Evening star., 1947-03-03
Committee Bars
|Li|ienthaI Quiz
On Atom Secrets
McKeIIur Rebuffed
In Query on Cost
Of Contract
BY the Associated Press

LII Gne interest or national Sc
curity, David E. Lilienthal was
instructed today not to answer
questions concerning further re-
search into atomic energy devel-
opment by the University of
Chicago and other educational
institutions.
Chairman Hickenlooper, Repub-
lican, OF Iowa of the Senate Atomic
Energy Committee, issued the in
structions to the former IVA head,
who is up for confirmation as chair
man of the Atomic Energy COM
mission.
Senator McKellar, Democrat, of
Tennessee, who is opposing Lilien-
thars confirmation, asked how much
money the University of Chicago
was going to receive under a con-
tract with the Atomic Energy Com
sion.
Before he could answer, Senator
Hickenlooper broke in to caution
Mr.. Lilienthal against divulging
anything which might endanger "or
even affect" national security.
rs Universities Form Group.
Mr.. Lilienthal replied that It
would not be dangerous to say that
some IS Midwestern universities, in
cluding the University of Chicago.
have organized an association to
further atomic research, and that
the Chicago institution had been
acting as the contracting agency.
When Senator McKellar wanted
to know how much the arrange
ment was going to cost the United
States, Senator Hickenloper clamped
down.
"The committee takes RESPONSE
bility for not permitting him to
state such details at this moment"
he said.
Earlier Senator McKelar had re-
called Mr.. Lilienthal's testimony
weeks ago that he had done his
"damndest' to keep from taking the
atomic energy post. The Tennes-
seean said 1T now looks to me like
you're doing your damndest to get
confirmed"
I'm not here as an applicant for
a job,' Mr.. Lilienthal said, adding
that he had respect for the constitu-
tional duty of the Senate to examine
presidential appointments submitted
to it for confirmation.
Shows Contract to Committee.
# want to make it clear" he
added, shat it will by no means
break my heart If the Senate gives
me an honorable discharge"
Prior to this Mr. Lilienthal showed
the committee a contract which he
contended proved that he received
no pay from Chicago firm for cur
rent services while he was Wiscon-
sin public utilities commissioner.
MIR. Lilienthal began his testimony
shortly after Senator Capehart,
Republican, of Indiana had issued
statement saying he would oppose
the Lilienthal nomination because
he "has held and continues to hold
to the philosophy of the New Deal"
Mr.. Lilienthal told the committee
1t was ironic" to face charges that
he had violated Wisconsin law by
receiving outside compensation
while he was on the State payroll.
Says Imputation Is "Ironic."
Senator Mcclellan had charged the
nominee with such a violation in
previous committee hearings.
"The imputation made now. 18
years later, that violated the letter
or the spirit of law which requires
a commissioner to devote his entire
time to the duties of his Office and
not to pursue any other business or
vocation seems bit on the ironic
side to me-" Mr.. Lilienthal testified.
The witness then read contract
under which the Commerce Clearing
House, a subsidiary of the Corpora
tion Trust Co., agreed to pay him
$240 weekly while he was Wiscon-
sin commissioner.
Paid for Staff Maintenance.
The contract stipulated that he
was to render no personal services
and receive no compensation" for
such services, but was to be paid
for the expenses Of maintaining his
Office and staff. This staff was to
continue to put out a loose leaf re-
porting service on legal opinions,
a service for which the then 81
year-old Lilienthal had been paid
$685. weekly for editing. /,
The contract said that an addi-
tional margin of payments would be
made to Mr.. Lilienthal for past
services he had performed in set
ting up the reporting service. It
said these payments would average
50 900 year.
1t was only after he showed Philip
La Toilette, then Governor of Wis
consin, the contract and the Gov
enor had passed upon 1t that he was
appointed to the Utilities Commits
sion, Mr.. Lilienthal said. Mr.. La
Toilette has already told the COM
mittee that Mr.. Lilienthal filed such
a statement with his office.
In opposing Mr.. Lilienthal, Sena-
tor Capehart took the position that
the New Deal was "repudiated by the
great majority of the American
people, both Democrats and Repub-
licans," at last Novembers election.