Evening star., 1946-11-26
Rees Asserts Truman 5
Subversive Inquiry
Falls Far Short
Inter-Agency Board
Cont HondIe Problem.
Kunsun Believes
BY Joseph Young

President Truman's order set
ting up a special inter-agency
commission to investigate SUBJ
Iversive elements in the Govern
ment "falls far short of solving
the problem" Representative
Rees of Kansas, who is slated to
be the new chairman of the
House Civil Service Committee,
declared today.
Mr.. Rees, who led the fight in
Congress last year to GUST Com
munists and fellow travellers from
Federal jobs, declared that he would
insist on 4 Congressional investi-
cation of subversive activities In
Government, the Truman Commits
sion Notwithstanding.
Mr.. Rees' stand was seconded by
Representative Thomas OF New Jer-
sey, who will become chairman of the
House Committee on Un-An1erican
Activities.
viii Press Own Inquiry.
Mr.. Thomas made it clear that
the Truman commission will not
deter his group from pressing its
own inquiry in that field. 1t Is
expected that Mr.. Thomas Group
will work closely with the House
Civil Service Committee In any con-
gressional investigation Of Subversive'
activities in the Government.
The aim Of his committee, Mr..
Thomas said, was to expose and
ferret out the Communists and Com
munist sympathizers in the Federal
Government"
Mr.. Rees told The Star by tele-
phone from his home in Emporia,
Kans.:
"The appointment of the COM
mission is all right as far as it
goes, but it doesn't go far enough.
I still feel that Congress is the one
to investigate the entire subject,
and intend to ask for funds to do
the job"
"OnIy Congress Should Act
"Only Congress can conduct the
objective and impartial inveStiga-
tion of loyalty in the Federal serv-
lice that can accomplish any good" !"
Mr.. ReeS added. "Too many officials
in Federal agencies have things to
hide regarding subversive activities
going on in their bailiwicks, and TO
leave it up to them to clean up the
situation is both silly and futile"
With the Republicans now in con-
troll of Congress it seems a good
| bet that Mr.. Rees will be successful
in obtaining the necessary funds for
the investigation.
The establishment of the inter-
agency group to act on methods OF
improving loyalty Investigations in
the Government was announced yes
terday afternoon by Mr.. Truman.
The group, which was designated as
the Presidents Temporary Commis-
sion on Employe Loyalty, will be
composed of representatives OF five
Government departments and the
Civil Service Commission. Others on
the commission will represent the
Justice, Treasury, State, War and
Navy Departments.
Attorney General Clark appointed
A. Dewitt Vanech as the Justice.
Departments representative. Mr..
Vanech, who has been special as
sistant to the Attorney General since
1888, will serve as chairman OF the
group. Other members Of the COM
mission are expected to be named
within the next few days.
Report Due February 1.
The commission was ordered to
make recommendation to the Presi-
dent by next February l which
would strengthen present methods
Of purging the Federal payroll Of
Communists, fellow travellers and
other subversives groups.
In appointing the commission, Mr..
Truman acted five months after
the original suggestion made by a
subcommittee of the House Civil
(See SUBVERSIVE, Page A-6.)