Evening star., 1947-11-08
Hughes on Trial
AtSenateProbe,
Pepper Charges
Plea for Right to
Examine Witnesses
Denied by Ferguson
BY Robert K. Walsh

Declaring that Howard Hughes
lis for all practical purposes on
trial" at Senate War Investigate
ing Subcommittee hearings on
his war plane contracts, Senator
Pepper, Democrat, of Florida in
terrupted today'S session to de-
mand that the aircraft builder be
allowed to cross examine wit
nesSes.
Subcommittee Chairman Ferguson
refused to allow this. But. in ac-
cordance with previous procedure,
he said he would allow Mr.. Hughes
to submit written questions to be
asked by the chairman.
Mr.. Hughes thereupOn began
scribbling several questions he said
he wanted Senator Ferguson to ask
E. A. Peterman, an aeronautical
engineer and former Air Force colo
mel Mr.. Peterman was one of nine
witnesses Mr.. Hughes asked the
subcommittee to hear.
Stages Dramatic Entrance.
Earlier today Mr.. Hughes staged
q dramatic entrance into the big
hearing room after Senator Fergu-
son had threatened to recess the
hearings until Monday because none
of the nine prospective witnesses
answered their names at the start
Of the morning session.
Four of the witnesses arrived with
Mr.. Hughes later and the hearing
was resumed with Mr.. Peterman as
the first witness. Senator Fergu-
son meanwhile had served notice
that the subcommittee would not
hear Mr.. Hughes before the others,
although a Hughes company spokes-
man said Mr.. Hughes wanted to be
heard first.
Senator Pepper is member of
the full Senate War Investigating
Committee but not member of the
subcommittee looking into $40,000,-
600 in Government wartime con-
tracts with Mr. Hughes for a huge
flying boat and photo reconnais-
sance planes.
The Florida Senator broke into
the proceedings shortly before noon
to offer comment he said was
based on "a matter of principle"
rather than on Mr. Hughes directly.
Demands Safeguards.
He said he was disturbed by what
he described as growing tendency
of congressional committees to con-
duct trials" instead of inquiries
He declared that if such trials"
were to be conducted the citizens
should 'be permitted to be sur
rounded by the safeguards of the
Anglo-Saxon system and philosophy
of law
Unless congressional committees
reform" their procedures in cases
of this kind, Senator Pepper pre-
dicted, Congress itself will change
the procedures as it did in the in
stance of the administrative reform
legislation"
Rights that should be permitted
to persons involved in congressional
committee hearings were listed by
the Florida Senator as follows:
Il. The privilege Of being repre-
sented by counsel.
80. The right to be confronted
by any one who says anything in
the way of accusation or condem-
nation.
"3. The right to cross examine
u. The right to bring in his own
witnesses"
These rights" Senator Pepper
declared, "are basic to the American
system of trial, and it makes no diff
ference where man can be con-
victed and punished.
Mr.. Hughes is only name SO fai
as Congress is concerned. I am
speaking as matter of principle.
But Mr.. Hughes is for all practical
purposes on trial. This subcommit-
tee is to be commended for agree
ing to hear the witnesses he re-
quested
But obviously the subcommittee
does not know what testimony he
wants the witnesses to bring out
When a man presents his own wit
nesseS he should be allowed to ques-
ton them. I respectfully submit
that Mr.. Hughes, provided he does it
in dignified, respectful and de-
(See HUGHES, Page Al