Evening star., 1944-03-01
Congress Challenges
Power Of Agencies
To Defy Inquiries
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Assoctated PfeSa.
Members OF Congress asserted
emphatically today that its au-
thority is independent Of the
administration, and 1t chal-
lenged the right Of Federal off,
cials to refuse to testify before
congressional committees either
on their own decision or on the
advice of department chiefs or
even President Roosevelt.
Chairman Dies Of the House
Committee on American Activi-
ties said he would make an issue on
the House floor of administration
pressure" which he said led to sus-
pension of an investigation of the
Federal Communications Commis-
sion.
Mr.. Dies announcement followed
charges on the House floor yester-
day that Chairman Lea of the COM
mittee investigating the FEC had
"whitewashed" the commission In
an effort to spare administration
officials and advisers.
Dies Issues Subpoenas.
Representative Wigglesworth, Re-
publican, of Massachusetts,, q COM
mittee member, made the charge.
Mr.. Lea denied it, but Mr.. Dies an
nounced he had served subpoenas
on some officials of the executive
departments In connection with the
FEC investigation, and that he ex-
pected they would be ignored.
IF they are" the Texan asserted,
Il propose to make test on the
floor of the House"
The FEC investigation was begun
when Donald Flanem, former owner
of New York radio station WMCA,
said he had been forced to sell his
station to Edward J. Noble, Assist
ant Secretary Of Commerce under
Harry Hopkins, when the FEC
threatened to revoke his license II
he did not sell.
Meanwhile, Farm-State Senators
who have sought unsuccessfully to
obtain information on the Rural
Electrification Administration init
mated that contempt proceedings
may be filed against Jonathan
Daniels, an assistant to the Chief
Executive. and against Secretary OF
Agriculture Wickard.
Relations Confidential.
Mr.. Daniels refused Monday to
answer questions Of Senate Agri-
culture Subcommittee investigating
the REA. taking the position that
his relations with the President
were of confidential nature" and
that his testimony would mot serve
the public interest" Mr.. Wickard
also has refused to answer questions
on the REA.
The aroused committee met yes
terday to consider whether to seek
his prosecution on grounds OF con-
tempt of the Senate, but adjourned
after instructing the committee
counsel. Carroll Bsedy. to assemble
the law and the evidence. A meet
ing was set tentatively for Saturday
to consider Mr.. Beedys report.
A majority Of the dve-man COM
mittee indicated they considered
much broader question was involved
than simply whether action should
be taken against Mr.. Daniels, Al
year-old son of Josephus Daniels,
World War Secretary of the Navy
and former Ambassador to Mexico.
Chairman Smith of the commit
tee said. This is test of the power
of Congress to get information from
the executive branch of the Govern
ment" Adding that the proceedings
may be broadened to include Mr..
Wickard
I'VE can't ignore Wickard," as
serted Senator Smith. Whatever
we find we can do to Daniels we'll
do to him, too. Wickard gave us
the same kind Of talk that Daniels
did"
Senator Smith said Mr.. Wickard
will be recalled before his subcom-
mittee for further questioning about
reported attempts to induce REA
Administrator Harry Slattery to re-
sign.
Senator Gillette, Democrat. OF
Iowa, commenting on the refusal
of witnesses to testify. said 1t could
be carried to the point where Con-
gress would be unable to investigate
a department or agency simply be-