Evening star., 1943-04-09
Roosevelt Is Neutral
On Senate Rivalry
About African Trio
Absenteeism in Congress
Is Criticized Severely
By Senator BorkIey

By the Associated Press.
The rivalry between two Senate
committees over trip to North
Africa figured in presidential
press conference today, with Presi-
dent Roosevelt remaining strictly
neutral.
Four members of the Truman War
Investigating Committee want to go
over and so does q Military Affairs
Subcommittee
Mr.. Roosevelt said only the Tru-
man committee ever had approached
him on the matter and that was
two months ago. He took it up
with Gen. George c. Marshall.
Army chief of staff. who wrote a
letter on the subject which the
President forwarded to the COM
mittee.
The Chief Executive added that
Gen. Marshall said he would like
to take as many committees as he
could to North Africa, but that every
civilian who went over meant that
the armed forces would be robbed
of so much essential tonnage. so he
hoped the trips would be limited as
far as possible.
The matter now falls within the
jurisdiction of the Senate, Mr..
Roosevelt said
Isn't that another argument for
two fronts. interjected Economic
Director James F.. Byrnes, who used
to be a Senator himself.
Senator OMahoney, Democrat. Of
Wyoming, a member of the mill
tary subcommittee. told reporters.
meanwhile, he doubted that "a visit
by members of Congress would be
any more welcome to Gen. Eisen-
hover at this time than a visit
by Gen. De Gaulle."
Il think there are more important
things to do here" he added. More
than l,700 American soldiers have
lost their lives in airplane accidents
and it seems to me more important
to find out if any sabotage is in
volved in those accidents than it
is to be making junkets to Africa. y
Previously Majority Leader Bark
ley had voiced criticism of 'absen-
teeism" in Congress without spe-
cif1cally mentioning the rivalry be-
tween the two committees.
Senator Chandler. Democrat, of
Kentucky told reporters he planned
to move a military affairs sub
committee into the battle zone
"as soon as the War Department
can make arrangements ts'-to look
things over at first hand.
That was "okay" with Chairman
Truman of the Senate War Investi-
eating Committee. whose subcom-
mittee of four is all set to 60 ahead
with its own inspection tour within
a matter of days.
Efforts to agree on a Joint dele
cation fell through earlier in the
week.
Meanwhile. other Senator's pom
dered remarks made bv Senator
Barkley. Senator Chambers Ken
lucky colleague. on the floor yes
terday. The majority leader said ::
1T has got to be a habit that
Senators are on one mission or an
other all over the United States. if
not all over the world They are
anywhere except here in the Sen
ate where they were chosen to
serve
Reminding his colleagues of criti-
clsm OF "absenteeism" in industry.
he added. The first thing We know
there will be criticism centered on
the Senate of the United States
Trio Sees Gen. Marshall.
Senator Chandler said he and
Senators OMahoney, Democrat, of
Wyoming and Lodge. Republican. OF
Massachusetts. members of his sub
committee, conferred for an hour
yesterday with Gen. Marshall on
how we can best inspect Army in
stallations. troops and other phases
Of the military program with the
least possible interference with the
prosecution of the war
Senator Truman said he had mo
objection in the world" to an in
vestigation by the Chandler group,
but that Senators Mead. Democrat.
of New York; Hatch, Democrat, of
New Mexico: Brewster. Republican.
of Maine and Burton, Republican, of
Ohio of his committee were all
ready to go. And. he added, they
had the Presidents approval.