Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-05-11
MonroeCase
Smear Charge
Inquiry 0. K.'d
House Committee
Orders Probe of
Commentators Tip

The House Military Affairs Com
mittee today ordered an immediate
investigation of charges that mem
Der of the Louisiana delegation had
been "smeared" by an accusation
broadcast by Drew Pearson, Wash
ington newspaper colunnist and
radio commentator, over the Blue
Network Sunday night. The COM
mentator charged that the House
member was to "get juicy COM
mission" on contract deal PROM
ised by John P. Monroe, host at the
widely publicized dinner parties TO-.
the elite of Washington at the big
four-story red brick house at 21Ol
r street NV.
Action of the committee was taken
in executive session after Repre-
sentative Brooks, Democrat, of Lou
Liana, had read to the members a
statement from the Louisiana dele
cation demanding the inquiry.
The committee convened. behind
closed doors shortly after 1890 am.
and, according to the earlier promise
OF Chairman May, first took under
consideration the request of the
Louisiana delegation. After approv-
ing the investigation, the committee,
it was said, began consideration of
new bill it plans to sponsor to aid in
relieving the present labor and man
power situation.
Investigators Assigned.
Representative Brooks, who pre-
sented to the committee the petition
calling for the inquiry on behalf Of
the Louisiana delegation, was among
the first to come from behind the
closed doors of the executive meet
ing. He told a group of a dozen or
more neWspapermen that the COM
mittee had approved the request Of
the Louisiana group. He further
pointed out that the committee in
vestigators already had been assigned
to work on the case.
Yesterday two House members
said they intended to ask the
committee to find out how Mr..
Monroe was able to procure enough
food under the rationing program to
provide lavish dinner parties for his
prominent guests. These two men,
oers asked that their names not be
used until they had acted.
Contempt Charge Studied.
Eight of the q members of the
Military Affairs Committee met
with Chairman May at an executive
conference yesterday to discuss,
it had previously been announced,
whether there are sufficient grounds
to cite Mr.. Monroe for contempt of
the House for his loss of memory on
the witness stand last week in re-
calling who the New Deal Off
Gals are, who he had previously
charged warned him he was to be
framed and "persecuted.'
For an hour and ten minutes Mr..
May and the eight committee mem
bers conferred behind closed doors,
Mr.. May said afterward, however,
that the entire time was taken up
with a discussion of what type of
manpoWer control legislation should
be presented to the committee.
Cite Lavish Menus.
The two House members who
said they wanted the supplies for
Mr.. Monroe's dinner parties probed
into pointed out they had wondered
for some time how he could provide,
on his ration coupons, enough food
to entertain such prominent guests
as Government officials, high rank
ing Army officers and members Of
Congress.
Unrationed chicken, fried south
ern style, apparently was the piece
de resistance at most of the dinners
according to the guests who have
admitted they had attended the
parties. But, as one House member
said, there must have been coffee,
sugar and other things on the ra-
ton list that were served. I intend
to ask the recall of Mr.. Monroe be-
fore the committee to answer a
question as to how he procured all