Evening star., 1946-07-03
Authority Of Probers
To Examine Loyalty
Files Questioned
BY Joseph Young

n possibility tIldt rcucIdl
agencies will refuse to turn over
their loyalty investigation files to
the House Civil Service Subcom-
mittee, which is about to look
into alleged communistic activi-
ties in the Government, devel-
oped today as Federal officials
challenged the legal authority
of the committee to seize the
records.
The Star learned the Civil Serv-
ice Commission has been informed
by its legal division that previous
decisions by the Attorney General
have set up policy that these files
could remain confidential and need
not be turned over to any member
of Congress or any congressional
committee.
While Federal officials have not
decided whether to defy any COM
mittee request for access to the
files they declared that if the files
were turned over to the subcom-
mittee it would completely cripple
our future investigations regarding
possible subversive activities Of Gov
eminent job applicants"
Rees Request Refused.
Recently the commission refused
the request of Representative Rees
of Kansas. ranking minority mem
Der of the House Civil Service Com
mittee, to open its investigation
files to him. Mr.. Rees charged that
sion had disregarded the facts
turned up by its investigators and
certified the hiring of known Com
munists or fellow travellers.
A high Government official de-
clared that If the three-man sub
committee, which was authorized
yesterday to conduct the investiga-
ton, gets access to the files, it would
''be the biggest break the Com
munists ever had
He declared the only way to un-
earth information about job appli-
cants was to question their friends
acquaintance, former business as
sociates and employers, or any one
who might throw any light on their
political beliefs and background.
Informants Now Protected.
THE only way we can get these
people to talk freely is to promise
them that their dispositions in the
case will remain completely con-
f1dential," the Official said. If the
policy is eSta blished that any mem
ber of Congress or any congressional
committee can peruse the files and
make the facts public, it will mean
that people will hesitate to give lis
information and result in many
Communists and other subversive
elements getting into the Federal
service because of lack of sufficient
investigation"
He explained many persons who
can connect Federal job seekers
with subversiye activities are often
afraid OF retaliation from rejected
applicants and only reveal their in
formation 10 Government investiga-
tors on the promise that their evi-
dence and names will be kept con-
fidential.
Government officials expressed
their desire to cooperate with the
! subcommittee in every way possible.
They indicated, however. that the
confidential files would be turned
over only if they were forced to do
So The subcommittee has the
power of subpoena, but the commits
sion's legal division feels this does
not apply to these files.
Group to Map Plans.
Meanwhile. the subcommittee
planned to meet in a few days to
map final plans for the inyestiga-
ton. Representative Combs Demo-
crat, of Texas is chairman of the
special committee. The other mem
bers are Representative Fallon,
Democrat, of Maryland and MI.
Rees.
! The members said today the in
yestigation would be conducted on
the highest possible leval" and would
be no witch hunt"
The subcommittee inveStiga ton
is expected to have two phases:
l. Whether known Communists or
fellow travellers have been permitted
to enter and remain in Government
services.
! ?. If this condition does exist, who
is responsible for it?
The investigation became official
yesterday when Chairman Randolph
of the House Civil Service Commit
tee and the other members agreed
to the move.
Mr.. Rees several weeks ago had
introduced a resolution calling for
Congress to authorize such an in
Vestigation. AS revealed in last
Sundays Star. Mr. Rees appeared
stymied in his demand for an in
veStigation until he recalled the
House Civil Service Committee had
investigative powers granted to il
several years ago by the House Mr.
Rees was successful in persuading
the committee members TO use these
powers AS we'll as its unused in
veStigating funds to conduct the
inquiry.
Ancient Romans liked to keep ir
their houses, always before then
eyes. the wax masks of their an
ceStOrS.