Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-08


Indications are Mr.. Strauss
nomination will be reported
favorably from the Commerce
Committee. with the support OF
three or four Democrats and
the six Republicans on the II
member committee.
One Informed Democratic
Senator predicted today that
the vote in the Senate Is likely
TO be close. But the odds appear
to favor confirmation, partly
because the Senate seldom de-
nies a President a cabinet Of
his own choiee.
OppOsitiOn's Case
AS the hearings draw toward
a close the main issues Of the
opposition appear to be whether
Mr.. Strauss, as former chair
man Of the Atomic Energy
Commission, kept the Joint
Atomic Energy Committee fully
advised Of commission activities
and what part he had in max
ing the defunct Dixon-Yates
power contract.
The committee also has heard
scientists testify both for and
against the nominee, rejecting
the division which has existed
in their ranks over Mr.. Strauss.
When the hearings resume this
afternoon another scientist is
scheduled to take the stand.
Senator Anderson, Democrat
of New Mexico. chief critic Of
Mr.. Strauss handling Of the
Atomic Energy Commission.
has asked an opportunity to re-
but the nominees answer to
the Senator's original charges.
Support From Bricker
Former Senator Bricker. Re-
publican Of Ohio. who served
on the Joint Atomic Committee
for IL years. testified yesterday
in support of Mr.. Strauss. Mr.
Bricker also once served as
chairman Of the Commerce |
Committee.
AS he finished reading his |
answer to the Anderson charges |
yesterday, Mr.. Strauss sought !
to cool of some of the heat |
which has developed between |
himself and Democratic Sem
ators during the hearing.
He thanked this attentive |
committee" for its courtesy and.
for the good will and patience
of members of both parties in |
their contributions to the clari-
flcation process of the hear
ings."
The nominee pointed out |
that the Acc was new agency |
attempting to harness a gi-
gantic new source of power. In |
pioneering such task, he
added, honest mistakes and |
errors of judgment sometimes
were made"
But" he continued, I'VE |
pioneered, experimental, mod
flied and did advance atomic |
energy. And I place my case
with the Senators, and with |
the American people, on that
overall record"
Denies COncealment
Mr.. Strauss told the COM
mittee he has never knowingly
or wilfully withheld informa-
ton" about the atomic energy
program from the Atomic |
Energy Committee.
Much of yesterdays testi-
mony related to whether Mr..
Strauss had failed to tell the
Joint Committee several years
ago about a letter from the
Attorney General regarding a
proposed agreement to eX-
change information about the
atomic submarine Nautilus with |
Britain.
Senator Pastore, Democrat Of
Rhode Island, who also is a |
member of the Joint Atomic |
Committee, insisted it made no
difference whether Mr.. Strauss
forwarded one particular letter
to the Joint Committee if he
kept the Joint Committee ad-
viSed of the British negotiations.
Senator PaStore, who has
frequently defended the NOM
inee, later read from a 1856
document of the Joint Atomic
Committee to show that the
Acc did meet with one of its
subcommittee to go over the
British agreement.
MOnrOney Questions
Senator Monroney, Democrat
of Oklahoma, took over the
questioning of Mr.. Strauss yes
terday and said he was dis
turbed because of an i'm
preston that Mr.. Strauss an
Swer to the Anderson charges
might show a pattern of pre-
senting half facts rather than
all the facts" on the various
incidents involved.
After the Monroney exami-
nation, Senator Scott, Repub-
l1can OF Pennsylvania, charged
the Democrats were INDUCING
in "nit-picking" and conduct
ing an expedition into trivia"
Senator Monroney replied
that the Dixon Yates contract
issue could not be classified
as trivia.
Senator MCGEE, Democrat of
Wyoming, gave a lighter touch
to the wrangling among COM
mittee members by taking issue
with any suggestion that the
committee is "raking over old
straws." When the laughter
had subsidized, the Senator ex-
planned he meant to say "old
ashes"
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