Evening star., 1947-01-02
Republicans Set
To Halt BiIbo al
Senate Door
Will Try to Force Him
To Step Aside Until
Full Debote Is Held
By Robert K. Welsh

that Senator Bilbo, Democrat, of
Mississippi, be barred from TAX
ing his seat when the Senate
convenes tomorrow, and that a
full discussion of the Bilbo case
be held later by the Senators.
This amounts to move to have
Senator Bilbo stand aside and al
low the swearing in of all other SEN
ators tomorrow, Chairman Taft of
the Steering Committee explained.
If Senator Bilbo refuses to be
stopped at the door" in this man.
ner, Senator Taft said, the Repub-
licanS will press for passage of a
resolution forcing him to stand aside.
Senator Taft explained that the
exact procedure has not yet been
worked out. 1t may consist of an in
formal arrangement which would
not necessitate introduction of a
motion, he said. Or 1t may be done
in the form of a resolution to be in
troduced by Senator White of Maine,
the new majority leader.
Move Called Nonpartisan.
The committees recommendation
will be laid before the full Repub-
lican membership at a meeting this
afternoon.
Senator Taft denied that the de-
cision to have Senator Bilbo stand
aside tomorrow is an attempt to
assure an overwhelming Republican
majority or TO block any filibuster
effort which might delay Republi-
can organization of the Senate on
the opening day.
ITO large extent, this is a nom
partisan matter" Senator Taft con-
tinued. ''It doesn't make any diff
ference as to the number of votes
In the Senate at any particular
time"
He disclosed that he has dis
cussed the situation with Senator
Barkley of Kentucky, the Demo-
cratic leader. He added that he
made no agreement with the Demo-
Gratis, but that there might be
one"
Other members of the Steering
Committee indicated a belief that
at least seven or eight Democrats
would side with the Republicans,
even on a motion to prevent Sena-
tor Bilbo from taking the oath. Ac-
cording to the present lineup, there |
will be 81 Democrats and 20 Repub-
hcans sworn in when Senator Bilbo
steps up to take the OATH
Full Discussion Expected.
The Republicans, Senator Taft
said, will lose no time in bringing |
the Bilbo matter to the Senate floor
for full discussion, If necessary.
This may be done tomorrow, al
though 1t probably will be deferred
until after Congress hears the
Presidents annual message Monday. |
Such discussion would be han
died on the Senate floor by Senator
Ferguson, Republican, of Michigan
who served on the Senate War In
vestigating Subcommittee which to-
day denounced Senator Bilbo as
having used his Office for personal
gain in dealings with war contrac-
tors.
The discussion in the Senate, ac-
cording to the Steering Committees
recommendation, would not be con-
fined to charges concerning those
activities of Senator Bilbo. Senator
Taft said the question of complaints
that Senator Bilbo melted racial dis
elimination also would enter into
the matter.
"We simply decided to recommend
to the Republican conference this
afternoon that Senator Bilbo be
barred from his seat until further
discussion in the Senate on a date
to be fixed very shortly" Senator
Taft announced. This will give
more time to debate his right to a
seat and his right to be sworn in.
The whole thing will be debated and
this gives all the Senators an oppor-
tunity to read the reports of the
committees which investigated Sen
ator Bilbo."
BiIbo Disputes Report.
Senator Bilbo quickly disputed
the War Investigating Committees
conclusions that the evidence
clearly indicates Senator Bilbo
improperly used his high Office as
United States Senator for personal
gain in his dealings with war con-
tractors"
In a letter to all Senators and
in statement prepared by his at
torney, Forrest B. Jackson, he de-
MED wrongdoing and called on his
colleagues to keep open minos. He
asserted that a careful reading OF
the record will show that all charges
Of personal gain, impropriety or
violation of the law are baseless.
The full record of the War In
vestigating Committees inquiry into
Senator Bilbo's activities is being
turned over to Attorney General
Clark, Chairman Kilgofe disclosed.
Senator Bilbo said he has no OBJ
(See BILBO, Page A-5)