Evening star., 1954-07-18
Justice Department
Studies Alleged Bribe
Offer 10 BroyhiII

Inc JuSClCc department. now
Is studying a Federal Bureau of
Investigation report into an
alleged bribe offer to Represent
ative Broyhill. Republican. of
Virginia. relative to his vote on
the postal pay raise bill.
A department spokesman said
yesterday the matter is under
study in the criminal division.
But Just how long this will take
has not yet been determined,
he said.
The FBI said yesterday it has
completed its inquiry and sub
mitted the results to the de-
partment for whatever action
it deems proper.
Meanwhile, the Government
Employees Council of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor. 100
Indiana avenue NV, joined
other labor groups in condemn
ing the reported bribe offer. In
a statement, it declared:
"The published report Of pos
tai organizations attempting to
bribe a Congressman has stunned
the officers, operations director
and members of the Government
Employees Council of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor.
Appeal to People.
"As operations director of the
Government Employees Council,
we, without reservations, state
that the published reports were
the first information that we had
and such an action would be so
reprehensible that it is impos-
sible to believe the reports.
Insofar as the operations di-
rector of the Government En-
ployeS' Council is concerned, we
would request that these charges
be fully investigated aAd beg the
American people not to make
snap judgments on the basis of
the reports. We implore them
not to think i'll of the legislative
cause Of 500, 900 men and women
because of the alleged action
The statement said it was is
sued under the name and ap-
proval of Leo E. George, chair
man, and Thomas G.. Walters,
operations director of the Gov
eminent Employees Council,
AFL."
Previously, William c. Doherty,
president of the National Asso-
citation Of Letter Carriers, de-
scribed the reputed bribe attempt
as Observation-Disclosures"
The National Federation of Post
Office Clerks also condemned it.
Stunned by Disclosure.
Chairman Rees Of the House
Post Office Committee told re-
porters the matter is now up to
the Justice Department. Com
mittee members said they were
stunned by the disclosure.
Representative Broyhill de-
clined to reveal the source of
the attempted bribe. An offer of
$500 was made to him to influ-
ence his vote, it was learned, and
it was reported this would take
the form of campaign contribu-
ton in his race for reelection
from the 10th district this fall.
Surprise was expressed by Rep
resentative Gross, Republican, Of
Iowa, also a committee member,
that Mr.. Broyhill did not lay the
matter directly before the COM
mittee itself. He said the guilty
party should be named and the
matter cleared up.
Chapter in Pay Battle.
The bribe angle is another
chapter in the battle over legis-
lation to give 100000 postal
workers higher pay. Postmaster
General Summerf1eld wants to
revamp and consolidate job and
salary schedules. A minimum
$500 increase annually is sought
by employe groups, which op-
pose the cabinet officers plans
to overhaul the schedules.
The administration proposals
have caused sharp split in the
committee. 1t first voted q
per cent pay increase minus the
schedule overhaul plan, but then
adopted later a compromise plan
for a 5 per cent increase with
delayed operation for Mr.. Sum-
merf1eld's program.
Representative Broyhill has
opposed an attempt to send the
administrations hill tn