Evening star., 1947-03-23

| porary Commission stressed that the
vast majority Of Government work
ers are free of the taint of disloyalty.
The Commission, however, took an
oblique slap at the left wing CIO
United Public Workers with the dec
laration that Communist Party line
activities of some of tie leaders and
some of the members of Govern
ment-employe organization" shows
existence of threat to the Ameri-
can form of government.
The Presidents commission, head
ed by Assistant Attorney General A.
Dewitt Vanech said lack of uniform
standards hitherto had character
lied the loyalty test applied in the
Government. With few exceptions,
it added, agencies normally rely on
the investigative facilities OF the
Civil Service Commission. These,
it was emphasized, are inadequate.
"Since the Civil Service Commis-
sion has been unable to investigate
10 large percentage of applicants"
| it continued. "the agencies have
relied almost exclusively on the
veracity attributed to the oath of
Office and the affidavit executed by
the new employe, and the signature
of these two instruments is taken
as prima facie evidence of loyalty"
Small Percentage Investigated.
An accompanying table showed
that from July /, 1910, through De-
cember 81, 1916, there were 9.604 1885
placements in Government service,
and that the Commission complet-
ed investigation in but 329. .889 cases.
Disquahfications for disloyalty
totalled 1907, although that element
figured in some other instances.
The commission now has about
100 persons on its investigative
staff
The FBI, investigating employees
under the Hatch Act and appropria-
ton act red bans" between 1912
As, brought about dismissal OF 10l
persons.
An Interdepartmental Committee
on Employe Investigations, set up by
executive order in February, 1943,
to process loyalty cases, reported
453 persons cleared and "a dis
charged for subversive activities as
of last December 2.
The investigative field now pro-
jected for all applicants for employ
ment will extend into this area:
Records Of Federal Bureau of In
vestigation, Civil Service Commits
sion, Military and Naval 1ntelli-
gence, and "any other appropriate
Government investigative or intelli-
gence agency; House Committee on
un- American Activities; local law
enforcement records at place of resi-
dence and employment OF applicant;
schools and colleges and former en-
ployers of applicant; all references
given and ANY other appropriate
source"
Standard for Firing.
Whenever "derogatory informa-
ton" is developed, a full inquiry
will follow.
The standard for firing a worker
or refusing employment shall be that
reasonable grounds exist for belief
that the person involved Is dis
loyal to the Government OF the
United States"
The Civil Service Commission,
while primarily responsible for in
vestigations in the competitive serv-
ice, may agree to permit any agency
to handle its own. In the noncom-
petitive service, the individual
agencies are responsible for the in
quiry.
Each agency head is to be per
sonally responsible" for making GER
tain that disloyal elements are not
retained in the Government. 10y
atty boards" will sit in each unit to
handle such cases as arise.
Defendants get the right of hear
ing and appeal, in their own agen-
cies, and an ultimate review before
a Loyalty Review Board to be set
up in the Civil Service Commission
to give an advisory recommended
tion," in event the employing agency
decides on removal.
Specially Trained Stats.
Every agency. the presidential
order says, Should develop and
maintain, for the collection and
analysis of information relating to
the loyalty of its employees and
prospective employees, staff special
ly trained in security techniques,
and an effective security control
system for protecting such informa-
ton generally and for protecting
confidential sources of such infor-
nation particularly.
In addition to association with
subversive groups, those causes listed
as grounds for dismissal or refusal
of employment are; Sabotage, trea-
son, disclosure of confidential docu-
ments or performance Of duties In
such a manner "as to serve the in
terests of another government In
preference to the Government Of the
United States"
The check on incumbent employees
by the FBI is designed to determine
whether records disclose any who
have been identified with these Of
| fenses.