Evening star., 1951-04-08
Dollar
Continued From First Page.)


the record available yesterday, the
President wrote the following let
ter to Secretary Sawyer:
"The Attorney General informs
me that the Supreme Court has
declined to review the recent de-
cision of the Court of Appeals for
the District Of Columbia in the
suit brought by the Dollar interests
against members Of the former
Maritime Commission, ruling that
the stock of American President
Lines which you now hold in be-
half of the United States was
merely pledged by the Dollar in
terests.
Not Binding ON U. S.
LAS you know, the United States
claims outright ownership of this
stock. impairment of the Gov
ernment's title to this stock would
seriously affect the public interest.
THE Supreme Court, which has
expressed no opinion on the merits
Of Dollars claim, has specifically
said the judgment in this case is
not binding on the United States
Accordingly you are directed
to continue to hold this stock on
behalf of the United States. All
appropriate action should be
taken to assert and maintain the
Governments right as owner of
the stock"
Some spokesmen for the Dollar
interests said they regarded the
Presidents letter as well the
stand taken by Attorney General
MeGrath and Secretary Sawyer,
as defiance of court rulings that
the Dollar people be given "ef-
fective possession" Of the stock.
Called Legal "Harassment."
They also asserted that the
Governments legal moves, par
ticularly its latest suit in q Dis
trict Court in San Francisco in
the face Of an adverse order by
the Court Of Appeals here,
amounted to legal "harassment"
Of the Dollar interests.
The stock certificates were de-
livered to Dollar representatives
last March 16 by Secretary Saw
yer after the Supreme Court re-
fused to review a Government
appeal from a Court of Appeals
decision in January.
The certificates, however, were
not indorsed by Sawyer. The
Dollar group was unable to use
them for voting purposes at the
A.P.L. annual meeting March 10.
Proxies for the same stock were
presented in behalf of Secretary
Sawyer to elect directors backed
by the Government.
Proposed Wording Of Order.
The proposed wording of the
show-cause order pending in the
Court of Appeals here would de-
clare that Mr.. Sawyer and the
nine others "have acted together
and with others in concert and
for the purpose and design of
holding and exercising control
and possession" Of the stock Gin
violation and defiance" of court
decisions.
In the other pending order the
proposed language would prevent
the 10 from taking advantage of
or utilizing or seeking to enforce"
the injunction issued by Judge
Harris in San Francisco last week
in support of the Government.
Besides Mr.. Sawyer, others
named in the pending orders in
clude Deputy Attorney General
Peyton Ford, Solicitor General
Philip B. Perlman, Undersecretary
of Commerce Philip B. Fleming.
George L. Killion, A. P. L. presi-
dent and a former treasurer of
the Democratic National Commit
tee, and five Government lawyers
here and in California.
So far, as Government officials
could recall, this is the first in
stance OF a contempt of court
move against q cabinet officer in
connection with his official duties.
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