Evening star., 1947-01-13
0. P. 10 Back
Year 'sLifef for
War ProbeUnit
Policy Committee
Votes Small Business
Group 8 Months
By J. A. O'Leory

The Senate Republican Policy
Committee voted unanimously
today to support continuance OF
the War Investigating Commit
tee for a year. Existence of the
latter faces a hard fight from
the Democratic side of the Sen
ate on the grounds that it vio-
lates the new Congressional Re-
organization Act.
The policy group, headed by
Senator Taft of Ohio, at its meet
ing this morning recommended that
the special committees extension be
for one year instead Of two.
An hour later the entire Repub-
lican membership held a conference
on the recommendations of the
Policy Committee, but put off de-
cision until pm. tomorrow. The
Republican conference does not bind
its members on any question, but
may reach consensus at that time.
Leaders had intended to bring up
the issue In the Senate today, but
Senator Taft announced the de-
bate probably would not start until
Wednesday. The postponement is
understood to be for the purpose of
awaiting a fuller attendance, since
the outcome is likely to depend on
a few votes.
Eight Months for Business Group.
The Republican Policy Commit
tee decided at the same time to
support an extensive OF eight
months for the Special Small Busi-
ness Committee Senator Taft told
reporters it was the Judgment of
the Republican policy makers that
eight months would be the general
rule for any special committees that
may be kept alive, but that the War
Investigating Committee was re-
garded as an unusual case.
Democrats are lining up for their
last-ditch fight against extending
any special committees. The new
Reorganization Act, which is just
going into effect, merged all legis-
lative functions into Is standing
committees in the Senate and 10 in
the House. The Democrats contend
the intent of the act was that all
special committees be abolished to
centralize the work of Congress in
these regular committees.
Senator Taft's announcement on
the committee extensions came after
Senator Brewster of Maine, chair
man of the War Investigating Com
mittee, told reporters he had agreed
at a meeting with the Armed Serv-
ices Committee headed by Senator
Gurney of South Dakota, to limit
future activities of the Brewster
group.
Respective Fields Drawn.
In general, Senator Brewster said,
the committee will look into war
profits, disposal of surpluses and In
stances of corruption"
He said the committee would con-
Germ itself only with what had hap
pened in the past, leaving any in
uuiry into current and future mill
tary policies and operations to the
quincy group.
The Maine Senator said that Dem
ocrats who have been protesting
that continuance of special commit
tees violates the spirit of the Con-
gressional Reorganization Act, had
agreed to give the proposal "a sym
pathetic hearing"
Senator Gurney told reporters that
Brewster definitely had abandoned
the idea of carrying out an investi-
CATION of the military government IN
Germany-a matter which caused a
serious intracommittee row a few
weeks ago.
Senator Gurney said if any such
investigation is needed, the Armed
Services Committee will make it.
Undoubtedly, he added, his commit
tee will find it necessary later to
make a number of field investiga-
1See INVESTIGATIONS Pg. AID