Evening star., 1949-12-18
Congress Will Probe
Lobbyists, May Revive
Other Investigations
By the Associated Press

Congress will start the year with
new investigation into lobbying
while the threat of renewed in
quiries hangs over a whole range
of familiar subjects.
A special committee was formed
to look into operations of lobby
lists who hang around the Capitol
and try to get this bill passed or
that one knocked in the head. 1t
will try to start on January Is.
Inquiries into items like alleged
atomic "leaks." defense policy,
monopoly, f1ve-percenters and the
price of coffee have been marked
unfinished business" Lawmakers
talk of churning them over again
in the next session.
Some of them might not start
again. Somehow a lot of investi-
cations that spring up and blaze
brightly never revive after an in
terruption.
Election Is Factor.
Furthermore, the congressional
election is on the way next year.
And House and Senate leaders
may not be anxious to push
many probes.
Even so, the lobby investigation
may not be the only one that will
take some new twists next year.
For instance:
The House Commerce Commit
tee is planning a quick look at
the large number of plane acci-
dents in recent months. It might
approve bill to re-establish an
air safety board in the Govern
ment.
The House Small Business
Committee already is checking on
the Federal Trade Commission to
see if there is anything to COM
plants it has received that the
FTC isn't doing as good job
as it should. Hearings are in
prospect.
May Probe Hawaii Reds.
The Senate-House Atomic En-
ergy Committee expects to find
out what kind of civilian de-
fense system against atom bombs
is in prospect.
The House Committee on Un-
American Activities may get into
Communist activity in Hawaii and
it may pick up some old trails of
suspected Soviet espionage agents.
And in the hold-over class for
that committee is it's inquiry into
wartime atomic shipments to the
Russians.
Two committees took in after
the steel price increase announced
Thursday by United States Steel.
Chairman O'Mahoney of the Sem
ate House Economic Committee
said he expects an inquiry to
start shortly and hopes 1t will
discourage other steel firms from
following United States Steel.
Then Chairman Celler of the
House Judiciary Committee said
he would call hearings early next
month and summon United States
Steel officials for IAN accounting
to the American people for the
increase.
Report Due on Services.
Whether the House Armed
Services Committee will renew
its study of defense policies and
a row between the Navy and its
sister services over combat as
signment is uncertain at this
point. But, In any event, it is
going to hand in a report on
what it has found out so far.
There's a chance that the feud
may be stirred up once more in
the Senate Armed Services Com
mittee when it considers next
year the nomination of Admiral
Forrest Sherman to be chief of
naval operations. Admiral Sher-
man moved in when Admiral
Louis E. Denfeld was booted out
as the top officer in the Navy.
Admiral Denfeld summed up the
case for discontented admirals
when he protested the Navy
wasn't allowed full partnership
in working out plans in event of
war.
In the foreign aid field there
have been hints that a Senate
expenditures subcommittee may
try to learn whether any repre-
sentatives of foreign aid missions
here have prof1ted from deals for
economic cooperation admins
tration assistance. Senator Hoey,
Democrat, of North Carolina, has
said he is checking to find out