Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-05
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OOutduueu FROM FIST rage
committees investigation of the
Federal Communications Com
mission.
He emphasized that the
independent regulatory COM
missions must be real j.
independent. making their
judgments without improper
outside influence from either
the Government or industry.
Mr.. Eisenhower said it would
be a tragic thing for Ameri-
cans to come to believe that
only people with top lobbying
outfits in Washington were
getting the kind Of decisions
they wanted from such agen-
cies.
Showdown on Senators
One of the announced rea-
sons for the subcommittee
closed session this afternoon
was for a possible showdown
vote on a demand by Repre-
sentative Wolverton, Republic
an Of New Jersey, that the sub
committee formally invite sew
eral Senators to testify con-
corning statements made about
them by previous witnesses on
the Miami TV channel 10 case.
Mr.. Wolverton and Mr.. Har-
ris said the consideration Of
Mr.. Lishman's appointment
took so much time that the
subcommittee did not get
around to the senatorial ques-
ton but expected to do so
later.
Mr.. Wolverton attempted to-
day to make a formal motion
that the subcommittee send
invitations to several Senators
mentioned in earlier testimony
about alleged undue influence
in the FEC award of the Miami
channel.
Mr.. Harris refused to accept
such a motion at an open hear
ing but called a closed meeting
today. He told Mr.. Wolver-
ton such a move could be made
at the closed meeting.
Open Bid Reported
: Mr.. Harris insisted that his
Interpretation of congressional
rules relating to comfy" be-
tween House and Senate mem
bers placed no barrier to APP
pearance of Senators before
the House subcommittee. He
repeated his open invitation"
to any member of Congress who
wishes to testify at the cur
rent hearings and who has
been mentioned in previous
testimony.
But It Is not going to be
my position to be extending
formal Invitations or requir-
ing Senators to come before
this committee" Mr.. Harris
declared.
The tangle between Mr.. Har-
ris and Mr.. Wolverton came
soon after the subcommittee
met to conclude questioning Of
George T. Baker, president of
National Airlines, and Alex
ander G. Hardy, Washington
attorney who is senior vice.
president Of National Airlines.
A National Airlines .subsidi-
airy, Public Service TeleviSion,
Inc, was awarded Channel 10
last year by the FEC. Richard
A. Mack. a Florida Democrat,
who resigned this week as
commissioner, voted with three
Republican Commissioners for
Public Service Television.
Three Senators Accused
Democratic Senators Smath-
erS and Holland of Florida and
Kefauver of Tennessee were
accused by Mr.. Baker in earlier
testimony this week and in a
still stronger statement last
night of having attempted to
put improper pressure on the
FEC to give the award to Col.
A. Frank Katzentine.
The three Senator's have de-
MED improper conduct and
have expressed willingness to
testify if requested by the House
subcommittee.
II have never quite under
stood the attitude that Sena- /
tors are immune from coming |
before this subcommittee by
our formal invitation" Mr..
said. II am not of
The opinion that Senators live
in a secluded atmosphere or
that an iron curtain can be
in a matter as important |
as this.
THE rules do not raise an
iron curtain to prevent this