Evening star., 1946-02-01
Pau|ey Linked Government Suit
On Oil Lands to Campaign Funds
Ickes Reveals at Senate Hearinq
7 testimony Comes
As BombsheII
ToCommittee
By ]. A. OLEARY.

Secretary of the Interior Ickes
dropped a verbal bombshell be-
fore the Senate Naval Affairs
Committee today when he testi-
he'd that Edwin w. Pauley, for
mer treasurer of the Democratic
National Committee, talked to
him about the effect of the Gov
ernment'S tidelands suit on
campaign contributions.
The committee is holding hear
tngs on the nomination of Mr.
Pauley by President Truman to be
Undersecretary of the Navy.
There was a moment of silence in
the crowded room after Senator
Tobey, Republican, of New Hamp-
shire had asked Secretary Ickes if
Mr.. Pauley ever told him the filing
OF the suit to gain Federal title to
submerged coastal oil lands in Cali
fornla would be bad politics and
that several hundred thousand dol
lars could be raised in campaign
contributions if the suit was not
pressed.
Kept Memorandum.
This line of inquiry is embarras-
sing to me-" Mr.. Ickes replied, but
you are entitled to an answer. NV
answer is yes"
Asked by Senator Tobey if any
one else was present at the time.
Mr.. Ickes said his recollection is
that Abe Fortas, former Undersec-
retary OF the Interior. was there.
Senator Tobey asked Mr.. Ickes if
ne Kept memorandum of the con-
versation and he said he did.
What was your reply?" asked
the New Hampshire Senator.
THAT I couldn't let that enter
into my consideration" said the
outspoken head of the Interior De-
partment.
The suit is still awaiting decision
by the Supreme Court, but there
also is pending in Senate commit
tee a bill already passed by the House
which would insure retention of title
to the tidelands in the States.
No Instructions From President.
Senator Tobey also asked Mr.. Ickes
If MIR. Pauley ever told him the Pres
ident thought the tidelands suit was
unwise. Mr.. Ickes said, mo" but
that the nominee said merely that
he had discussed it with the Presi-
dent.
Senator Tobey wanted to know if
Mr.. Ickes thought Mr.. Pauiey was
"bluff1ng, as in poker" to give an
impression the President was op-
posed to the suit.
Mr.. Ickes replied his only feeling
was that the suit was a matter in
his jurisdiction, and that if the Pres.
ident wanted to give him any in
structions he would do so directly.
He added that the President had not
done so and the suit was proceeded
with.
Rayburn Takes Stand.
Mr.. Ickes' brief but explosive testi-
mony was followed by the unexpect-
ed appearance of Speaker Rayburn,
who took the stand TO reply to a
question put to Mr.. Pauley yester-
day, as to whether Mr.. Pauiey's &C
ton in introducing an advocate of
State control of tidelands to the
Speaker was intended to influence
that officials view.
Neither Mr.. Pauley nor any one
else could influence my views on
that question:" the Speaker said,
because it has been under discus
sion around here since, 1888 and my
position is well known. I have al
ways asserted that my State and the
other states owned these lands"
Only once or twice did the blunt
spoken Secretary of the Interior
parry a question, and that was when
Senators Tobey and Willis, Repub-
hcan Of Indiana sought to get his
opinion on the propriety of appoint
ing Mr.. Pauley to the Navy post.
Il am member of the cabinet
l don't know why, but I am" Mr..
Ickes replied. This nomination was
sent up here by the man I am work.
ing for, President. Truman"
Senator Tobey interrupted to sug-
gest that I'VE are also working for
10000, 900 people" who have an in
terest in the issues before the COM
mitteee.
No Further Answer.
Mr.. Ickes responded that he has
tried to keep the interests of the
100000 900 in mind, but told Sena-
tor Tobey that you are asking me
not for fact, but for a conclusion"
He made no further answer to the
question.
At the start of the hearings yes
terday Mr.. Pauley categorically
denied Senator Tobey's question as
to whether he had made the state
ment to Mr.. Ickes about the tide
lands suit being bad politics or that
he could raise several hundred
thousand dollars in campaign con-
tributions if it was not pressed.
MIR. Pauley sat only a few feet
away from the witness chair as Mr..
Ickes testified with his usual occa-
sional touch of wit.
Mr.. Ickes drew a laugh from the
audience when he told Senator
Tobey he thought Mr.. Pauley is too
smart to want to be Secretary of the
Interior"
The Senator had asked the Secre- i
tary If he ever heard a rumor in Of
tSee PAULEY, Page AL