Evening star., 1948-02-19
1ammF FacesQuiiz
0nDepartment's S
Vote Probe Role
DonneII to Roise
Question at Hearing
On Nomination

Senator Donnell, Republican,
OF Missouri, plans today to dig
into the part played by the JUS
tice Department in the election
violations" in Kansas City, Mo-,
as hearings are resumed into the
nomination of Edward A. Tamm
to be a District Court justice.
This was indicated yesterday by
the Senator, who is chairman of a
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
conducting the hearings on the
Tamm nomination.
The subcommittee was to resume
its session at l pm. today with Mr.
Tamm, assistant director of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation
again on the stand. He testi-
fed for nearly an hour yesterday
answering questions by Senator
Donnell on his personal life and
career.
KEN Hopes for Exploration.
Senator KEN, Republican, of Mis-
souri,, who long has fought to get
the Senate to investigate Justice
Department "inactivity' in the Mis-
souri, case, said today he hopes and
knows" that Senator Donnell will
go into the situation in that State
very carefully"
Senator KEN said further he ex-
poets a Senate Subcommittee on Ex-
penditures in executive depart
ments headed by Senator Ferguson
Republican, of Michigan, to launch
probe into the situation soon.
Senator KEN claims the Justice
Department "whitewashed" the
case. A grand jury indicted u per-
sons, but 66 were freed January
28 after ballots held for evidence
were stolen. The remaining six are
awaiting trial.
Truman Had Hand in Election.
The 5th Missouri congressional
district in which the dispute arose
is not President Truman's own con-
gressional district, but he took a
hand in the 1946 campaign. He
Endorsed Enos Axtell for nomina-
ton for the House over Representa-
tive Roger Slaughter. Mr.. AXtell
defeated Mr.. Slaughter, but lost
the election to Albert L. Reeves,
jr., a Republican.
Mr.. Tamm was asked by Senator
Donnell if he had handled the
election violations" investigation
in Kansas City.
Mr.. Tamm said this was the very
type OF cases over which he had
direct supervision.
II may want to ask you more
about that later" declared Senator
Donnell, and Immediately turned to
general questions about the scope
of the FBI investigations.
Bar Groups to Be Heard.
After Mr.. Tamm concludes his
testimony today, the committee plans
to call witnesses from the District
Bar Association, and the American
Bar Association, who already are on
record as opposing Mr.. Tamm's
nomination because of his lack of
experience as a trial lawyer in court.
Mr.. Tamm's lack of experience in
court was discussed throughout the
hearing yesterday. Committee men,
bers asked virtually every witness
whether he considered trial work
valuable as background for Federal
Judge. Most witnesses conceded it
is helpful, but that such factors as
character, judicial temperament, and
knowledge of the law are as impor-
tant. These characteristics Mr..
Tamm passed to such a high de-
gree, his advocates contend, that
they offset his lack of trial work in
the court. -,
Asked directly by Senator Donnell
whether he had ever tried a case IN
any court, Mr.. Tamm replied that
he had not as prosecutor. He ex-
planned he had sat in court with
United States attorneys who were
prosecuting cases.
Never Tried Case in Court.
Senator Donnell then reframed
the question: "Then, never at any
time in your life have you tried a
case in any court?"
THAT is correct" responded Mr..
Tamm.
In response to numerous ques-
tions the nominee went into great
detail as to his career as an FBI
man from his appointment in 1880
to his present position as assistant
director. His experience varied, he
testified, from routine" cases to
the famous Lindberg kidnapping.
Asked why he had not taken the
bar examinations either in Mon
tana, where he once lived, or in
Washington, the witness said his
responsibilities in the FBI required
so much time he could not devote
himself to preparation for the exam
ination. He is listed as a member
OF the Minnesota bar.
witnesses for Ta6nm.
Among those who testified for Mr..
Tamm yesterday afternoon were:
Carl Mcfarland, attorney, formerly
with the Justice Department; James
Francis Reilly, attorney, formerly
District Public Utilities Commis-
sioner; Lyle F. O'Rourke, attorney,
formerly with the FBI, and Edward
Hinh Court Res