Evening star., 1952-01-22
Extension Of Probe
0fCrime 10 May 81
Appears Doubtful

0PW ~
Several members of the Senate
Rules Committee indicated today
they would vote to extend the life
Of the Senate District Crime In
vestigating Committee. but there
were doubts as to whether it would
be continued to May 81 with an
additional $61 200.
The Rules Committee meets to-
morrow to consider the full SEN
ate District Committees request to
keep the investigating subcommit-
tee in action for four months after
the present January 81 deadline.
A partial check Of the Rules
Committee brought few clearcut
pronouncements in favor of the
extension and the SCI, 200 addi-
tional asked for expenses. Com
mittee Chairman Gillette said,
however. he believed the crime in
vestigating group has done "a very
creditable job" He added that
he would not decide definitely on
the extension proposal until he
hears District Committee spokes-
men at the hearing tomorrow.
Many Requests Received.
Senator Monroney, Democrat,
Of Oklahoma. did not commit him
self on details of the extension
request. but he declared, so far
as the investigation to date is
concerned. II would not want to
leave the situation up in the air. !"
Other sources noted that the
Rules Committee ha received
numerous requests from other in
veStigating subcommittee seeking
additional funds and time extern
sionS. This may cause the commit
tee to trim the District Commit
tees request both as to money and
time, they said.
Senator Welker, Republican, of
Idaho, who is on the crime investi-
eating subcommittee, also is a
Rules Committee member. In open
session yesterday he indicated op-
position to extending the COM
mittee's work. He said he felt Maj.
Robert j. Murray, the police
superintendent, should carry the
ball" on the basis of revelations
made so far.
Welker Changes Mind.
But Senator Welker changed
his position later in the closed
session Of the full District Com
mittee and voted for the ex-
tension. He indicated he would
support the request at tomor-
rows hearing before the Rules
Committee. The original pro-
posal was for an extension
through June and an additional
S76,500 but this was cut by the
District Committee.
Senator Welker said he had
worked harder on the District
crime investigation than anything
else since he came to the Senate
about year ago. He said he
would be unable to continue as a
member of the committee if the
investigation were continued.
Il have tried to do my duty
as a Senator" he said. IT don't
care what the newspapers say
about me-" The reference, ap-
parently. was to one published
report that he had been feuding
with Arnold Baurnan,. committee
counsel. Both denied the report.
Has Own Investigator.
"Yes, I've received abuse from a
certain oracle" the Senator told
the committee, "and I noted Sen
ator Neely has received like abuse.
I have tried to get at the truth
Of the matters before us. In fact,
have worked harder at this in
vestigation than anything since I
came to the Senate. I have had
my own investigator working for
three months trying to get at the
truth.
The Senator declined to name
his investigator and when the
Districs committee went into ex-
ecutive session for an outline of
future possibilities. he switched
his stand. Chairman Nicely an
nounced the vote was unanimous.
Before the vote, Senator Welker
said he considered the amount
asked for further probing was
"quite an item in ITSELF" but that
furthermore, he saw no need for
q congressional committee to ex-
plore field which the police, the
grand jury and the District at
torney's Office could 60 into.