Evening star., 1953-04-05
Curbs on Williams
May Deprive Senate
Of Tax-Probing Unit
By J. A. o'Leoy

The Senate Finance Commit
tee may not have a tax-inveSti-
eating subcommittee at all this
year unless peace can be restored
between Senator Williams, Re-
publican, Of Delaware, and the
rest Of the committee over rules
to govern the inquiry.
AS Of yesterday no armistice
was in sight. Senator Millikin,
Republican. Of Colorado, Finance
chairman, was asked what he
would do about naming a sub
committee If Senator Williams
sticks to his determination not
to head the group under the
proposed new rules.
I'VE will cross that bridge
when we come to it," said Sena-
tor Millikin.
The committee seemed to be
already at the bridge. because
Senator Williams insisted he
would not change his mind.
Senator Millikin said, however,
he is still hoping the Delawarean
will accept the assignment.
Committee Doom Predicted
Another influential committee
member, who declined to be
quoted, predicted the subcom-
mittee would die if Senator Will
liams does not take it.
Senator Williams, who made
q name for himself investigating
tax scandals in the last Demo-
cratic administration, is resist
ing new rule which would pro-
hibit the subcommittee from dis
closing any information it
develops in executive session
without the approval Of the full
committee.
Senator Williams has turned
down the Craftsmanship Of the
subcommittee on the ground that
the rule would require him to re-
main silent whenever the full
committee votes not to go on
with a complaint.
Senator Williams began his
tax probing as a lone wolf five
years ago. and apparently is
destined to return to that role.
House Unit Functioning.
I may not find out as much,
but I'd rather not find out than
have information and not be
able to use it," he told a reporter.
Regardless of how the Senate
controversy turns out, a House
Misunderstanding subcommittee
is still functioning, under the
Craftsmanship of Representative
Kean, Republican, of New Jersey.
Senator Williams contends
that the new Finance Commit
tee rules are a departure from
the procedure usually followed in
other Senate investigating sub
committees. The chief differ
ence lies in the authority which
the full Finance Committee re-
tains over actions of the sub
committee.
AS an example, Senator Will
liams has cited the rules of the
Senate Permanent Investigating
Subcommittee, now headed by
Senator Mccarthy, which allow
a majority of that subcommittee
to determine when it's closed
hearings may be made public.
That subcommittee is a part of
the. Government Operations
Committee.
Senator Millikin has contend
ed that the issue is not merely
whether the subcommittee or
the full committee shall Gete4 =
mine when to reveal informa-
tion. He insisted in a Senate
speech Thursday that Senator
Williams also is contending for
the right to decide en- his l
when information developed by
the committee should be made
public or presented to the Sen
ate.
Williams Fights Rule.
Senator Millikin tried to get
Senator Williams to say whether
he would abide by the majority
decision of the subcommittee or
the full committee.
II will so far as making an
official report to the Senate is
concerned" replied Senator Will
liams. But he went on to add
that he never would abide by
any rule which calls upon him
to agree in advance that under
certain circumstances he would
withhold what he considers dam
aging evidence against any in
dividual "solely because a ma
jority of the committee decides