Evening star., 1951-12-14
Beck Chances
denomination
Seen Brighter
Senate Agents Probe
In Missouri Held Aid
To Trumon Nominee
By Don S. Worren
stor Sfoff Correspondent

resident Truman'S choice OF Earl
W. Beck of this old Truman baili-
wick as the Districts next Re-
,order of Deeds at $9,360 a year
has an improved chance
low of being confirmed by the
Senate.
Senate District Committee in
yestigators, sent here to look into
Mr.. Beck's background-Commit-
ZEE Counsel Gerard P. Van Arkel
and Robert Albrook, aide to Re-
publican Senator Case of South
Oakota-yesterday wound up a
Four-day inquiry.
AS yet they are short Of any
final findings of fact-their prime
job. Before they draft a report
they are awaiting a transcription
of some dusty 11-year-old steno-
graphic notes.
Records of Hearing.
These, now promised, are the
as yet untranscribed testimony of
original witnesses at Kansas City
school board hearings in 1910 on
demands for the custer of Mr..
Beck from his 15-year job as head
OF the Jackson County Home for
Negro Boys and Girls.
He later resigned under this fire.
Mr.. Van Arkel and Mr.. Albroob
say they are not assigned to rec
ommend whether Mr.. Beck should
be confirmed. Instead they stress
they were sent here to uncover
facts. They are bringing back a
testimony record of thousands Of
words.
BY rough estimate the cost of
this inquiry will be about $4,000.
Reputation Indorsed.
The record taken here does not
snow Mr.. Beck as shining light.
but the committee agents heard a
number Of witnesses testify as to
his reputation, good intentions
and civic works. Mr.. Van Arkel
I'VE found here that
Mr.. Beck was not the bad actor in
hat welfare agency post that had
been suggested by earlier reports
TO the District Committee.
He added. on the other hand,
there was no evidence that Mr..
Beck had any special qualifica-
tons for the Washington job.
Mr.. Albrook voiced no disagree
ment with such an informal sum-
mary but said that for the present
ne would have to remain nom
Mr.. Beck, in rebuttal testimony
here yesterday. denied that he
had mistreated or neglected his
wards at the county institution.
Reticent in Senate.
But some of his answers to
questions, reporters were told.
were not exactly responsive. This
recalled that members of the
Senate District Committee. fol-
lowing the October hearings
there, withheld confirmation be-
cause they felt the candidate had
not been candid in answering
some senatorial inquiries.
After his examination here yes-
terday. Mr.. Beck told reporters
ne still hoped he would be con-
drmed.
He was highly complimentary
u investigators Van Arkel and
Albrook. They asked me oues-
lions in a very cordial manner"
ne said. And he spoke of their
work as very efficient" Tha
District Committee staff agents
ne went on. were definitely fair
and Christian-like" in their in
luiry.
To this he added that he could
nave no criticism of the District
committee for ordering its inouirv
nto his background. In view Of
me charges that had been aired
oy the School Board here. he said
the District Committee could not
nave done otherwise"
Attorney Is Witness.
One OF the last witnesses here
vas Wallace Sutherland, an at
,orney, who was a member of the
school Board from 1884 to 1910.
and its president for two years.
l936-19 This covered much of
Mr.. Beck's 15-year career as head
If the welfare agency.
Mr.. Sutherland told the commit
zee agents the School Board ac-
ion in 1910 calling for Mr.. Beck's
'emoval was in no sense inspired
~ politics"
Some of the Beck supporters
1ave blamed the action against
lim on the successful 1939-4O
irive to get "Pendergast men" out
If Office.
Custer Unanimous.
Mr.. Sutherland told the District
committee agents the School
Board here was bipartisan with
hree Democratic members and
hree Republicans In it's actions
le said. the School Board was
non-partiSan." He stressed this
y confirming reports that the
school Board action. for the Beck
ulster had been unanimous.
Mr.. Sutherland said the 1910
'chool Board was not much i'm
'ressed with testimony that Mr.
'eck had beaten" his wards in
lscipline cases. He said the
oard was convinced that Mr.
'eck had been careless or dere-
ct in the daily management of
Institution. This was in keeping
18th one Of the views of State
'lrcuit Court Judge Ray G. CO.
an, an earlier witness. that ona
the troubles with Mr.. Beck was
nat he had taken too many va
ationS.
y