Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-12
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which is still on President Eisen
hower's desk awaiting signature
One influential Republican
said last night that, while tn
bill follows the recommendation
of a presidential cabinet com
mittee, he had heard nothing
definite as to whether the Presi
dent will sign it. At his pres
conference Wednesday, Mr.. Els
enhower indicated he was still
studying the measure to deter
mine if it protects the interest
of the consumers as well as pre-
serving the rights of the States
Committee Holds Money
At the height of yesterday
dramatic session, the rs SLOT
bills were produced on the wit
ness stand. and the Senate com
mittee took possession Of then
until the inquiry is over.
The money was brought tt
Washington by John Griffin.
Sioux Falls druggist, who col
lects campaign funds for Sena.
tor Case. The envelope was iden.
titled by Ernest j. Kahler. bust.
ness manager of the Sioux Falls
Argus-Leader, who originally &C.
cepted the contribution from Mr.
Neff and turned it over to MFR
Griffin at the direction of Sena-
tor Case.
Senator Case has said that he
wants the money either returned
to the donor or given to chill
dren's home in South Dakota
Other developments yesterday
were:
/. Mr.. Steadman denied in q
press conference that the COM
mittee is investigating Senator
Case, but defended his detailed
examination of the Senator on
the. ground that the timing OF
the Senator's speech and of his
decision on the bill were peril
nent to the purpose of the in
vestigation, which was to de-
termine an attempt was made
to influence his vote.
2. The possibility that at least
one fictitious telegram may have
been sent to Senator Case favor
ing. the gas bill disappeared yes
terday. Mr.. Griffin. who told
Senator Case Friday he did not
recall sending the Senator tele-
gram bearing his name, recalled
yesterday that one of his bust
ness associates askedtif he could
send such a telegram in Griffin's
name.
] 3. Mr.. Steadman announced
that Sheriff Paul Whaley of
Dawson County. Nebr.. is on his
way to Washington, necesSitating
the Monday hearing. Sheriff
Whaley is a friend of Mr.. Neff,
and drove to Sioux Falls with
him but is not expected to throw
any further light on the incident.
Irony in Testimony
There was a touch of irony
in the testimony of Mr.. Neff
when it reached its climax. He
confirmed q statement by the
committee counsel that Mr.. Pat
man provided the contribution
money after being told of Mr.
Neff's impression that Senator
Case had taken q favorable at
titude toward the gas bill. B.
Would you and Mr.. Patman
have been as willing to make
the contribution if you had
thought Senator Case would vote
against the bill?" asked Mr..
Steadman.
Il don't believe Mr.. Patman
Or I would have been interested
In making the contribution,
Mr.. Neff replied.
That is frank answer" OBJ
served Mr.. Steadman.
Senator Case told the Senate
on February 3 that had this in
eident of the contribution not
occurred he supposed he would
have followed the course rec
ommeded by most of his mail
and voted for the bill. But he
said the contribution had turned
him against the bill.
2 Patman on Stand
l After Mr.. Neff disclosed where
be got the money, the committee
quickly called to the stand the
two men he had named as hav-
ing provided it.
Nj. Patman said Mr.. Nef first
mentioned a campaign contribu-
ton for Senator Case during a
talk in the Shoreham Hotel.
"Nef told me again." Mr.. Pat
man testified, she had been in
South Dakota and he would like
TO make a campaign contribu-
tion-that Senator Case was up
for reelection and that a COM
lnittee had been set up to accept
contributions. He said he'd like
10 give some money.
1--WE talked about it. I asked
him how much he had in mind.
He said $4,000. I thought about
It considerably. ! understand the
laws applicable to corporations
and / told Neff Superior Oil
could make no contributions"
( Federal election laws forbid
corporations from making polit-
teal contributions.
mo Strings Attached"
Finally, after considering it,
Mr.. Patman continued, Il told
him 1 had some funds in my
possession that belonged to How
ard Keck and that IL he. John
Neff. was sure he wanted to make
D campaign contribution. then ]
would 90 along with It," Mr..
Patman said he specified to Mr..
Nef that when he passed on the
money he was to make 1t clear
the gift had mo relation to any
vote on any BILL
Mr.. Neff then asked. accord
ing to Mr.. Patman. what II he
votes against the bill?"
Il don't care" Mr.. Patman