Evening star., 1955-02-11
Cole Suggests
Dixon-Yates
Contract Shift
Urges Acc to Give
Control to Another
Government Agency
By L. Edgar Primo

Representative Cole, Republ1-
can of New York, says the adj
ministration of the controversial
Dixon-Yates contract should be
turned over by the Atomic
Energy Commission to another
Government agency.
The former chairman of the
Joint Congressional Committee
on Atomic Energy pressed this
peacemaking proposal a second
time in an interview yesterday,
after partisan wrangling over a
relatively minor issue had so
rent a committee hearing that
one Senator said. in effect.
This business is beginning to
get ridiculous"
Mr.. Cole, who first made his
suggestion earlier this week.
believes that if it were adopted.
the continual clamor over the
troublesome" Dixon-Yates con-
tract might be eased within the !.
committee and the commission.
Wrangle In Hearing.
This clamor was raised to q
new pitch yesterday during the
testimony of Acc Chairman
Lewis L. Strauss, who vigorously
reiterated that the contract had
not hampered the commission
in its primary responsibilities for
weapons production and de-
velopment of peaceful uses OF
the atom.
He also denied that he had
taken part in any discussion of
Dixon Yates at an Acc meeting
on February l. Mr.. Strauss, in
effect. denied this before the
committee in the afternoon fol-
lowing that February l session.
Mr.. Strauss had asked that he
be allowed to testify personally
on the above matters after his
fellow commissioner. Thomas E.
Murray. had told the Senate
House Atomic Energy Committee
that Dixon Yates was drain"
on the time and energies of the
commission and that the COM
mission had discussed the con-
tract on February /.
Pertinent Fact Omitted.
The Acc chairman said Mr..
Murray's testimony omitted a
pertinent fact" leaving the i'm
preston to be created that 1 had
attended or even participated in
discussion of the contract" He
arrived at the meeting only after
the Dixon Yates discussion had
ended, Mr.. Strauss said.
While Mr.. Strauss was reading
his seven-page prepared state
ment, aides piled up four crates
and one carton of commission
papers directly behind him. An
other aide brought small pack
age of six manila folders to him
on the witness stand.
When Chairman Anderson of
the committee angrily demanded
an explanation, Mr.. Strauss
explained that the big pile
of papers behind him was the
reports prepared by the staff for
study by the commissioners on
all matters other than Dixon
Yates since January l. He said
that the small package in front
of him held papers relating to
the Dixon-YateS contract.
Chairman Anderson flushed
and said, Il think Mr.. Pastore is
as indignant as I am and I'll let
him put it his way"
Senator Pastore, Democrat. OF
Rhode Island, then said Il think
it is approaching a rather rid
iculous situation"
Strauss Agrees.
Il couldn't agree with you
more" Mr.. Strauss replied.
Chairman Anderson ques-
toned Mr.. Strauss and Acc
General Manager Kenneth D.
as to why neither Gen.
nor DR.. Willard F. Libby.
an Acc commissioner, had not
Mr.. Strauss last week
when he he said he could recall
no discussion of the Dixon-Yates
contract at Acc meetings since
November.
Senator Millikin. Republican
Of Colorado interrupted heatedly:
Continued on Page AS, Col. ID