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By week's end, the committee got a refreshing look at a hearty, roaring ex-seafarer, Phineas Blanchard, 74, president of the Turner & Blanchard, Inc. stevedoring company. Boomed Old Seaman Blanchard: when Jerry Anastasio and Russo asked to be put on his payroll in 1951, "I came damn near throwing them out. My company has never put anybody —any I.L.A. representatives—on the payroll." How about gifts to shipping lines? In 38 years, snorted Phineas, his Christmas remembrances have consisted of a form letter sending his customers "every good wish for Christmas and the coming year." But even Blanchard admitted that the I.L.A. "appointed" his hiring bosses.
Clean Up? The commission is checking the bank accounts of some New York and New Jersey political big shots in an effort to get at the deeper causes of racketeering on the docks. The waterfront situation was bad 20 years ago and has worsened since the war to the point where even New York may be impelled to start cleaning it up.
*The brothers spell their names differently.