Evening star., 1948-05-21
Senate Votes Today
On Veto Of Checkup
On Atom Board Head!
By J. A. O'Leory

when the Senate votes at $50
pm. today on President Tru-
mans veto of a bill to let the
Senate call on the Federal Bu-
reau of Investigation to investi-
gate top atomic energy officials.
A majority of the Senate Is be-
lieved to be for the bill, but it
will take two-thirds to override a
veto, and the Republicans will need
some Democratic support to win.
If the Senate overrides, Mr.. Tru-
man will have one more chance to
be sustained in the House. If he is
sustained in the Senate, that will
! end the matter, since both houses
must concur to override.
Both Sides Claim Victory.
Both sides claimed victory as the
Senate resumed an acrimonious
debate that began late yesterday.
Senators Hickenlooper Of Iowa and
Knowland OF California, Repub-
licans, are leading the fight for
the .FBI investigating-power Sen
ator Mcmahon, Democrat, Of Con-
necticut, is directing admins
tration forces in defense of the
Presidents veto.
The bill does not seek to interfere
with the Presidents method Of
selecting Atomic Energy Commis-
sioners, but provides that. after he
has sent nominations to the Senate
for confirmation, a majority of the
Senate members of the Joint
Atomic Energy Committee could
ask the FBI to check up on the ap-
pointees for the Senate.
The President, in vetoing the bill,
called it an encroachment by Con-
gress on the executive branch, of
Government. He argued the bill
would put the FBI in the position
of being given orders simultane-
ously by two branches of Govern
ment.
Chairman Taft of the Senate Re-
publican Policy Committee told the
Senate yesterday the doctrine of
three coordinate branches of Gov
ernment under the Constitution does
not mean three separate govern
ments, each boxed of from the
other two.
Pepper Defends Veto.
Joining in defense OF the veto,
Senator Pepper, Democrat, Of
Florida wanted to know if members
OF Congress who serve on the Atomic
Energy Committee have been
checked by the FBI.
Senators Pepper and Lucas, DEM
ocrat, of Illinois, contended the
Senate is fully capable of making
its own investigations of appointees
and should not turn to an agency
of the executive branch.
Senator Taft agreed that the
Senate could set up its own separate
FBI, but inquired what purpose
would be served by complete dupli-
cation Of the facilities which Con-
gress already mas established.
Senator KnoWland reminded his
colleagues that I'VE came within
four months of having Henry A.
Wallace as President OF the United
States, and l say frankly would
not want to take his recommended
tions for membership on the Atomic
Energy Commission without having
full access to the means for a
thorough and complete invesitga-
ton"
Knowiand Demands Inquiry.
The Californian said the Senate
should insist on this investigative
procedure for its own protection.
He assered that Mr.. Truman did
not call on the FBI to investigate
the present members of the Atomic
Energy Commission.
The President did not have a
full and complete investigation
made by the FBI," the Californian
said. What he did was to have a
check made of the files, which is an
entirely different thing
Senator knowland said he was
shocked beyond belief" when he
learned no detailed investigation
was made. Senator Hickenlooper
said it was ''unthinkable.
Senator Knowland said the rou-
tine FBI files might consist only
of newspaper clippings, unless
special inquiry had been ordered.
This provoking an argument among
several senators as to what right
the FBI would have to maintain
files on citizens before some particu-
lar reason for investigating them
arises.
Although Chairman David E.
Lilienthal and the other four men,
bers of the Commission are up for
reappointment now, Senate Repub-
licans plan to avoid fight over
their confirmation by trying to pass
another bill, extending their terms
until June 80, 1850.
If that bill passes. they say, the
proposed FBI investigation would
not apply to these pending appoint
ments, since they would continue
fo serve for two wears without ac-