Evening star., 1942-02-16
T. B. !. Investigating
1856 U. 5. Employees,
Hoover Reveals
Us Agents Assigned
To Probe Charges Of
Subversive Activity

To Probe Charges Of
Subversive Activity
Following the action OF Con-
gress last June in ordering an in
vestigation of Federal employees
believed to be members of sub
versive organizations, the Fed
eral Bureau of Investigation has
received 1896 cases for >investi-
cation. This was revealed in a
statement by J. Edgar Hoover,
director of the F. B. l., in hear
ings on the Justice Department
appropriation bill released today.
This total includes 1.121 names
on the list presented to the Attorney
General last October by Chairman
Dies of the House Committee In
vestigating Un-American Activities,
and 2,574 cases initiated by the
r. B. I. on the basis Of complaints
received from various sources.
Congress earmarked 100000 for
the inquiry. Mr.. Hoover said 125
special agents have been assigned
to the investigation.
Until recently. employees were not
investigated until approval of their
respective department heads had
been obtained, Mr.. Hoover said.
Under this procedure, the F. B. I.
received authority to proceed with
the investigation of only 1913 out Of
1,595 names submitted to it.
New Policy Adopted.
In October. new policy was ini
tiated. Mr.. Hoover explained, based
on the belief that it was the re-
sponsibility of the Federal Bureau
Of Investigation to investigate all
substantial complaints Of subversive
membership"
This revised policy vas set forth
In q letter which Attorney General
Biddle set out on October 20, 1941,
to department and agency heads.
Since the institution Of the new pro-
cedure, the r. B. I. has disposed Of
656 cases by investigation.
OF these. 387 were determined to
be no longer Government employees"
OF the remainder, no reports were
received BY the employing agencies
in 1S9 cases. No action was con-
sidered warranted in 50 cases, and
II employees were discharged.
The sources Of names upon which
Investigations were initiated are
carefully analyzed by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation and inves-
LEGATIONS are not initiated except
where there is some substantiative
allegation against the employe of
the Federal agency" the statement
pointed out.
Employees Side Heard.
Every effort is made not to en-
barrass the Government employe
under investigation and to avoid
unnecessary or undesirable COM
ment on the part of various en-
ployes who may be contacted in
connection with the inquiries. Each
employe alleged to possess sub
versive tendencies is accorded an
opportunity during the course Of the
investigation to make any state
ment which he may desire to make
in connection with the investiga-
ton. The Federal Bureau of In
vestigation considers itself merely a
fact-finding and reporting agency.
Its representatives do not make any
recommendations with respect to
any employe who may be investi-
gated" e,r-
Additional sources of Information
are being rapidly developed, the
statement added Although . ma
jority of the original complaints are
without factual basis, in many cases
important information has been OBJ
tanned" 1t added
"At the conclusion Of the investiga-
ton, factual report without recon-
mendation will be transmitted to the
head Of the department or agency"
Attorney General Biddle explained
in his letter Of october %. This
course will be followed irrespective
of whether the report exonerates the
employe or indicates that there is
ground for administrative action
against him. Decision with respect
to such action rests, Of course, with
the head Of the employing agency
or department.
In order that our records may be
complete. the employing agency Is
requested to submit a statement as
to any action taken by it in the
matter, whether by way Of exonera-
ton, dismissal, or other administra-
tive discipline, transmitting, where
they are Of record, the reasons for
the action taken.
This Is important. since the law
requires that the Federal Bureau of
Investigation report its findings to
Congress- The statement as to that
action will be made q part of that
report"
In appearing before the House
subcommittee, Attorney General
Biddle explained that the Depart
ment of Justice merely collects the
facts. I'VE are not court" he told
the subcommittee 1T would be ter
fible if these investigators acted like
q court"
In the Department of Commerce,
100 employees will require investiga-
tive attention" Mr. Hoover said