Evening star., 1954-05-10
Dirksen S Plan
To Limit Probe
Appears Baked
Mundt Indicates
He'll Join Democrats
In Opposing Move
BY Cecil Holland

A new Republican move to
limit public hearings in the Nc.
Carthy-Army controversy to
testimony by Secretary Of the
Army Stevens and Senator Nc
Carthy seemed headed for failure
today.
Acting Chairman Mundt Of
the Senate subcommittee investi-
Weleh Hos Flair for Belittline ToIents
as lowyer. Poee Al
MeCorthy Silence on Informer at Root
OF Conflict. Poee AS
eating the controversy indicated
he would go along with the Army
in its opposition to the proposal
submitted by Senator Dirksen,
Republican. of Illinois.
The three Democrats on the
subcommittee Joined with the
Army in opposing the proposal.
If Senator Mundt votes with
them, it would mean the Dirksen
plan would be defeated in the
sever-member subcommittee.
A final decision on the Dirk
sen plan. however, was put OF
until after the subcommittee dis
cuSSed the matter at an executive
session. Senator Dirksen said he
would renew his move at the
opening of the afternoon public
hearings.
After Joseph N. Welch, the
Army counsel, said this morning
he thought the Dirksen plan
would do violence to justice
and ethics" of the Army's case.
Senator Mundt declared:
1T Mr.. WEIGH wants the hear
ingS to go on. I'll preside as long
as necessary"
Senator Mundt, who has re-
placed Senator Mccarthy as
subcommittee chairman for this
investigation, said he wanted
to see If any agreement for
shortening the hearings could
be reached in the executive
meeting before committing our
selves for three or four more
weeks of public hearings"
Seeks Facts on Peress.
The subcommittee spent half
the morning discussing the Dirk
sen proposal. Other highlights Of
the session included:
/. Secretary Stevens was di-
rected by the subcommittee to
submit the names of all persons
involved changing overseas or
ders, promoting and giving an
honorable discharge to Maj.
Irving Peress, a New York den.
lists accused by Senator Nc.
Carthy of being a Fifth
Amendment Communist"
2. Senator Mccarthy said Mai.
Gen. Kirke Lawton, commander
Of the Fort Monmouth IN. J.)
radar laboratories, had testified
in a closed session that Army
suspension of 35 Fort Mon
mouth civilian employees would
not have been possible" without
the Mccarthy investigation Of
security risks at the installation.
Senator Dirksen offered his
proposal, which received con-
siderable advance fanfare over
the week end, as the 18th day
OF the public hearings got under
way with Secretary Stevens
ready to testify in the televised
proceedings.
Sought Executive Sessions.
The Dirksen plan called for
Mr.. Stevens. who has been in
the witness chair for 13 days for
direct testimony or cross-exami-
nation, to be excused at the end
of this mornings session and
for Senator Mccarthy to be
called Immediately.
Any additional witnesses that
might be required. Senator
Dirksen proposed. would be
questioned in executive sessions
with their testimony being made
available Immediately to the
press.
This is what was done in the
Senate inquiry into the custer
of Gen. Douglas Macarthur as
Far Eastern commander in 1851.
Senat tor Dirksen said he
thought the Armys charges
that Senator Mccarthy and two
of his top aides had exerted i'm
proper pressure to obtain favor
able treatment for Pvt. G. David
Schine, former subcommittee
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