Evening star., 1946-10-29
Atomic
Continued From First Page \

retired. so, former member of the
Army Navy Munitions Board, one
time secretary to Herbert Hoover
and now partner in the New York
banking firm of Kuhn. Loeb g. Co
He has played an active role in
cancer research.
Sumner T. Pike, 55, an investment
banker who until last March was a
member of the Securities and Ex-
change Commission. Mr.. Pike
whose home is in Lubec, Me, quit
the SEC with the explanation, I'm
| getting stale"
The five members are scheduled
to serve at least until August
1948, the second anniversary OF
enactment of the law creating the
panel.
At that time the President will
make appointments to the commits
sion on =. staggered basis. One
member will serve for one year start
ing August /, 1913, one for two years
one for three, one for four and one
for five.
AS these appointments expire, each
new appointment will be for five
years.
AS Chairman Lilienthal's success
sor ss head of the giant iva, MI.
Truman named Gordon r. Clapp,
general manager of the Government
utility since 1889. Mr.. Clapp received
the appointment, which is effective
November /, on his forty y-first birth
day anniversary.
The President announced his
selections at special news con-
ference.
He signed legislation creating the
commission August !, then spent II
weeks searching for men who he
felt will work together. ard, he be-
lieves will command the confidence
of the country"
Their appointments, ss well as
that of Mr.. Clapp. are subject to
Senate confirmation when Congress
reconvenes in January.
Has Unprecedented Task.
OF the unprecedented task facing
the commission, which takes over
from the Army both full supervision
OF atomic energy and production OF
atomic bombs, Mr.. Truman said in
a letter to Mr.. Lilienthal:
The era in which we live is mo-
mentous and the problems with
which you. as chairman, and your
colleagues. as members Of the COM
mission, will have to deal are of
supreme Importance.
The character and the solution
Of these problems will determine
the course of civilization
Senate confirmation of the ap-
pointments generally is expected,
although Senator McKellar, Demo-
|crat, of Tennessee already has
served notice that he will do all he
can to block the Lilienthal nomina-
ton.
Senator McKellar long has been
opposed to Mr.. Lilienthal. whose
iva policies he frequently con-
|demned. the Senator. recovering
from a cold in a Memphis Hospital,
said today he would withhold until
about Saturday" any comment on
the appointment.
Among other Congress members,
early reaction to Mr.. Truman's ap-
pointments was cautious.
Saying "the only one really know
is Bill Walmack," Senator Hicken-
looper, Republican, Of Iowa, men,
ber of the special Senate Atomic
Committee. refused to comment
until I know more about the
others"
Senator Bridges. Republican, of
New Hampshire, termed the selec-
tions disappointing" and added:
Il had ho~ed the President would
choose the outstanding men of the
country for this commission. I do
not know some of these well, but
they do not appear to measure up to
the top personnel of the Nation"
Senator Ball, Republican. of Min
nesota, said the appointment of Mr..
Lilienthal sounds okay to me-" But
he did not comment on the others.
DR.. Harold C. Urey, Nobel Prize
winner who helped develop the
atomic bomb, had this to say:
Among atomic scientists gen.
orally, Mr.. Lilienthal has been their
. choice for craftsmanship of the
mission. DR.. Bacher is a we'll
Known physicist with very good
judgment and executive ability.
Others on the commission are
not so well known by scientists, but
all reports are favorable"
Mr.. Baruch, whose official plan for