Evening star., 1947-11-11
p ssTHE EVENING STAR, Washington, D. c.
II.
Martin Hears LAWYERS
For 10 Facing Citation
IN Film Contempt Case

House Speaker Martin today
took under advisement the plea
Of attorneys for 10 Hollywood
figures facing contempt cita-
tions that he place their clients
cases before the House.
Mr. Martin made plain. however,
1t was his conviction that he was
obliged to certify the citations to
the United States attorney since the
House was not in session.
Despite his feeling that he had
no discretion In the matter, Mr..
Martin said he would study a brief
submitted by Martin Pepper, one
of counsel for the 10, and consider
oral argument given in q closed
hearing before him today.
The Speaker was not expected to
act Immediately, since he planned
to leave this afternoon for visit to
his Massachusetts home.
The House Committee on Un-
American Activities recommended
the contempt citations after the 10
had refused to give 'yes" or mo"
answers to questions as to Com
munist Party affiliation put to them
during the committees recent hear
ing on communism in the Aim in
dustry.
Papers Not Yet Received.
Mr.. Pepper. vice president of the
National Lawyers Guild, and Lester
M. Levin of New York were the
attorneys appearing before Mr.. Mar
tin. They protested what they
called "hasty action" in the matter
and asked that Mr. Martin either
refuse to certify the citations, there
by squelching the proceedings, or
hold them until the House meets
Monday and put them to q vote.
Mr.. Martin said he had not ac-
tually received the papers in the
case but expected them shortly.
Fewer than a majority of the COM
naittee members were present at the
hearing, and the formal recommen-
dation that the group be cited was
delayed until majority approval was
obtained by telegraph. telephone
and mail.
The citations were taken to Mr..
Martins office yesterday but were
recalled later because of what was
described as a technicality.
Telegraph Vote Questioned.
It was learned the technicality
concerned the fact the committee
acted on the citation recommends
tions by telegraphic vote. Some
cedure were of the opinion the
committee was required to act in a
formal meeting
A majority of the committee was
expected to be in Washington Fri
day, 1t was said, at which time the
action could be formalized.
In explaining his doubts as to
his discretion in the matter. Mr..
Martin read newsmen a section of
law stating 1T shall be the duty"
of the Speaker ito certify and he
shall so certify" to the United
States attorney contempt citations
recommended by a committee when
the House is not in session.
Mr.. Pepper argued the commit
tee was seeking to avoid it's clear
responsibility. under the law to SUBJ
NIT It's action in this case to the1
judgment of Congress"
The 10 men cited by the commit
tee are Alvah Bessie, Ring Lardner,
1r.; John Howard Lawson, Adrian
Scott, Edward Dmytryk. Dalton
Trumbo, Albert Maltz. Samuel Or
nitz, Herbert Biberman and Lester
Cole. Most of them are writer's who,
the committee claimed @during its
hearings, have been afaliated with
Communist or Communist front or
ganizations.
All contended the committee has
no right to inquire into their po-
litical beliefs.
The maximum penalty on convic-
ton of contempt of Congress is a
81 900 fine and year in Jail