Evening star., 1946-12-12

"
should be rescinded prior to the
December 10 date OF the Bilbo
telegram.
Mr.. Mckay read q telephone
transcript OF 4 conversation In which
district engineer chiefs In that area.
commented that the Vicksburs
jurisdiction might be "a good thing
because that city Is only 10 miles
from jackson. But, according to the
transcript, the officers added that
'.it also would keep Senator Biibo
on our necks'
Apparently that was one Of the
advantages, Mr.. Mckay said when
Senator Ferguson asked II Senator
Bilbo,s persistence In the matter
had anything to do with the ultimate
decision.
Senator Visited Ofiice.
The first telegram sent by Senator
Bilbo to the chief Of engineers in
December. 1910, stated that the Sem
ator was interested in the proposed
jackson base but had heard its con-
struction Jurisdiction was being
transferred to Mobile. He urged
that it be restored to vicksburg.
Col John r. Hardin, assistant to
the division engineer for the Lower
Mississippi Valley, testified the oHgi-
nal assignment Of the Jackson Air
Base was an error, which grew out
Of the fact that jackson was on
the boundary line separating the
Vicksburg and Mobile regional Of
fices. Col Hardin said he informed
Gen. Sturgis, former chief OF the
engineer ONCE at Vicksbure, the
project would be turned over to
Mobile, in accordance with the reg
ilar regional setup.
Opposed Compliance.
Col. Hardin then read to the COM
mittee 4 memo he penciled on the
bottom Of the Bilbo telegram, as
follows:
Il recommend against departure
from field organization setup. Mo
bile can handle"
You were recommending that the
request Of Senator Bilbo be not COM
piled with?" asked Senator Fergu-
son.
That's right" Col. Hardin replied
At the cuset OF the hearing. Sem
ator Bilbo labeled the complaints
against him as much ado about
nothing"
The 69-year-old Senator, fresh
from another Senate committee
hearing OF charges that he tried to
prevent Negroes from voting in the
Mississippi Democratic primary last
summer, was in a jovial mood when
he took a seat at the end of the
committee table.
Joking with newsmen and pho
tographers. he introduced his at
torney, Forrest B. Jackson of Jack
son, Miss, and James O. Day. coun-
sci for the Senate District Commit
tee which Senator Bilbo heads un-
til January 3.
I'm on trial here and this is my
attorney" he remarked. pointing to
Mr.. jackson. Remember how An
drew jackson moved this Washing
ton crowd down."
When Senators Mead and Fergu-
son approached the table Senator
Bilbo jumped up, extended his hand
and shook hands with them. as well
as with Committee Counsel Meader.
Senator Mead then read q pre-.
pared statement promising an i'm
partial hearing and announcing that
the subcommittee would consider
only Senator Bilho's alleged trans
actions with wartime contractors for
construction Of installations in Mis-
stssippi. Senator Ferguson con-
CURED by remarking that the testi-
mony must ''be strictly confined to
war contracts and war contractor"
and not to the Mississippi Senator's
political or other views and conducts
In reply to Mr.. Jackson,s request
that he be allowed to cross-exAmine
witnesses, Senator Mead notified him
this was not customary committee
procedure. Mr.. jackson. however,
was invited to submit in writing any
questions or othsE pertinent ma :
terial for committee consideration as
the hearings progress. It was dis
-