Evening star., 1944-05-02
Ward Seizure
Probe Approved
BY House Unit
Soboth Wonts Inquiry
To Cover Compony's
WLB Business

WLB Business
BIDDLE DECLARES Montgomery
Ward seizure was Presidents
duty. Page A-3
BY the Associated Press.
The House Rules Committee
reported favorably today a reso-
luton authorizing an investiga-
tion of the Government seizure
of the Montgomery Ward plant
in Chicago, and Chairman Sab
ath declared the inquiry should
be extended to determine why
the War Production Board gave
a mail-order house so much
business.
That company gota$100, ,O0O, 600 In
Government business that should
have gone to manufacturers" Rep
resentative SABBATH told a reporter.
The veteran chairman originally
opposed the investigation, demanded
by Representative Dewey, Repub-
lican, of Illinois.
Seven-Man Probe Planned.
Speaker Rayburn said he would
appoint four Democrates and three
Republicans to the group, if the
House adopts the resolution. Rep
resentative Fish, Republican, of New
York predicted that would happen
by a four-to-one vote.
Representative SABBATH told re-
porter earlier he intended to report
the bill out today, all along and
added Il don't know why everybody
was so hasty about this"
In the Senate, where two in
vestigative moves are under way,
Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia
said he would demand a vote on his
resolution proposing a broad Judi
ciary Committee inquiry into the
seizure, despite an investigation al
ready set in motion by Committee
Chairman McCarran.
People Shocked" Byrd Says.
Declaring that people are shocked
by this unwarranted use of military
power" Senator Byrd told reporters:
MY main objective is to inquire
into the use Of military force in the
seizure of the plant and the removal
of SeweIl Avery, head of Montgom-
cry Ward, from his business.
Mr. Avery has notified me that
none Of his Chicago employees has
been classified as essential to war
production or deferred from military
induction by reason of their en-
ployment with Montgomery Ward"
Commanding Senator McCarran
for sending an investigator to Chi
cago to inquire into the legal basis
flor the seizure under an executive
order, Senator Byrd declared his
own resolution, introduced Satur-
day, will strengthen the hand OF
the McCarran subcommittee"
Mr.. SABBATH, who had been holding
up the resolution, said he felt it was
broad enough to meet his demand
that the company's action in refus-
ing to extend a CIO contract--the
issue that precipiated the seizure
likewise be looked into by the House
probers.
| Critical of Avery.
II think we ought to have an
investigation of Montgomery Ward
and see If that fellow (Mr. Avery
Is bigger than the Government" he
said, adding that he has gone into
entire matter thoroughly and has
concluded that the company got
every consideration any corporation
| is entitled to-"
Representative Dewey said he
would take the floor today to de-
mand showdown with Mr.. SABBATH.
The investigator sent to Chicago
by the Senate Judiciary Committee
will return to Washington tomorrow
and Chairman McCarran predicted
prompt committee action will follow
his report.
Senator McCarran said "the aues-
ton uppermost in the minds of Con-
gress is: Are we preserving a Gov
ernment by law which is basic to
this form of democracy or are we,
by any misinterpretation or over
step, forgetting that we are a Gov
ernment by law and attempting to
set up Government of men?"
Representative Hoffman, Repub-
lican, of Michigan submitted legis-
lation in the House yesterday re-
quiring plant. such as Mont
gomery Ward, to have at least so
per cent of its output definitely
classed as war material before the
Government may seize it to end a
labor dispute.
Mr.. Cox and Mr.. Smith made q
threat to change the rules of the
House which have been in effect
(See WARD, Page A-3D