Evening star., 1941-06-09
use-CIeunino'

AlthOugh It's goal is highly COM
mendable one-the elimination from
the Government service of anti
American individuals of every de-
Scrlption - the congressional pro-
poSal for special Department of
Justice investigation of possible sub
verSive" activities in the Federal es-
tablishment contemplates a method
of approach that has some un-
desirable aspects. 1t is unfortu-
nate that this important measure
was approved by Senate and House
cOnfereeS without the benefit of the
careful deliberation and debate that
1t deserves. Introduced on the floor
of the House as an amendment to the
State, Justice and Commerce appro-
priation bill, the proposal received
but little discussion in the House and
none on the floor of the Senate,
having been rejected originally by
the Senate Appropriation Commit
tee before the bill reached the floor
VI Iile upper CHaHlDeT.
The amendment earmarks "at
least 100000" of the Department of
Justice supply fund for an investiga-
tion by the Federal Bureau of Investi-
cation of employees of all Government
agencies to see whether they are
members of "subversive organiza-
tionS" or advocate 'the overthrow of
the Federal Government" This does
not mean that 100000 additional is
being given the F. B. l. for the in
quiry, but that this amount is to be
deducted from funds budgeted by the
F. B. I. for other vital Investigations.
Patiently, the sum suggested is far
too small for sweeping investiga-
tion of the type directed. There are
more than a million Federal en-
ployes, $4,000 of them in Washing
ton alone.
AS representative of the Depart
ment of Justice pointed out to the
Senate committee, the F. 3. I. already
is conducting Investigations of Fed
eral employees under general author
ity Of the Hatch Act and of several
riders on departmental appropria-
ton bills. The Hatch Act provides
for the dismissal of any Federal en-
ploye who advocates or who holds
membership in an organization
which advocates overthrow of the
Government by force The appro-
priation riders prohibit payment of
salaries to such persons Under
these authorizations, the F. B. L.,
usually upon request of a depart
ment head, has investigated a
number of employees and submitted
findings to the executive heads for
action. Some departments, like
Treasury and Interior, have their
own investigative forces for such
administrative inquiries. These in
veStigative agencies are not likely to
relish the idea of investigators from
another department invading their
traditional domain.
Whereas the Hatch Act and the
appropriation riders restrict investi-
cations to persons advocating over
throw of the Government by force,
the current amendment is less spe-
cific and therefore susceptible of
varying interpretations as to its
scope. There is no definition of what
constitutes "subversive activities" :"
Moreover, the amendment would re-
quire that the F. B. I. report its
findings to Congress. This is an un-
precedented procedure, and one that
runs counter to the established policy
of the Department of Justice against
wholesale disclosure to Congress or
any other agency of the confidential
information obtained by it's agents.
1t has been this policy of protecting
its sources of information and of
avoiding unnecessary disclosures
that has had much to do with the
success of the F. B. I. in the
past. And it was this record of
the F. B. l., coupled with the fact
that it has widespread public conf
dence, that undoubtedly led to it's
selection for the proposed house
cleaning That there is urgent need
for a house-cleaning is more than
likely, in view of some partial dis
oil I,y
agencies as the Dies Committee. But
if the F. B. I. is to be charged with
the responsibility, it is desirable that
its authority should be clearly de-
fined, that adequate additional ap-
preparations be provided for the
investigation and that it's time-tested
methods of procedure be preserved.