Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-05
Delayed
BY Tealnsfers
On Ethics Count
By JOHN V. HoRNER

~ OOAh2N W lMOuekNEM
Leaders Of the Transfers
Union today refused q detailed
discussion Of corruption charges
hurled at them by the ALL
CIO Ethical Practices Com
mittee.
Appearing at q closed hear
ing Of the committee, the
unions general executive board
issued a statement in which it
seemed to say that the fedora
ton should wait upon judgment
of the Transfers convention
at Miami, September 80.
you are hereby notified"
the statement read. that be-
cause Of the close proximity Of
the international convention,
we conclude that the entire
subject matter contained in the
stan report (of the Ethical
Practices Committed and its
supplements should be pre-
sented to the convention"
Beck, Hoffa Cited
The Teamster officials called
on the carpet by the Labor
Federation Committee included
Dave Beck, retiring president
who is under indictment on
charges of income tax evasion.
and James r. Hoffa, union vice
president who provoked the
Senate Rackets Committee re-
Gently for inability to remember
incidents in which he was
involved.
There was no immediate in
dication of how the Ethical
Practices group reacted to the
suggestion for further delay in
considering the corruption
charges. The committee already
had postponed its showdown
with the 1.4-milIion-member
union four times.
The Teamster statement to-
day said that practically all
information gathered by the
Ethical Practices stan came
from sources not subject to
cross-examination. The infor-
nation. it said, therefore, Is
hearsay or secondary in origin.
"The stad did not attempt
to resolve conflicts in testimony
nor does it accept either the
testimony or inference as nee
essarily true" the statement
added.
Denies Domination
Without attempting to sum-
Marie the allegations, 1t APP
pears that none Of them are Of
such magnitude as to support
q belief that the International
Brotherhood Of Transfers. as
an entity. is dominated. con-
trolled or substantially infiu-
enced in the conduct of its
affairs by any corrupt infiu-
ence.'"
The union board commended
that no group Of individuals
could so dominate a union
made up Of Ia million members
in 800 local unions as to JUS
tify the corruption conclusions.
The statement said the In
ternatiOnal will not take any
action to prejudice the rights
of any individual under the
Constitution and laws of the
United States or Of individual
States.
Particularly where an indi-
vidual has exercised his right
under the Fifth Amendment
not to be q witness against
himself it would make q mock
cry Of such right If the Inter-
national Union or any other
body. were to require such in
dividaal to make answer to the
same matters concerning which
he invoked his constitutional
guarantee" the statement read.
Invoked Fifth
Beck repeatedly invoked the
Fifth Amendment when ques-
toned by the Mcclellan Sem
ate Rackets Committee earlier
this year.
The board said further the
union will take no action that
might prejudice the rights Of
individuals under criminal in
veStigation or those against
whom charges are pending. It
said any action would be de-
ferred until a final administra-
tive or judicial determination
is made.