Evening star., 1947-01-02
BiIbo
Continued From First Page }

lection to that. He declared he felt
justified in presuming that the wal
contractors with whom he associated
were not law violators. During the
four years since the political con-
tributions were made, he said, the
matter was well known in Missi-
sslppi and no authority tried to
prosecute any one.
Much of Senator Bilbo's statement
repeated the lengthy defense he
made at committee hearings last
month and his derlfa1 Of soliciting
contributions from war contractors
Claims Acquittal by People.
The statement indicated that he
rests his case to a considerable
extent on the claim that all charges
against him "were tried before the
bar of public opinion" in his State
election. He contended that he was
acquitted by the people of Missis-
sippi." The statement holds that,
whatever may be thought of the
"ideologies which Senator Bilbo en-
tertains," he is entitled to his Senate
seat on the strength of "Constitu-
tional and congressional precedents. +"
Six of the nine War Investigating
Committee members approved the
report
They were Chairman Kilgore of
the full committee, Chairman Mead
of the subcommittee which investi-
gated the Bilbo matter, and Repub-
lican Senators Brewster of Maine,
Ferguson of Michigan, Ball of Min
nesota and Knowland of California
Senator. Connally, Democrat, OF
Texas did not approve, and Demo
cratic Senators Tunnel of Delaware
and Briggs Cf Missouri neither ap.
proved nor disapproved.
"The committee considers Senator
Bilbo's acceptance of expensive gifts
and donations of personal property
and the acceptance of improvement.
to real estate, provided by con-
tractors who have profited out oi
their work for the Government ir
the war effort, to be an illegal prac.
tice in violation of existing Fedora
SGdGQUCS, GilC 4CHO4U u cdAO.
Fitness Up to Senate.
Although the report carries NJ
specific recommendation for Senate
action against Senator Bilbo, Chair
man Kilgore and other committee
spokesmen said the committee has
presented the facts as determined
in open and closed hearings and ir
several months of investigation.
Final judgment concerning the
matter of improper conduct affect.
ing the fitness of Senator to serve
must be made by the Senate as 6
whole" Senator Kilgore explained
"And, under our form of Govern
ment, conclusions concerning statu-
tory violations of the criminal code
are reserved to the courts"
The committee itself took notice
that Senator Bilbo's alleged conduct
might have a bearing on his fitness
to serve as Senator"
Tightening of Law Urged.
The report did recommend thai
Congress plug loophole in tht
1910 Federal statute banning solic.
itation or payment of political con-
tributions from Government con.
tractors while negotiating or per
forming such contracts. The Law
provides no penalty for accepting
contributions of that kind.
'"The purpose of this statute wa.
to remove or at least minimize on,
source of corruption in politics." tn,
report stated. TT was precisely
this sort of activity in connection
with the national defense program
which the Senate created this com
mittee to investigate and expose"
Commenting on this point and tn,
investigation in general, Senator
Kilgore observed:
THE report finds that Senato
Bilbo, in return for the aid he hat
given certain war contractors ant
others before Federal departments
solicited and received political con
tributions, accepted personal com
pensation. gifts and services, AMI
slicited and accepted amounts o
money for personal charity ad
ministered solely by him."
Bilbo Theory Unaccepted.
While the committee did not objec
to Senator Bilbo's activities in help
ing contractors obtain more thai
$25,000, 900, in war contracts il
Mississippi, ut summarized its basi
chierfinY, as foll0us.