Evening star., 1948-04-21
Truman Appointments
|For Atom Commission
Face Stiff Senate Fiqht
By joseph A. Fox

lnQ1CaG1OnS OF a DuQQluS oeu-
ate fight against reappointment
of Chairman David E. Lilienthal
and the other four members of
the Atomic Energy Commission
developed today.
The White House forwarded the
nominations to the Senate late
yesterday after an unexplained de-
lay OF several hours. Senator Know
land, Republican, OF California, a
member of the joint Atomic Energy
Committee whlcn must pass on the
nominees Immediately served notice
that he would oppose confirmation
until disposition of bill to give
Senators look at FBI loyalty re-
ports on commission appointees.
That measure passed the Senate
over sharp Democratic opposition
earlier this month and now awaits
House action.
Backing that play was the init
nation by Senator Taft of Ohio,
chairman of the Senate Republican
Policy Committee, that the Senate
may be in no hurry to confirm the
nominations, which are for stag
gered terms starting August /.
Many Nominations Delayed.
The Senate already Is baking on
hundreds of Presidential nomin-
nations, including more than $50
for postmasterships. with the OBJ
vious strategy in mind Of naming
Republicans for the vacancies II
November brings a change of ad-
ministration.
Senator Taft was among those
who opposed the original Lilienthal
nomination when a fight on the
then head of the Tennessee Valley
Authority was launched by his long
time foe, Senator McKellar, Demo-
crat, of Tennessee.
On the new commission nomina-
tions yesterday, Senator Taft COM
mented that the Senate always is
slower toward the end Of session
to confirm anybody If there Is Sc
rious opposition"
Senator McKellar, questioned
about his own intentions, said Il
have not made any plans yet"
In the absence of reappointments,
the flve men presumably would con-
tinue to serve under interim ap-
pointments until the posts were
filled for statutory terms, but some
COP leaders are doubtful of the
advisability of letting the issue hang
fire in that manner.
One Republican said colleagues
are fearful that such maneuvering
would give the Democrats a chance
to charge that uncertainty over the
makeup of the commission was i'm
peding atomic development at a
time of critical international ten
sion. He thought, however, that
nothing would be done in advance
of action on the Knowland bill.
The first inkling Of difficulties
over the reappointments came
yesterday morning when the White
House announced that the nomina-
tions were going to the Senate, with
Chairman Lilienthal designated for
a five-year term, and the others
for terms Of one to four years.
Hickenlooper Sees Truman.
Shortly thereafter, it was an
nounced without explanation that
the nominations would not go up.
Then, just before the list finally
was sent to the Senate. Chairman
Hickenlooper of the Joint Atomic
Energy Committee called at the
White House, but refused to throw
any light on the matter.
I'VE discussed atomic energy"
he told reporters on leaving Pres
ident Truman's office.
Asked If the nominations had
been discussed, he responded: II
haven't any comment on that.
won't comment on anything until
it comes before my committee" He
did say that he was not aware of
the length of the terms the Presi-
dent was proposing for the COM
missioners.
Mr.. Lilienthal called on Mr.. Tru-
man today with Carroll Wilson, the
commissions general manager, but
said later that there was no dis
cussion Of the nominations.