Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-07
Parties Differ Sharply
In Drawing Up Rules
For Senate Inquiries
By Gould Lincoln

"A SldTp CIcdtdSC III Tie
Senate is developing over a
congressional committee fair
practices code. aimed particularly
at clipping the wings Of Senator
Mccarthy, Wisconsin Republican
and chairman Of the permanent
Senate Investigating Committee.
The Republican leadership of
the Senate. through Chairman
Ferguson Of the Republican
Policy Committee, has been con-
Quoting q study Of procedures
followed in congressional inves-
LEGATIONS and the handling of
witnesses. Senator Ferguson is
expected to report to his COM
mittee when 1t meets Tuesday,
Majority Leader Knowland said
yesterday.
Recommendations Only.
There has been no indication
to date that the Republican
leadership intends to seek a hard
and fast set of rules of pro-
cedure-to be written into the
Senate ruleS-for Senate inves-
tigating committees. The most
that is so far expected is that
recommendations looking to fair
procedures will be drafted, with
hope that each individual COM
mittee will subscribe to them.
Some of the Democratic Sena-
tors and Senator Morse of Ore
gor, Independent, on the other
hand, are supporting proposals
for fixed rules of procedure, de-
signed particularly to safeguard
witnesses appearing before con-
gressional committees. If they
have their way these rules of
procedure will be written into
the rules of both the Senate
and the House, but certainly into
the rules of the Senate.
According to Senator Know
land. there is no present inten-
ton of the G. O. P. to force a
set Of procedure rules on all
committees and their chairmen.
Rather, each committee will be
at liberty to prescribe it's own
rules Of procedure, as at present
Is the case.
List Of Proposals.
However, among the recon-
mendations which are likely to
be made are the following:
l.. A majority of an investigat-
ing committee will decide on the
issuance of suppoenas for wit
nesSeS.
2. Both political parties should
be represented at all hearings.
Such a rule would put an end
to one-man hearings conducted
by the committee chairman or
any other member of the COM
mittee who might be designated.
3. Wherever possible. hearings
should be held in Washington.
making it easier for all men,
bers Of an investigating commit
tee to attend.
President Eisenhower at his
recent press conference said he
had been informed by Senator
knowland that progress was
being made toward procedures
which would insure fair treat
ment of witnesses, which the
President strongly urged.
Morse Calls for Action.
Senator Morse, who with
Senator Lehman, Democrat. of
New York, is sponsoring a code
Of fair committee procedure,
said yesterday in a broadcast
prepared for delivery in Oregon:
The American people have
been shocked and disturbed by
abuses which result from con-
gressional committee hearings
that are conducted without ap-
proprite legal restraints and any
projections to the defense wit
nesSes.
Senator Lehman, Senator
kefauver- who has proposed q
similar but less far-reaching set
OF rules binding on all COM
mittees which we CO sponsored
and I and others will continue
to work for fair rules which will
restore the dignity of the Senate
and provide fair play"
Quotes Lincoln Remarks.
Obviously referring to Senator
Mccarthy. although he did not
use the Senator's name, Senator
Morse continued:
Lincoln said of Douglas dur
ing their historic debates, In
every way possible he tries to
prove that horse chestnut is a
chestnut horse
THE American people have
had their fill of inquisition horse
chestnuts. The Senate, the Con-
LOST