Evening star., 1947-08-20
Gamble Heads
Housing Probe
After Angry Tiff
Tobey Loses Fight
When Mccarthy Gets
Unit Proxies Barred

llcan, OF new YORK, newly eiecCeQ
chairman of a joint committee to
investigate the Nations housing
problems, called s. meeting today
to map first steps in the 100000
inquiry and to patch up differences
that marked the committees first
session yesterday.
Mr.. Gamble, obviously surprised
at developments which found him
in the drivers seat after a tug of
war between Senators Tobey,
Republican, of New Hampshire and
Mccarthy, Republican, of Wiscon-
sin said the first task was to recruit
staff. Hearings will begin around
October /.
The committee met behind closed
doors for more than two hours
yesterday. Near its close, Senator
Tobey left the committee room and
announced to reporters that Senator
Mccarthy had moved successfully
to. have proxies barred in voting for
chairman and vice chairman. The
vote on the Mccarthy motion was
5 to 4.
Gamble Is Chosen.
The group then proceeded to elect
Mr.. Gamble as chairman and Sena-
tor Mccarthy as vice chairman.
The vote each time was 4 to 8, with
candidates for each post voting
present"
Senator Tobey, visibIy angry, told
reporters a chairman had been
elected "by a minority" and then
asserted that "a sinister group" was
trying to block the housing investi-
CATION.
Pressed by a reporter on whether
he believed the real estate lobby"
was behind the move to keep him
from the Craftsmanship, Senator
Tobey replied: II won't charge that,
but ask Harry Truman about that"
Truman Sought Probe.
President Truman, in signing the
rent control bill recently urged
Congress to investigate what he
called the real estate lobby. He said
members of the lobby were openly
proud of their success in blocking a
comprehensive housing program"
Senator Tobey had been a can
didate for the Craftsmanship. Sen
ator Mccarthy, however, had dis
claimed any interest in the chair
manship. The Wisconsin Senator
said afterward the selection was "a
perfect set t-up-better than If were
chairman myself" He was frank in
discussing his opposition to Senator
Tobey's candidacy.
4. Senator Mccarthy said he was
opposed to Senator Tobey for
chairman because I'VE shouldn't
have a man who Is 100 per cent for
public housing" The Wisconsin
Senator added that while he was not
opposed to public housing, he did
not think that was the entire an
swer to the housing problem.
Tobey Had Six Proxies.
Senator Tobey came to the meet
ing with six proxies, which he said
were unsolicited. Two members of
the committee represented by the
proxies subsequently showed up at
the meeting.
The New Hampshire Senator, who
has clashed with Senator Mccarthy
on at least two occasions in the
past. said Senator Mccarthy made
his motion to disqualify proxy votes
after finding out that IT had eight
votes on the 14-member committee.
Senator Mccarthy had one proxy,
that of Senator Cain, Republican, of
Washington, but he did not have
to use it.
Senator Tobey had the proxies of
Senators Flanders, Republican, of
Vermont; Wagner, Democrat, of
New York; Taylor, Democrat, of
idaho, and Representative Rains,
Democrat, of Alabama. Present at
the meeting and voting with Sen
ator Tobey were Representative
Sparkman, Democrat, of Alabama;
Patman, Democrat, Of Texas, and
Boggs, Democrat, of Louisiana.
Voting with Senator Mccarthy
were Mr.. Gamble, Representatives
Sundstrom, Republican, of New
Jersey; McMillen, Republican. of
Illinois, and Fletcher, Republican, of
California.
Senators Tobey and Mccarthy
were absent from today's meeting,
having left the city.