Evening star., 1947-12-26

Effect Of Meyers Probe
Has Been Noted Already
In Executive Agencies
By David Laurence
Investigating committees have
come in for criticism in the last
several months on the theory that
they have at times gone far afield
in their inquiries, but, as often hap
pens in congressional history, the
end result is constructive.
Looking back now on what has
been accomplished by Senator
Ferguson and his committee OF in
vestigators, for example. there are
many changes and reforms in prog
ress now which in all probability
would never have developed had
1t not been for disclosures made
before the War Investigating Com
mittee Of the Senate.
Thus, the results Of the Meyers
investigation already have been felt
in the executive agencies Of the
Government. A general interest in
the retirement system Of our armed
forces has been stimulated and both
= President Truman and Secretary
Forrestal have issued statements
asking that the whole matter OF
retirements be re-examtned.
Premium Put on Illness.
IN case Of retirement for medical
reasons, such as in the Meyers case,
payments have been based on tenn
porary rank rather than on perma-
nent rank, and are tax exempt.
In cases Of pension based on retire
ment for length Of service, the
amount received is based on the
'ofIicer's permanent rank rather than
on his temporary rank and is sub
ject to tax. This system puts a
premium on illness, and in many
cases 1t has been easy to simulate
an Illness.
1t has been observed that officers
who retired for physical reasons,
shortly after leaving the armed
services received full-time positions
in private industry. NotWithstand
ing this, there has been no check
on what the physical condition Of
these officers has been subsequent
to their retirement and as to
whether the disability in fact has
been total and permanent"
A thorough study of the whole
retirement system will result in
great savings to the Government,
. and it has already been begun.
Another direct consequence Of the
investigation machinery of the Sen
ate has been the activity of the
Army Air Forces. The Air Force
Is now set up, Of course, as a sepa-
rate unit but 1t Is planning to have
an Investigating system to prevent
a recurrence of such a thing as the
scandal in the Meyers case. Indeed,
the n,s.ple operation Of the Armed
Forc6 With respect to the expendi-
ture ef money is bound to be over
hauled as consequence Of recent
revelations.
Another evidence of this in q
different direction is the announce
ment by Secretary Forrestal that his
Office " considering the whole prob
lem OF procurement and investiga-
tions within the national defense
establishment.
Effect on Enlisted Men.
Information received by various
Senators indicates that the attitude
of the Army in stopping the retire
ment pay Of Gen. Meyers and in re-
examining the whole system of re-
tirements for officers has created a
very favorable effect among enlisted
men, who have felt that they were
being Disseminated against by pre-
wous practices.
Most important of all is the en-
phasis given to the fact that Con-
gress can at any time exercise a
check on the operations OF executive
agencies. Whenever any part OF
the Government gets the feeling that
there is no check upon its activities
or that it will not be subject to
scrutiny, there is bound to be care
lessness if not scandal.
The public, of course, sometimes
gets the idea from the day-by- day
reports of investigating committees
that either lot of time is being
wasted or that the investigating
committees are themselves merely
interested in political aspects.
Sometimes witnesses are pilloried
before the public with innuendoes
and implications that are unfair to
them. But while this has been an
occasional occurrence, the remedy Is
not to restrict or curb the power
Of investigating committees. Un-
less a congressional committee has
access to every single fact and can
ask any question. the opportunities
for evil things to be hidden are far
more numerous than the oppor-
tunities to do injustice to the indi-
viduals who may be unfairly, treated
in various ways by congressional
committees.
Public opinion operates, 10 pe
sure, as the broadest check of them
all. Unless congressional COM
mittee can justify its activities,
1t will not be forgiven the unfair
things it does. So. on balance, 1t
must be said that the congression-
nj committees Of both parties in re-
cent years have usually justified
themselves in the legislation that
has subsequently been enacted or
In the REFORMS instituted within the
executive departments.
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