Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-08-05
ROCKEFELLER CAMPAIGN PICKS UP

contract would be signed II all
the laundry owners paid SOC
per truck over q three-year
period.
Mr.. Miller said he paid the
money to Mr.. Meisner and as
sumed Hoffa had received it,
along with similar payments
from other laundry owners.
But he very carefully said he
did not know for sure whether
Hoffa attended the original
meeting and received the pay
offs. He was vague, too. about
whether Mr.. Meisner actually
told him Hoffa was the man.
The witness said he was told
that Hoffa attended a nego-
tiating session after the payoff
was arranged. AS Hoffa en-
tered, according to the account,
"the color drained" from Mr..
Litwak's face
No Pay Raise Granted
Hoffa read the contract and
said 1t was a good one. Mr.,
Miller was told. The contract
was signed. 1t gave employees
no more than the laundry own
ers had offered previously.
Without the payoff arrange
ment, Mr.. Miller said, the
owners could not have nego-
tiated a contract. He conceded
reluctantly that he never had
any information indicating
that Hoffa was not the man
who took the money.
Mr.. Miller's payment, he tes-
titled, was $3.50 in the first yeal
of the contract and $225 in
leach Of the second and third
years, paid in cash.
AS Mr.. Williams accused the
committee of conducting 9
personal vendetta" Hoffa sal
silent for about the first 4C
minutes Of this mornings hear
Iing-except for opening for
malities of swearing in and
identification.
Reticent on Hoffman
i Questioning started of tense
Ily, as Mr.. Kennedy asked Hoffs
several times whether the late
Mr.. Hoffman was a closC
friend. His voice rising with
each reiteration. Hoffa stucl
to the reply that Il knew Joe
Hoffman"
| Senator Mcclellan intercedec
to cool of the exchange. anc
Hoffa called Mr.. Hoffman ar
acquaintance"
He said the loans from Mr.
Hoffman and Mr.. Bushkir
were made in 1851 and replied
in 1858. He had no records tt
support his account of the loar
transactions.
In his opening statement
Senator Mcclellan said the
hearings may run for several
weeks.
i Cites Union Power
The chairman pointed out
that Hoffa heads the Nations
most powerful union which ha;
the capacity and opportunity
to be a mighty, driving and
constructive force" for the well
fare of its members and the
betterment Of the American
economy.
IF the power and ability Of
the International T@mster:
Union should be improperly
directed and misused," Senator
Mcclellan continued, then il
could become an extremely evil
and destructive force in the so.
cial, political and economic life
of our country"
The chairman said evidence
has shown that 'in numerous
instances Mr.. Hoffa has aligned
himself with certain under.
world characters. who are {
part and parcel Of the crimina
elements and most sinister
forces in this country"
Teamster Burned
Hoffa's long-scheduled return
to the witness stand followed
by only a day the torture-burn,
ing Of a minor Transfers Off,
cial who had appeared last fal
before the special Senate com
Imittee.
Frank Kierdorf, business
agent Of Transfers Local 80.
lat Flint. Mich, was CRITICAL!
burned near there when twt
men he said he did not know
doused him with liquid ant
made him a human torch. H,
had no explanation, but saiC
he was sure the attack was con
nected with union business.
Among other things, Hoffi
faced questioning about VIII.
he let his union keep Kierdor
asa paid official after Kierdor
. last November invoked tn
! Fifth Amendment in refusing
' to answer committee questions
Kierdorf refused at that tim
to tell the committee whethe
he had been involved in labo
racket shakedowns or had "sol'
out" union members.
The committee planned ais,
to ask Hoffa for comment oil
testimony by Mrs. Nancy Daw
! son, q Detroit businessNo man