Evening star., 1952-02-24
No Subpoena Power
TIL Morris Explains
Ship Deal, Is Aim
by GeeVee beyevIdee

SUENWW WNNNNtNUH
Moves are under way on both
sizes OF Capitol Hill to defer al
decision on granting subpoena
powers 10 Newb0ld Morris until
after the administrations cleanupl
man explains his connection with
Q surplus ship deal under Senate
investigation.
But the subpoena issue also
faces seMous hurdles In It's own
right. as members Of the Senate |
and House Judiciary Committees
are seeking some means OF max.
ing sure investigators get access
to the same material available to
Mr.. Morris.
Senator Ferguson. Republican,
OF Michigan, told O reporter that
any vote OF subpoena power for
President Trurnan's anti-corrup-
ton sleuth would and should be
viewed by the public hs O vote Of
Senate confidence" In Mr.. Morris.
He added:
II would have great difaculty ii
voting for this (power) until Il
knew the man had oil the qualifi.
Cations-Inoral and legal-in order
to use II properly"
Have Shared In Profits.
Members Of Mr.. Morris law
hrm, according TO one Of his law
partners. have shared legal fees
paid by O corporation which
bought some Of the vessels In
volved In deals being probed by
the Senate Investigations subcom.
mittee.
Mr.. Morris also Is president Of O
charitable foundation which con.
trolls some Of the ships, but the
New Yorker has denied getting any
fees or profits from his activities
with the foundation.
Senator Ferguson said he did
not want to "cast any reflections"
on Mr.. Morris integrity, and that
he wanted the administration TO
have what cleanup powers II
needs.
But he said Mr.. Morris link
with the ship deals should be
clarified before q Judiciary Sub.
committee calls him for testimony
on the subpoena question.
On the other side Of Capitol
Hill. Representative Heating. Re-
publican, Of New York said he
w0uld propose that d H0use Jude
Ciafy Subcommittee defer Aeti0t
on the same grounds,
Sees No immediate Need.
Mr. Heating, d member Oh the
subcommittee which questioned
MIR. Norris last week, added that
he saw no Indication Mr. M6ffis
needs the subpoena power Ina
fRediatelyl Ell
f'he afti=e6rfubtieR iivestieRs
ti6H still is trying 10 line up t6nI
AIDES f6f hIs sweeping pf6Be OIL
wf6fa= =d6ihH In Government, Aiid
has bot yet MADE public any Gel
tailed plans he hAsl Il
One source hewevef, said one Of
Mfl Meffls' hfst moves Will De 10
sehd t6B Government )lIielhik
alestIehhaIres Abeut ABy lHeonie
outside ef theF Federal paw
Members bf the lHalelAfE eeEhl
Mlttes are mainly eeheefhed Abgpt
WhetheF ANY RBWefs elVeh Mt
MeFFla eltheE bN eehefess eP the
Wits lteHse# VIII Interfere WIN
lhaHifleH ef congressional eelAFllts
Tess /
Senator Flepguaen said ha wanted
on 0RbselHte understanding" thatI
except feF eRses gf national AeF
RHFltV, investigating eeMMltteeH
kheAld have access 70 documents
on eVldeHee obtained under sub
peena by Mr., MePFisr
Mr. keRtlAk said he also
Thought the administration sheHld
RlVe Congress assurance " WeHld
make other documents available
PglHt 10 Previous Failures,
Members OF both committees
questioned that legislation could
bring these results, Legal experts
pointed out that congressional
committees - from the Govern
ments earliest dayE--have failed
consistently In attempts 10 force
the executive branch 10 turn over
documents IN ita possession,
Calling for approval OF the sub.
poenA power, Chairman Celler
said Congress should take the
calculated risk" that II would not
be used 10 interfere with congress
biohai probes. II interference
does result, he said, "C0hafeSs
can always remove the authority"
one proposal which Will be
placed before the House sube6ihs
fiilttee, 10 was reported, Will BuGs
Rest that Mf, M6ffls be required
10 apply 10 a e6uFt FOR authority
% Issue specie suBp6ehas, ana
that committees OF 60haFess be
h8tlhed OF such applications In ads
vance,
Another proposal weuid give
congress specific power 20 remove
the subpoena authority by eeHa
current resolution which does not
require White House approval MP
Truman has asked that tho peWeF
be granted until neKt December
d.,
Immunity Veteed, |
The House subcommittee als
ready has vetoed Mr, FFuTnah's
request that Mr. Morris be aus
th0rlEed 10 grant immunltvII
against prosecution 10 certain
witnesses,
House investigators claim the
broad subpoena powers naked feV
Mr., Morris have almost ~ little
precedent M the immunity re-