Evening star., 1944-03-14

Secretary Wicksrd. a report by v
A. Young, supervising investigator
Tor the Agriculture Department. ac-
cusing Mr.. Slattery of 'lack OF
veracity" and "untruthfulness," and
asserting that dissension among
REA officials had resulted. Mr.
Wickard told the committee the
Young report confirmed informa-
ton which I had obtained from
other quarters"
Carroll L. Beedy, committee coun-
sci, indicated Mr.. Wickard would be
recalled for additional questioning
probably tomorrow, after Senator
Gillette, Democrat, of Iowa, a COM
mittee member, said he wanted the
Secretary to explain why Mr.. Slat-
terry had been retained as head of
the REA in view of the investiga-
tors report. The REA is a bureau in
the Agriculture Department and
thus under Mr.. Wickard's jurisdic-
ton.
Aiken Champions Accused.
Senator Aiken, Republican, of Ver-
mont then indicated he would in
sist that Mr.. Slattery be given q
chance to reply to the Wickard tes-
timony. Senator Aiken demanded
that any one who considered himself
'wrongfully accused" in the hear
ings be given an opportunity to be
heard in his own defense.
In addition to investigating Mr..
6latterys administration of REA,
the committee, headed by Senator
Smith, Democrat, of South Caro-
lima, is seeking to determine whether
the agency should be restored to its
former status as an independent es-
tablishment.
The Secretary, reappearing before
the committee, broke his self-en-
forced silence on REA affairs be-
cause, he said, President Roosevelt
wishes me to speak without reser-
vation."
Mr.. Wickard quoted Mr.. Young as
reporting:
I'm my personal dealings with
Mr.. Slattery numerous instances oc-
CURED wherein it was found that
his word could not be relied upon.
His lack of veracity has likewise
been mentioned to me by several
individuals. 1t is my opinion that
his untruthfulness cannot be attrib-
uted to forgetfulness, but in most
instances TO self-interest."
Says REA Counsel Complained.
Mr.. Wickard said Vincent D.
Nicholson, general counsel of REA,
had come to him (Mr. Wickard) for
the express purpose of bringing to
my attention his feeling that lack
Of leadership and general lax ad-
ministration was seriously hamper
ing the success Of the REA pro-
gram" s@a.-e auf4a,~7
Mr.. Wickard said he had asked
Mr.. Slattery to resign and accept
appointment as an REA adviser, but
that he refused. Mr.. Slattery has
testified that a series of attempts
were made to induce him to quit,
and that he believed the move was
due in part to what he termed his
refusal to "go along" with a ma
tional organization of co-operatives
which Mr.. Slattery said was formed
both for political purposes and to
deal in materials and insurance with
REA co-operatives.
Testimony has been given before
this committee to make it appear
that I or members of my staff
worked in collusion" with the coop
organization, Mr.. Wickard said in a
prepared statement, but added,
such testimony is absolutely with
out foundation.
my concern relating to the ad-
ministration of REA far predated
any activity or interest of the ma
tional association"
Foresaw Curtailed Program.
When Senator Gillette asked Mr..
Wickard why he had not removed
Mr.. Slattery if he doubted his ad-
ministrative competence, the cabi-
net officer replied:
Pearl Harbor came along and it
was obvious that the REA program
would be greatly curtailed, and I
thought that with the administra-
1--WE lOdQ reQuCeQ, IIlluSS nlgHt iron
themselves out"
Along with the critical comments,
Mr.. Wickard credited Mr.. Slattery
with having rendered "a great pub
lie service" and added. His long
years of battling against selfish in
terests has given him knowledge
and experience few people ever ac-
quire: no one has ever doubted
where he stood when the public
welfare was hanging in the bal
ance"