Evening star., 1950-05-11
.Lesinski Kills Probe
OF UNIV, Is Accused
0fPoIiticaI Cowardice
Jacobs Hits Withdrawal
Of Subcommittee Power
To Subpoena Witnesses
By jones Y. Newton

Chairman Lesinski of the House
Labor Committee today killed off
an investigation of John L. Lewis
conduct of the recent soft coal
strike and was Immediately ac-
cused by a committee member of
political cowardice."
The charge that Mr.. Lesinski
was afraid-for political reasons
to proceed with the inquiry was
made by Representative Jacobs,
Democrat. of Indiana. He was to
have headed q subcommittee in
vestigation of charges of undem-
ocratic practices within Mr.. Lewis
United Mine Workers. MIR. Lewis
had been accused, among other
things, of using secret signals"
to f1out a court order designed to
end last winters mine strike.
Mr.. Lesinski choked off the in
vestigation at a heated closed
door session of the committee
simply by withdrawing authority
previously given the Jacobs sub
committee to subpoena witnesses.
He had accused Mr.. Jacobs earlier
of exceeding his authority as sub
committee chairman in setting up
the Lewis hearing last Monday.
Although 18 of the Is commit
tee members were present at the
meeting there was no vote as to
whether the hearing should be
held.
Shows House Resolution.
Mr.. Lesinski simply produced a
copy of the House resolution CIV
ing the full Labor Committee
power to subpoena witnesses for
Investigations. The resolution
also gives the chairman authority
to grant and revoke subpoena
powers to subcommittee. He
then announced he was revoking
the authority given the Jacobs
committee only last month.
The chairman, however, re-
scinded his order of Tuesday abol-
ishing the Jacobs subcommittee
altogether. Mr.. Lesinski said he
did that so that the group could
complete reports on hearings pre-
viously held. But Mr.. Jacobs said
that without authority to bring
in witnesses the subcommittee
would be powerless to undertake
any new inquiries like the one
scheduled on Mr.. Lewis opera
tions.
Mr.. Jacobs was asked why he
thought Chairman Lesinski killed
the Lewis investigation.
"Just plain political cowardice, ="
he replied.
Mr.. Jacobs added that the au-
thority by which the chairman
was able to withdraw the subpoena
powers lis just one of the results
of the system of senility they call
seniority around here"
Planned to Probe Charges.
Mr.. Jacobs announced Monday
that his group would investigate
charges made by Lloyd H. Sidener,
deposed president of a UNIV local
at Canton, ILL.,, that he was de-
prived of his job and fined $50. 200
because he wanted to end the coal
strike in compliance with a Dis
trict Court order. Mr.. Sidener
also has said that Mr.. Lewis gave
one (back to work. signal for the
court and public and another for
the men" to continue the strike.
Mr.. Jacobs also had said that
he was subpoenaing Mr.. Lewis
Mr.. Sidener and others for the
investigation to begin next Mon
day.
Mr.. Lesinski abolished the
Jacobs committee last year while
it was investigating affairs of the
AFL international Printing Press.
mems Union. But the commit
4 tee re-created the subcommittee
over the chairman's objections
early in the present session.
Some committee members re-
portedly have been reluctant to
investigate labor union operations
In this election year.