Evening star., 1946-07-20
By the Assoeioted Press

The House wrote into atomic
energy legislation today an
amendment requiring an FBI
loyalty check for all persons
connected in any way with
atomic energy development.
The amendment, proposed by Rep
resentative Dondero, Republican. OF
Michigan, was approved by a thun-
derous voice vote amid fresh de-
mands' that the entire bill be sent
back to the Military Affairs Com
mlttee for further study.
The Dondero amendment would
require the FBI to apply a loyalty
check to 'all persons associated in
any capacity with the development
and control of atomic energy under
the proposed five-member atomic
energy control commission.
Government Communist Packed.
It's adoption followed a declaration
by Representative Rankin, Demo-
crat, of Mississippi that Commune
lists ARE packed into every depart
ment of this Government" and the
Committee on Un-American Activ-
tiles knows about it,
They are packed into the War
Department." Mr.. Rankin said. and
accused Congress of not having
been ON the job
THE first thing you know our
people will be blown to pieces bv
this atomic bomb" he added.
Rewritten in major parts, the bill
will face a Senate-H House conference
If it escapes the BOBBY traps laid by
its opponents.
A motion to reconunit the bill to
committee has been drafted by Rep
resentatlVe Short, Republican, of
Missouri and its adoption would put
the legislation over until next year.
Asks Military Representation.
Major changes already made by
the House would provide for mill
tary representation on the proposed
control commission: permit the
death penalty to be inflicted for
security violations intended to harm
the United States; make it possible
for the Army to produce atomic
weapons. and completely rewrite the
Senate's air tight" patents section.
AS it neared the voting stage.
the bill contained these main pro-
visions:
Overall controls BY five-mem-
Der commission appointed by the
President and confirmed by the
Senate, with at least one of the
members a representative of the
armed forces. The chairman would
receive $17,500 a year, the others
$4,000. They would serve for five
year terms. The Senate made no
provision for military member.
Organization: Under the control
commission would be sl5,000-a-year
general manager to handle adminis-
tratlve and executive functions. Ap-
pointed by the President with ap-
proval of the Senate, his term Of
office would be indefinite. Four di-
visions would serve with the COM
mission. They would deal with re-
search, production, engineering and
military application and each would
be headed by S14,0O0-a-year direc-
tor appointed by the commission.
The military application division
would be headed by member of the
armed forces under the House bill;
by civilian under the Senate pro-
poSal, For advisory purposes, the
commission would have the assist
ance of nine civilians appointed by
the President for six-year terms and
paid $50 day for time actually on
duty.
Would Have No Voice.
Military liaison: To look after the
military interests in the field of
atomic energy, the Secretaries Of
War and Navy would designate rep
resentatives to consult with the COM
mission on military matters. They
would have no actual voice in COM
mission proceedings but the secre-
taries could appeal to the President
from any commission action in mill
tary matters.
Research: The commission would
operate in such a manner as to
(See ATOMIC, Page A-3.)