Evening star., 1951-12-16
Truman and Murphy
Confer; Judge Seen
Cleanup Drive Head
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very pleasant and highly profitable
conversation with him."
did the President ask him to
undertake an assignment" Mr..
Short was asked.
II can't tell you any more than
I've already said" he replied.
did he come at the Presidents
invitation?"
Yes"
Judge Murphy's name was not
on the official White House calling
list. and it was obvious that spe-
cial steps were taken to veil his
trip in secrecy.
Queried in New York.
On his return to New York last
night newsman asked Judge
Murphy:
"As a result Of the conference
with Mr.. Truman) do you think
that q definite action will be
taken?"
Eyes" he replied.
Concerning your"
THAT / can't say" he answered.
Asked to elaborate on his con-
versations with the President and
with White House Counsel Charles
Murphy, he said only:
I'VE discussed the problem"
He refused to say what ""the
problem" was but said:
IF there is story it should
come out of Washington"
Reporters caught up with the
affable New Yorker here as he
was boarding train for his return
trip at about 2 pm. He stated
he saw Mr.. Truman for about 20
minutes in the morning. and again
later at Blair House.
Talks With Special Counsel.
Between those talks. ne added.
he conferred for about an hour
and a half with Mr.. Murphy (no
relation). special counsel to the
President who repeatedly has been
doing major part of the spade
work in connection with the clean
up plan.
The jurist refused to comment
on "a plan" he discussed with the
White House counsel. ]
He also was asked how an ap-
pointment would affect his posi- !
ton on the bench and whether !
acceptance of a possible appoint
ment would-as has been reported
have to be based on an assur- !
ance Of complete freedom of ac-
ton.
Il am not at liberty to discuss
that" he commented.
Judge Murphy smilingly told
reporters he arrived here on a
sleeper during the night and
stayed at the Willard Hotel. He
was to have had an unpublicized
appointment with the President
earlier, it was reported, but
snowstorm prevented his flying
here.
Other Conferences Possible.
The jurist said there may pos
sibly" be follow-up conferences
with Mr.. Truman, but that at this
time he had mo date" to do so.
To Presidential advisers, Judge
Murphy's possible appointment
looked like an astute move for the
cleanup assignment. since his
career has been studded with sue
cessful investigative and prosecu-
ton ventures.
A Democrat, Judge Murphy Is
known as an advocate of good
government, but never has taken
an active part in party politics.
This also would be in his favor, 1
to offset charges that the ad-
ministration is attempting to con-
duct whitewash.
Meanwhile, the King subcom-
nittee-at which Mr.. Truman
took some slapS at his Thursday
news CONFERENCE.-The recessed its
sensational hearings until after
the first of the year. /;
Byrnes, Kean Not Concerned.
Both Mr.. Byrnes and Repre- Il
sentative Kean, Republican. of
New Jersey, among the most
active of the subcommittee mem
bers. indicated they were not con-
cerned about what effect an ad-
ministration cleanup move might .
have on the course of action the
House group has laid out for
itself. /;
Neither of the two. they said. |,
has heard anything about Chair
man King about his meeting Fri
day with President Truman, and
they indicated they don't expect
to hear. Mr.. King left a hearing
for the 30-minute White House
conference and declined any COM