Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-12-15
Brewster Weighs Bid
To Testify Before
'Wire-Tap Probers

nounclng plans to reopen It's in
vestigation into overlapping here
next week. has invited Senator
Brewster, Republican, of Maine,
whose name was brought into
earlier hearings. to testify on any,
thing he may wish to present"
Visibly surprised at what he
called the unexpected" invita-
ton, Senator Brewster said he
would take it under considera-
ton. But he first wants to read
more than 300 pages of testimony
of Police 1t. Joseph Shimon, SUD-
mitted to him by the subcommit-
tee, he said.
1t. Shimon was a key figure
in the overlapping investigation.
He also testified before a Federal
grand jury. which later failed to
act on charges of overlapping by
the police officer of the telephones
OF Howard Hughes, wartime plane
builder. Senator Brewster figured
prominently in a Senate War In
vestigating Committee inquiry
into Mr.. Hughes wartime con-
tracts in l947.
Senator Brewster never before
had been asked formally to ap-
pear before the wire tapping SUBJ
committee headed by Senator Pep
per. Democrat, of Florida. But
during the course of the SUBJ
committee hearings, Senator
Brewster told reporters he had
authorized a payment of about
500 or 1925 to 1t. Shimon for
expenses he said the officer told
him were incurred while tracing
a man who was trailing the Sen
atof.
Plans to Finish Hearings.
Meanwhile, Senator Pepper an
nounced his subcommittee plans
to reopen hearings at 10 am.
Wednesday for suggestions on new
legislation to control wire-tap-
ping.
Federal and District Govern
ment officials and spokesman for
numerous private groups have
been invited to testify. Among
these are officials of the Justice
Department, the Federal Com
munications Commission, the vari-
Gus intelligence agencies, Corpora
ton Counsel Vernon E. West, Mai.
Robert j. Barrett, superintendent
of police; United States Attorney
George Morris Fay and repre-
sentatives of the Civil Liberties
Union. the American Veterans
Committee and other groups.
The subcommittee already has
pending before it a bill introduced
by Chairman Nicely of the Senate
District Committee and former
Senator Darby. Republican, of
Kansas to control overlapping.
Another bill has been proposed by
Justice Department officials.
Senator Pepper sent his invita-
ton to Senator Brewster in the
form of letter drafted at closed
session of the subcommittee, which
lasted nearly two hours late yes
terday. He said all the committee
members had approved the letter,
Offered as Courtesy.
The offer to testify had been
presented to the Maine Senator,
Chairman Pepper said, as a 'cour-
tesy offered to fellow Senator, :"
and as the fair" thing to do.
Asked if he and Senator Brew
ster had discussed the wire-tap-
ping problem during the trip they
made together to Europe, Senator
Pepper said, eve didn't discuss it
at ALL"
This point was emphasized later.
with some feeling, by Senator
Brewster at his press conference.
Il travelled all over Europe with
the subcommittee chairman, but
he didn't even mention the SUBJ
ject," Senator Brewster declared.
Sees Eagerness as Late.
Told that Senator Pepper had
mentioned the question of Sena-
torial courtesy in sending the
letter, the Maine Senator said:
Il appreciate their courtesy, and
will look the matter over and see
If I can be helpful to them in
any way.
Il take the offer of courtesy at
its face value, but the eagerness
they express in their letter seems
to have been suppressed for three
months. Eagerness is a little late