House Committee on General Investigating Committee - 56th R.S. (1959)
Committee Members
- H.J. 'Doc' Blanchard, Chair
- Menton J. Murray, Chair
- Carl Calvin Conley, Vice Chair
- Tom James, Vice Chair
- John Allen
- Charles Lee Ballman
- Joseph Washington Burkett, Jr.
- Lloyd C. Martin
Charges
- Investigate the breakddown of local law enforcement in Jefferson county.
- Investigate the sit-ins and demonstrations in Marshall in March and April of 1960. *
- Determine whether or nor international, national or other outside influences or pressures are being used, or have been used, within the State of Texas for the purpose of violating property rights, fomenting disturbances of the peace and conducting economic boycotts against local business enterprises
- Determine whether the Communist Party, known Communist Agents, underground Communist Agents, subversives not officially connected with the Communist Party, and professional agitators are active in the sit-in demonstrations and resulting social and economic disruption.
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To determine whether boycott activities of a direct or secondary nature are being conducted.
- Determine whether or not a conspiracy composed of Communist-front organizations and other undesirable elements exists for the purpose of teaching and promoting persons to violate property rights through mass demonstrations, boycotts and other undesirable tactics.
- Determine whether facilities supported by funds from public tax sources, and by funds from public solicitations and drives for school construction and operation, and tax-exempt facilities, have been used to aid and abet such a conspiracy for agitation.
- Determine whether or not the permanent injunction issued by the 7th Judicial Court of Smith County against the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is being violated.
- Determine the effect of deliberate economic and racial agitation in the State of Texas and to recommend legislation aimed at strengthening the ability of the State of Texas to maintain the harmonious and peaceful relationship between races which has existed for so many years in this State.
- Investigate charges of carelessness, negligence and mismangement in the operation of the Willacy County Navigation District.*
- Investigate the breakdown of local law enforcement in Potter and Randall counties.
- Initiate and continue any and all inquiries and hearings into matters pertaining to the State Government and any units or subdivisions within the State of Texas, and all other matters considered by said committee to be needed for the information of the Legislature and for the welfare and protection of the citizens of this state.
- Investigate the activities of John Milton Addison and his related ventures, variously called Murchison Ventures, White, Green and Addison, Inc., Transworld Mining Company and other names. Ascertain whether the Texas Securities Act was being violated with impunity, whether it was being enforced or whether it needed amendatory legislation. Ascertain the truth or falsity of a barrage of charges and accustions made by Addision, his associates and followers against law enforcement officials of the State of Texas.
* This represents an abstract of the report contents. Charge text is incomplete or unavailable.
Notes
Appointed pursuant to HSR 202. H. J. Blanchard (Chair), Carl Conley (Vice-Chair), Joe Burkett, Tom James, and John Allen (Members) appointed by Speaker 9/18/1959.
3rd C.S.: New members appointed by Speaker 9/11/1960: Menton Murray (Chair), Tom James (Vice-Chair), Lloyd Martin and Charles Ballman (Members).
Menton Murray (Chair), Tom James (Vice-Chair), Lloyd Martin, Charles Ballman, and John Allen (Members) are listed on reports.
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