Evening star., 1947-01-04
BiIbo

| Continued From First Pageo
that the War Investigating Commit
tee had no authorization to bring
charges against individual Senators
an dthat the report even if true was
unwarranted.
He charged that for many months
newspaper stories and idle gossip
had flooded the country attacking
Senator Bilbo. One of the funda-
mental questions involved in this
matter he said was the right of any
person against whom charges have
been made to defend himself Sem
ator Hatch said that it was now
proposed to go ahead and deny
Bilbo a seat without his having had
such opportunity.
Senator Ferguson countered by
saying that Senator Bilbo had been
given an opportunity to state his
answer to charges before the COM
mittee and than an agreement had
been made between the committee
and Senator Bilbo and his counsel
permitting them to submit questions
to the witnesses. Senator Hatch re-
piled that the mere handing of
questions to a member of the COM
mittee did not in his opinion meet
fully the right of cross examination,
as permitted in every court.
Urges Opportunity to Reply.
II don't know whether he (Bilbo)
is guilty or not guilty." said Sena-
tor Hatch. He may be guilty but
he should be given the fullest op-
portunity to reply to the charges
made against him before the Sem
ate takes action against him"
In a test of strength late yes
terday IL Democrats joined the
Republicans to register a vote of
80 to 10 against the immediate
seating of the Mississippi Democrat
1t came on a motion by Senator
Taft to postpone Indefinitely pro-
posal by Senator Overton, Demo-
crat, OF Louisiana to administer the
oath to Mr.. Bilbo.
While this did not settle the issue
Republicans reason to hope that
they might be able to muster the two
thirds necessary to shut off endless |
debate. The only danger in trying
cloture is that some Senators are
inherently against restricting un-
limited debate in the Senate and
might oppose the motion even
though they are not for seating
Mr.. Bilbo.
Senators agree that only a major
ity is necessary to bar Mr.. Bilbo
pending final disposition of the
charges against him, even though
they disagree over whether it would
take two-thirds Or a majority to
GUST him is he is sworn in.
AS the Senate entered the second
day of the Bilbo battle, 35 other
newly elected members still were
waiting at tn Threshold to take
the oath. Even without these votes,
two thirds was recorded against the
immediate swearing in of Mr.. Bilbo
Since most of the new members still
unseated are Republicans, it was OBJ
vious that Mr.. Bilbo's chances
would grow thinner if the Southern
ers permitted organization to pro-
ceed.
Speakers Fight COP Strategy.
Accordingly, when the Senate ad-
journed late yesterday the men from
the South were talking to stave off
vote on a motion by Senator White,
Republican, of Maine to administer
the oath to his colleague, Senator
Brewster.
Senator Brewster's name comes
next, alphabetically, after Senator
Bilbo. The Republican strategy was
to try to get each newly elected
Senator sworn in one at a time. The
Bilbo plan of attack was to prevent
the others from being sworn in un-
less he is permitted to take his seat.
Only one newcomer managed to
become a full-fledged Senator yes
terday. He was former Gov. Bald
win. Republican, of Connecticut.
who managed to get by the jam be-
cause his was the only name that
came ahead of Bilbo.
The SO stalled Senators-elect had
one consolation today. The stale
mate will not affect their pay checks
Senate officials agreed that they all
went on the payroll when their Gre
!