Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-02
Mccarthy Attacks
Stand Of Watkins
On ImpartiaIiiy
Continued From First Page.)

his ruling, Senator Watkins
said in part:
SENATOR WATKINS-At
the close of yesterdays session
the question had been raised,
which the chair ruled on, and
in amplification Of what was
said then, ! think for the bene-
fit of the people of the coun-
try I should at least expand
the statement and the ruling
that I made.
Qualifications Questioned.
1.-THE question was raised
with respect to the qualifica-
lions of Senator Johnson Of
Colorado to sit as a member OF
this committee. The ruling
was that he was appointed by
the Senate itself; this commit
tee had no power to remove
him. and there had been no
challenge filed against him.
And even if there, had been,
this committee was powerless
to act in the matter.
''In addition to that I would
like to call attention to the
fact that the committee has
heard from Senator Johnson
his statement that was made
yesterday in open session. The
committee is satisfied that Sen
ator johnson can do exactly
what he said he could do. that
is, to try this matter fairly
and consider the evidence that
is brought before it.
THE Constitution of this
country provided for a House
and Senate, our supreme legis-
lative bodies.
Have Discipline Power.
"The Constitution has been
construed to give to each
house of Congress the power
to discipline its own members
and to determine the rules Of .
its proceedings. It has in the
past rejected members who
have with credentials from a
State for various reasons
which seemed to be sufficient
to the Senate.
''It has, as I recall. expelled
members.
ut has also passed resolu-
tons of censure.
cit is the only body that can
discipline a member for mat
tiers that occur in the Senate.
or of his activities and can
take notice of what a Senator
is doing. Courts cannot do it
mo one else can do it but the
Senate.
1.-THE Senate has to act as a
body. In the final stages of
any proceeding or series of pro-
ceedings which have to do with
the discipline or the punish
ment of any of its members for
misconduct.
Can't Be Disqualified.
"No matter what position a
Senator may have taken with
respect to any of these matters
of expulsion, reflections or dis
cipline, he is entitled to vote
on, that matter No one caf14
disqualify him.
aEyen if all the Senators
had taken a strong position,
saying with reference to Sem
ator X-let us make 1T I'M
personal--if all of them said
that Senator4X was a disgrace
to the Senate. that he had
done things which were i'm
proper, and he ought to be dis
cip1ined, Senator x could not
successfully challenge any one
of those Senators from sitting
and acting on his case.
'Tf he could. he could
disqualify him for that reason,
then there would be no action
by the Senate, because all Of
them except the Senator him
self would be disqualified.
Suggests Situation.
Suppose the Senate was di-
vided evenly on a matter in
volving Senator K, then those
who had taken a strong posi-
ton for Senator x, II we are
going to invoke a rule of COM
plete impartiality and COM
plete neutrality. all of those
who were strongly for him
would be disqualified. and all
of those who had spoken
against him would be dis
qualified. and again the Sem
ate would be impotent, COM
pletely powerless to do the
thing the Constitution says
that IL should do.
Nov, q committee Is only
an arm, an agency of the
parent body, the Senate. None
of the six Senators sitting
here on this committee can
make any final Judgment in
the proceedings of this COM
mittee on the matters now
before it."
Ruled Against Move.
The chairman's ruling wa
against the admission of materia
bearing on Senator Johnson's in
terview. Therefore, Senator Nc
Carthy's move was lost.
Later, Senator Mccarthy sale
that he objected particularly t.
the language in the eight-col'
umn headline and the, subordi'
nate head. He said that h,
thought that the accompanying
story was incorrect too by in
dicating his attorney. Edwart
Bennett Williams, had formal.
moved to disqualify Senate
johnson ON grounds of prejudice
Meanwhile, Senator ,McCar
thy's attorney, Edward Williams
filed with Chairman Watkins
memorandum saying that tn
Mccarthy side is mot In ful
agreement" with Senator Wat
kins' position on the johnson