Evening star., 1944-05-06
Two-WayWardP Probe
Ready After House
Approves Inquiry
Fy the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Congress was set today for a
double-barreled investigation of
the Montgomery Ward case after
the House voted, 800 to so, to
probe the Government seizure
of the big Chicago mail order
house.
Speaker Rayburn is not expected
to name the committee of four
Democrats and three Republicans
to undertake the inquiry before
Monday.
The Senate already has an in
vestigation under way.
The House resolution ordering
creation of a committee to deter
mine II President Roosevelt exceeded
his authority in ordering the seizure
after labor troubles, was jammed
through yesterday with only the
staunchest administration support
ers In opposition. The Republicans
voted solidly for the inquiry.
Declared Not War Factory.
Backers of the proposal, drafted
by Representative Dewey, Repubi-
can, Of Illinois sharply criticized the
President, the War Labor Board and
Attorney General Biddle. They con-
tended that the Ward plant is not
war factory and that Mr.. Biddle's
ruling in support of the seizure
makes all private property subject to
Government acquisition.
Administrationists countered that
the seizure was sanctioned by the
Smith, -Connally anti-strike law.
As the House voted, a group of
employees of Montgomery Wards
Springfield Ill) subsidiary, the
Hummer Manufacturing Co., were
of their Jobs and said they would
remain idle until the company
signs contract or the Government
takes over the plant" The plant
was not involved in the Chicago
dispute.
A company spokesman estimated
$50 were involved. The workers are
members of the International Asso-
citation of Machinists (AFL). The
plant produces farm equipment and
war production parts. Joe Winoski,
shop committee chairman, said the
company had rejected a WLB order
for a 4-cent wage increase and
recognition of other union demands.
Refusal Of the company to extend a
C1O contract caused the Chicago
seizure.
Tempers Flare in Debate.
Tempers fiared in the House de-
bate with Chairman SABBATH of the
Rules Committee and Representa-
tive Cox, Democrat, of Georgia,
ranking majority member, involved
In one sharp exchange. Mr.. SABBATH
finally voted for the resolution, ar
guing 1t would show the company
received many favors" from the
Government, then "defied" the
Commander in Chief in wartime.
The attendance at the session was
unusually large.
Among the sharpest critics of
the resolution was Representative
Cochran, Democrat, of Missouri,
chairman of the Expenditures Com
mittee. which will provide the in
vestigation. money, probably $1,000.
He said he personally wouldn't ap-
prove q dime for it, but the COM
mittee will"
Republicans were the most vocal
IN demanding the resolutions
adoption. y
Representative Woodruff, Repub-
Gcan, Of Michigan said:
THE Attorney Generals ruling
that no property Is immune in
wartime includes every citizen of
this country. Not even the news
papers, regardless of the guarantee
OF free press, could escape the
heavy hand of dictatorship"
Use of Troops Called Unjustified.
Representative Halleck, Repub-
ltcan, of Indiana, chairman of the
Republican Congressional Cam
paign Committee:
THE courts were open and there
was no martial law. The use of
troops was unjustified. I don't be-
heve the Congress has undertaken
to repeal or annul the Bill of
Rights"
In Chicago, 1t. Gov. Hugh w.
Cross of Illinois declared:
THE MONTGOMERY Ward case is
tremendously significant as SYM
Dol of the very real peril of die
tatorship at home-a dictatorship
that can be applied as ruthlessly
against labor as it has been against
business"
Addressing Northwestern Uni
versity mock political convention,
Mr.. Cross said American people are
determined ito have no permanent
regimentation in America"