Evening star., 1954-11-16
The Political Min
Movement Seeks to Get
McCorthy off the Hook
Watkins Opposes Trading
Rules chonoe for censure
BY Gould Lincoln

Change the Senate rules relating to
investigations and let Senator Joe Nc.
Carthy on the hook-let him 60 with
out Senate censure-is one of the pro-
posals Of those who are seeking either
TO defeat the Watkins committee cen-
sure resolution or to avoid q vote on
the dynamite filled Mccarthy issue, or
both.
Chairman Watkins of the special BIZ
partisan committee of the Senate which
looked into the charges against Sena-
tor McCarthy is not buying this or any
other proposal to avoid q straight-out
vote on the censure proposal. In his
opinion it Is possible to change the
Senate rules, and for the better. Chang
ing Senator Mccarthy, however, is
another matter. Nor does he believe
the Wisconsin Senator should be per-
nlitted to avoid the censure which the
special committee held to be war;
ranted and which it recommended.
As matter of fact, Senator Watkins
and his committee brought in reso-
luton to change the Senate rules at
the same time it submitted its resolu-
tion for censure of Senator Mccarthy.
This was done, however, Senator Watt
kins explains. because the question of
amending the Senate rules SO as to
provide for investigations conducted
with fairness and a sense of respon.
sibility was dropped into the commit
tees lap along with the charges
against Senator McCarthy-by the
Senate itself. Senator Watkins is en-
tirely against sidetracking or drop
ping censure of Senator Mccarthy and
going to a change in the rules.
Urges Committee Action.
The Utah Senator's decision is that
the whole question of rules amendment
should be turned over TO the Senate
Rules Committee. The Rules Committee
has already held exhaustive hearings
on the subject-and is now proposing
to hold still further hearings The reso.
luton proposed by the Watkins com.
mittee, while salutary, by no means
covers the whole ground if system of
fair practices in senatorial investiga-
tion is to be adopted. Senator Watkins
insists that the adoption of a new code
for investigating committees must fol-
low recommendation of the Rules
Committee itself. He believes that the
resolution offered by his committee
should be referred to the Rules Com
mittee. and that the whole question of
rules amendment should be taken I'D
when the Senate meets next January.
That is his position.
Senator !. Knowland of California.
Republican leader of the Senate. when
asked if the Watkins committee resolu-
ton for rules amendment was to be
taken up at this special session of the
Senate. replied that decision in that
matter would await determination of
the Mccarthy issue.
II the Watkins committee recon-
mendations for Senate rules changes
goes to the Rules Committee, it will
take its place alongside of a whole raft
OF resolutions seeking to establish fair
code for Senate committee .r1yestiea-
tions. Senator Bush of Connecticut.
Republican, has fathered comprelien-
sive code. Other Senators who have
contributed resolutions of this kind in
clude Senator Gillette of Iowa, Senator
Monroney Of Oklahoma. Senator BEN
nett of Utah. Senator Kefauver Of Ten.
nessee, Senator Johnston Of South
Carolina and Senator Stennis OF Mis-
sissippi.