Evening star., 1947-08-07

usually strained start when Senate,
Ferguson noted that neither Mr.
Hughes nor Senator Brewster had
availed himself of the subcommit-
tees invitation to submit questions
for cross-examination. The pro-
cedure, as explained yesterday by
Senator Ferguson, was that the two
personages in the feud would not be
permitted to question each other
directly, but that each could have
questions asked through the sub
committee chairman.
Senator Brewster said he had no
questions to ask.
Mr.. Hughes, who last night an
nounced that he had between 200
and 500 questions to shoot at Sem
ator Brewster, tried in vain this
morning to make a statement to
clarity my position" He insisted
that he should be allowed to hand
in questions as the hearing went on
One question, he explained, would
lead to another.
This thing chould go on forever
| If We received questions in the man.
ner you suggest" Senator Ferguson
told him.
Ferguson Refuses Hughes Request.
Il want to- make a brief state
ment," Mr.. Hughes began.
mo! MOI" Senator Ferguson
shouted. We're going to get this
thing settled. Have you any ques-
tions you want to submit to the sub
committee now?"
Yes"
IF so, submit them to the chair" !"
will it be agreed that can fol-
low them with other questions?"
There will be no agreement" !"
Senator Ferguson snapped. IF you
have any questions submit them
now"
In denying Mr.. Hughes charges
yesterday, Senator Brewster coun-
tered with charges that efforts had
been made to intimidate him so he
would let up on the investigation.
The Senator declared Mr.. Fulton
suggested to him early this year that
a report be made on the Hughes in
vestigation without hearings.
Senator Brewster left the commit
tee table yesterday and took the
stand as an ordinary witness, after
the tall, nattily dressed Mr.. Hughes
had repeated under oath his charges
aoaipSt the Senator
Big Crowd at Hearing.
Before one of the largest crowds
that has ever jammed it's way into
the big Senate caucus room, Senator
Brewster testified it had been inti-
mated to him that if he insisted on
going ahead with the war con-
tract probe, he would be in the
thick of trouble"
The Maine Senator declared that
IF the chairman of comitttee Is
to be intimidated in this way, then
Senate Investigations may very well
cease"
He said he thereupon appointed
the present subcommittee, headed by
Senator Ferguson to proceed with
the hearings land let the chips fall
where they may"
The dramatic appearance Of Mr.
Hughes late yesterday, and the air-
ing of his personal feud with Sem
ator Brewster submerged for the
time being the real issue under in
vestigation. This involves contracts
under which S4O,OO0,OOO was spent
by the Government on the building
of the big Kaiser-Hughes cargo
plane for the Defense Plants Corp,
and the Hughes photo o-reconnais-
sance planes for the Army.
Mr.. Hughes began his testimony
by repeating, under oath. his original
charge, in the following words:
Il charge specifically that during
luncheon in the Mayf1ower Hotel
during the week commencing
February 10. l947-it was in the
suite of Senator Brewster-that
Senator Brewster told me, In SO
many words, that if I would merge
TWA and Pan American (airlines)
and go along with his community
airline bill, there would be no
further hearings"
Shortly after Senator Brewster
took the stand to reply, he broke
the tension in the crowded Com
mittee room observing with smile
that the luncheon with Mr.. Hughes
at the Mayflower cost $3.50 and
that he paid it out of his own
pocket.
Before launching into detailed
account of all his conversations
with Mr.. Hughes and others. includ-
ing Mr.. Fulton, he made a sweeping
denial of the charge that he offered
to call off the hearings.
More Like Hollywood"
Senator Brewster said TT is
inconceivabie to contemplate that
any one who had been in public life
as long as I have been as Governor
and member of Congress should, on
such a brief acquaintance, have
made so bald a proposition He
explained he had met Mr., Hughes
only once before.
This sounds to me a little more
like Hollywood than like Washing
ton. and I deny 1 ever did" the
Senator declared.
The name of John w. Meyer.