Evening star., 1950-06-16
'Amerasia Case Probe
And New Tax Law
Vital 10 Democrats
Administration Must Act
On Two Issues or Lose
Votes in Coming Election
By David Laurence

There are two things which,
from q political viewpoint, the
Democratic Party cannot afford
TO do ut this session Of Congress.
One is not TO enact q new tax law
and the other is not to investigate
the "Amerasia" case thoroughly,
letting "whitewash" tactics pre-
vail.
If the Democrats go to the
country this autumn with $5
billion deficit facing the Gov
ernment and with a record Of hav-
ing done nothing to improve tax
receipts. the opposition party will
certainly make inroads into the
Democratic Party membership at
the polls. Inasmuch as the Demo-
Gratis control the White House and
the two Houses of Congress, Hiey
cannot avoid responsibility for
falling to enact a new tax law.
AS for the "Amerasia" case, the
Federal grand jury in New York
has pointed out through It's fore
man, John q. Brunini, that while
It found no illegal evidence" to
show that Justice Department Of
4icials had been remiss In prose-
cutting the "Amerasia" case, there
should nevertheless be q further
inquiry by a new grand jury and
that all the stolen documents
should be revealed. 1t was pointed
out In the grand jury statement
that there was not time enough
to make . thorough inquiry at
this time.
Points to Public Interest.
All this points to but one thing
there Is a public interest in get
ting at the bottom Of the case
The new grand jury, when it Is
empaneled, cannot actually prose-
cute the case nor can it ever in
dict any official for an attitude of
carelessness or laxity or poor judg-
ment. All this is something that
can be uncovered only through
the comprehensive Investigation
that can be made by q congress
sional committee.
The cry Of "whitewash" is heard
more and more. Senator Tydings
himself was quick to interpret the
grand jury report as a vindication
OF his committees attitude toward
the "Amerasia" case. Actually It
Is Just the opposite.
On the subject Of "whitewash-
Ing" and why it happens, a not
able speech has just been made
by Senator Ebert D. Thomas.
Democrat, Of Utah, chairman of
the all-important Labor and Edu-
cation Committee of the Senate
In urging the appointment of a
national commission of 80 to in
vestigate security cases, he said
TO the Senate:
TO the end that complete faith
be given to the investigating body
and Its findings, such investipa-
tlons embodying the grave nature
OF the Tydings investigation, for
example, should be conducted
with complete disregard for per-
sonal and party prejudice. This
is duty the Congress owes to
the people Of the United States.
No Place for Politics.
ITO fulfill this duty of objec-
tive inquiry. 1t seems to me that
we should tolerate no longer in
these crucial days q defective sys-
tenn OF searching into questions of
grave public concern, such as the
national security, for example.
THE Congress has continued to
use such a system of majority
party control of its investigating
committees which gives rise to
doubts, suspicious, and misgivings
IN q large segment Of the public
as to the value and thoroughness
OF the committees findings and
report.
Party politics, bias, personal
prejudices. and like attitudes have
no place in such Investigations.
There is an area where party
and political interests have their
legitimate place. but beyond that
area there must be no such con-
alterations"
The commission proposed by
Senator Thomas was outlined in
q bill introduced by him Jointly
with Senator Ives, Republican, of
New York. The commission would
consist partly Of members OF Con-
gress and partly of citizens out
side OF Congress. But the mem
bership at all times would be equal
as between the two political par
ties.
It is plain that the two Sen
atorS have put their finger on the
main weakness today-partisan
control of investigating COM
mittees.
(Reproduction Riehta ReEeryed1