committee aides sought to snow the
employees had limited experience in
radio work before joining FEC.
Amateur in Group.
One case was described as a 27-
year-old single man who had taken
a home study course in radio and
held an amateur license Another
was given as a 23-year-old single
man who had done some radio worf
during four years at college for an
A. B. degree.
In another case. the committee
aides described 20-yeaf-old single
youth who. they said, had three
years of high school and three
months of night school in radio, be-
fore being employed by FEC in
December, 1942. In January, 1943,
it was testified, the commission
Joined in request for deferment.
The committee staff presented
another case of a 27-year- old man
whose occupation, they said, was
given as a chiropodist before going
to FEC in January, 1912.
E. X, Jett, chief engineer of the
commission, broke in to assert the
man had IL years experience as q
radio operator.
When they talk about radio
operators, they are talking about
amateurs" said Mr.. Walker.
In this case, the committee staff
contended the procedure for defer
ment was begun by FEC the day
after the employe started to work
MFR. Denny contended this man could
qualify as chief radio operator for
any cargo vessel, or at any police
station.
Another case was described as a
2l-year-old single man whose pre-
yious employment was given as
motion picture projectionist. 1t was
testified he had had amateur ex-
perience.
The last case was described b,
the committee aides as a 2l-year.
old former shipping clerk, who. the,
said. had not been a radio amateur
but had taken six-month CONNER.
cial course, in addition to hief
school and year and half oi
college
After yesterdays hearing, FEC
officials said that Ave out OF tn.
six men involved in these case his.
tories either are In military serv.
ices now, or have been granted re,
leases for that purpose.
L