Evening star., 1957-08-25

remember reply packurlng IN
II the Senate Rackets Commi
Chairman Mcclellan, Den
yesterday that he has ordered
day appearance on the witness
stand sent to the Justice De-
partment.
Along with the record will
60 the stern-faced Senator's
request that the testimony be
studied with q view to possible
prosecution for perjury.
Hoffa told the committee lit
orally hundreds of times he did
not recall this or that incident.
The attitude Of committee
members changed from amaze-
ment to incredulity to anger
over the four-day period. FL
nally. shortly after 3 pm, FRI
day, the committee suspended
its hearings and curtly. dis
missed Hoffa from the stand.
Lapses of Memory
Senator Mcclellan was still
unhappy with the Hoffa per-
formance yesterday as he told
newSmen of his intention to
push for perjury prosecution.
Like his chief counsel, Robert
F. Kennedy, Senator Mcclellan
said mo reasonable man"
could believe some of Hoffa's
lapSeS of memory.
The answer, II don't remem-
ber." it was contended by Sen.
ator Mcclellan and Mr.. Ken
nedy, is not necessarily a shield
against action for perjury.
"Hoffa's replies to our ques-
tions would not constitute con-
tempt of Congress-" Senator
Mcclellan said. but If in so
answering he said he did not
remember when he actually did,
that would be perjury"
Meeting With Dio Cited
Asked for specific examples
IN Hofta's testimony Of what
he thought might be actionable,
Senator Mcclellan said:
well, he couldn't remember
about his meeting with New
York hoodlum) Johnny Dio
only two months ago. And he
couldn't remember what Dio
was talking about Tin a record.
ed phone conversation) when
he mentioned the two things
and the four things. Also,
Hofta could not recall whether
he ever hooked recording de-
vices onto witnesses going into
q grand jury room"
In answer to a question, Mr..
Kennedy said numerous cases
OF perjury conviction have re-
suited from II don't remember"
pleas. The 31-year-old lawyer
said it is necessary only to show
to the satisfaction of a reason
able man that the witness must
have remembered. Such a
showing would be grounds for
conviction. he said.
Mr.. Kennedy emphasized
that the matters on which
Hoffa. may face prosecution are
questions of substance. I'VE
were not asking him what he
had for breakfast four years
ago." he commented.
Justice Gets transcripts
Reminded that other in.
stances of questionable testi-
mony have been sent to the
Justice Department by the
committee. Mr.. Kennedy was
asked whether any action had
been taken by the Federal law
enforcement officials.
I'VE have written the Justice
Department number of let
ters." Mr.. Kennedy said. He
added that no action had been
instituted by the Justice De-
partment.
The question Of where the
rackets investigation goes from
here remained up in the air
pending a meeting Tuesday
Of the eight Senators-four
Democratic. four Republican
who make up the select COM
mittee.
Senator Mcclellan said a
tentative schedule will be made
at that meeting.
Hearings May Resume
at is possible that there will
be no hearings again until after
the first Of October" Senator
Mcclellan said. 1T is also pos
sible, however, that there will
be a'brief series of hearings be-
fore that-some time in the
latter part of September"
When it was mentioned that
the International Brotherhood
Of Teamsters' convention will
open in Miami. Fla, September
30, Senator Mcclellan said:
Whatever hearings we have
will not be related to that con-
vention one way or another. I'd
like to make that clear"
1t was certain. however, that
the committee is not through
with the is million-member
Teamsters Union. Most every
where we go we find some
Teamster activity that interests
U.S." Senator Mcclellan said.
The role of Hoffa in the set
tlement Of a newspaper mall
ers strike in Hoffa's home town
OF Detroit was called to the at
tention Of the committee chair
man and his aide.
HE flew to Detroit last