Evening star., 1944-09-14
Committee Puts
Shepdrd's Name
Before Senate
Republicans Protest
'Hosty' Action on
Recorder Of Deeds
BY DON s. WARREN.

BY DON s. WARREN.
Under pressure for action from
Senator Guffey. Democrat, of Penn
sylvania, the Senate District Com
mittee in straight party vote today
ordered q favorable report on Pres
ident Rooeevelts nomination OF
Marshall L. Shepard, Philadelphia
clergyman, as District Recorder OF
Deeds at an 5000 annual salary.
The vote for immediate action was
. to 4, with 7 proxies from DEM
ocrats cast by Committee Chairman
Bilbo, who is recuperating from an
operation in his home at Poplarville,
Miss.
Announcement that confirma tior
would be recommended in the report
to be filed with the Senate tomor-
row, brought an immediate protest
from the Republican side that pol
itics related to the November elec-
>tion was apparent in the rush for
action"
wanted Furtner STUDY.
Senator Bridges, Republican, Of
New Hampshire, member OF the
District Committee, said he had
urged that the nomination be re-
ferred to a subcommittee for study
and added:
Personally. I feel that the posi-
ton should go to a colored resident
of the District of Columbia and if
we are to go outside of the District
for the apointee it should go to an
outstanding colored person on the
basis of merit instead of to politi-
cal hack. That is what Mr..
Shepard is.
II am one of the members OF the
District Committee who voted for
the appointment Of subcommittee
to consider the nomination. The
rushing of this appointment from
the committee without the apOint-
ment OF a subcommittee to consider
the qualifications of the nominee,
without having him appear before
the committee to be questioned re-
garding his qualifications for the
post, is unusual procedure.
But it is typical of the desperate
attempts of the administration to
corral votes in the November elec-
ton"
Davis Takes Different View.
A different view of the Shepard
Sivaa ttaY, fokon hyy onnf n a
Republican, Senator Davis of Penn
sylvania, who is not a member of
the District Committee. Senator
Davis said he had no objections to
confirmat ton of Mr. Shepard as he
regarded him as "a good man.
Senator Capper, Republican. of
Kansas, District Committee men,
ber, voicing surprise at the favorable
report, said that while it may be
found that Mr.. Shepard is well quail
ified for the post, he felt no action
should be taken until subcommit-
tee had held hearing on the nomi-
nation. He joined Senator Bridges
in protesting that committee men,
bers had not had an opportunity
to see and interview the nominee.
Disclosure of the committee ac-
ton came in formal notice today
from Chairman Bilbo to Senator
Walsh. Democrat, of New Jersey,
in which Senator Bilbo asked Sem
ator Walsh to take charge of the
nomination on the Senate floor
Senator Walsh said he would report
the nomination tomorrow. 1t then
will lie over until the next days
Senate session before 1t can be
called up for action.
Some Other Objections.
From both sides came assurance
that the race question was not in
volved, since the job traditionally
has been awarded to colored man.
But some Republicans viewed the
selection of the Philadelphia clergy
man, who for years has been active
in Democratic political campaigns.
as an out-and-out play for colored
votes in Pennsylvania.
Some Washington colored leaders
contend the position should go to
WaShingtonian since 1t Is Dis
trict job with the salary paid from
District tax funds.
Senator Gufiey, who formerly was
chairman of the Democratic Sem
atorial Campaign Committee, has
told reporters Mr.. Shepard was his
personal" selection. He has been
pressing for District Committee
action since the nomination was sub
mitted August % by President
Roosevelt.
The fact that Chairman Bilbo
voted along with the seven proxies
for Mr.. Shepard's nomination oc-
casioned no particular surprise on
Capitol Hill, despite his expressed
racial views, because he has declar-
ed himself. time and again, to be
100 per cent Roosevelt man" and
Mr.. Shepard is a Roosevelt nominee.