Evening star., 1944-06-16
|CIosed-Book Policy
Of uses Files Held
Vital 10 War Effort
National VINO Declares
Treide's View Is Sound;
Young to Query MeNutt

Disclosure of confidential lnfor-
nation in United States Employ
ment Service files might be highly
detrimental to the war program"
Regional War Manpower Director
Henry E. Treide declared last night
in defending the USES position
against providing Washington police
with the information they seek in
criminal cases.
National VINO, which earlier had
planned a press conference to de-
fend the policy, Cancelled the con-
ference with the explanation that
Mr.. Treide spoke for the national
office.
Meanwhile, Commissioner John
Russell Young, after a conference
with Police Supt. Edward j..
Kelly, announced he would write
to War Manpower Director McNutt
asking a re-interpretation of the
national policy to include local
police among the Federal investi-
eating agencies permitted to obtain
information from employment office
files.
Employers View Considered.
Mr., Treide declared that if en-
ployers and workers were not certain
that the confidential nature of the
information they give USES would
be preserved, they would be un-
willing i, to furnish this information
which Is vital to the wartime opera
'tion Of the employment service"
He told reporters, however, that
in a really, important matter"
police could come to him for in
formation and if it was within his
authority to give the information.
he would try to do so. He said he
would consider such requests for
information, but. that the police
could not expect to get it from the
employees of the USES.
The regional director also declared
that he had never received COM.
plants about lack of cooperation
from Maj. Kelly or any other local
official and that he was willing to
cooperate with the police to what
ever extent he could.
Seeks to Keep Public Faith.
On the other hand, Mr.. Treide
said, VINO intended to retain the
public confidence "by continuing
the time-tested policies which rig
idly restrict the disclosure of in
formation concerning applicants
and employers alike"
ITO permit the public employ
ment Offices to become an unofficial
information bureau for investi-
eating agencies, whether police or
private organizations, in tracing
persons suspected of crimes or mis-
demeanors, or persons being sought
for other reasons, would break down
the public confidence which Is
necessary for the effective war
time operation of the employment
service" he added.
He said the USES does not and
cannot undertake to recommend
each individual referred by it and
does not pass judgment on the
moral character of individuals it
refers. Investigation of that kind,
he indicated, is up to the employer.
! Mr.. Treide said that the workers
address, previous work history and
apparent occupational qualifica-
tions were furnished to the employ
er. Questioned on that point, Act
ing Washington VINO Director Err
nest V. Connolly said all that in
! formation wasn't on the workers
introduction card from USES but
that the employer could get it If he
Wante dit
Mr.. Connolly added, however,
that if an employer complained Of
thefts by worker referred by the
USES and then wanted to know his
address, the information would not
| be furnished to him