Evening star., 1948-12-19
u. 5. Building Janitors
May Be Rif|ing Files,
Mundt Declares
By Chris Mothisen

By Chris Mothisen
Communist plants among
charwomen and janitors in Gov
ernment buildings may be prov
ing successful secret-stealers,
Acting Chairman Mundt of the
House Committee on Un-Ameri-
can Activities suggested yester-
day.
Mr.. Mundt made the statement in
explaining the committees plans to
turn it's attention, during this week
and next, from the spying of 10
years ago to present-day espionage.
He said the committee had in its
possession information bearing on
the latter.
"Charwomen and custodians have
excellent opportunities to obtain
confidential information" Mr..
Mundt said.
Screening Has Improved Security.
He pointed out the feeding of
classified information to Communist
agents 10 years ago, uncovered. by
the committees Investigation, oc-
CURED when security precautions
were lax" with respect to the SEN
sitive" Government posts in which
persons handled secret data.
Now, Mr.. Mundt continued, per-
sons holding these jobs are screened
more carefully, although not as ef-
fectively as the committee believes
essential in the National interest.
But a skilled espionage agent,
holding job as cleaner or Gus
todian, would have many chances
to rifle desks and file cabinets, even
If locked, Mr.. Mundt declared.
Rapid Progress Sought.
Emphasizing the committee plans
to focus public attention on Commu-
nists now in Government positions,
Mr.. Mundt said:
Our position Is that every Com
munist holding a Government job
lis potential spy, and we believe he
probably is an active spy"
MIR. Mundt said the committee
hopes to make progress on this line
of inquiry before the end of the year
and. If at all possible, before Christ
mas.
He announced that former Assist
ant Secretary of State Francis B.
Sayre and Mr.. Sayre's personal Sec
retary, Miss Anna Belle Newcomb,
will be asked to testify before the
committee in executive session. as
well as perhaps seven other wit
nesses.
Mr.. Mundt said radiograms had
been received from Miss Newcomb
and Mr.. Sayre stating they would be
available to testify Tuesday or later.
They are aboard ships en- route
from France.
To Be Heard this Week.
Alger Hiss, now under Federal in
dictment on perjury charges, was
one of Mr.. Sayre's principal assist
ants in the State Department dur
ing the period in 1887 and 1888 when
according to Whitaker Chambers,
avowed former Communist courier,
Mr.. Hiss delivered copies Of conf
dental documents to Mr.. Chambers.
Mr.. Sayre now Is United States rep
resentative on the United Nations
Trusteeship Council.
Mr.. Mundt said Miss Newcomb
will be heard Tuesday afternoon,
and Mr.. Sayre, Wednesday after
noon. aBssp~ IS 81
The acting chairman added the
committee also wants to question
Mr.. Chambers again and Mrs.
Chambers, Mrs. Alger Hiss. Donald
Hiss (brother Of Alger Hiss): Will
liam Ward Pigman, former Bureau
of Standards employe alleged by
Mr.. Chambers to have been one OF
his information sources: Miss Eliza
beth T. Bentley. like Mr.. Chambers
an admitted former Communist
agent one of the first witnesses in
the spy case. and an unnamed civil
ian employe OF the Army's Aber-
deem Md Proving Ground.
Nj. Mundt said the committee will
Cdll dS ludlly Va tlllS 6AOup 40 Viz
Justice Department does mot re-
quest we should avoid hearing in
order not to affect the prosecution
of the Hiss indictment"
Additional Data Sought.
"We want to gather some addi-
tional information from this group
of witnesses" Mr.. Mundt said,
thinking it will be helpful in de-
termining the extent Of current es-
pionage hazards in Government and
also in aiding us in developing legis-
lation to prevent the continuance or
a recurrence Of the type of espion-
age activity which documentary evil
dence now on hand conclusively
demonstrates to have operated in
the past.
And" Mr.. Mundt added, I'VE
want to disclose the identity and
promote the punishment OF other
offenders in espionage besides those
who have, up to this time, either
been indicted or have made public
confessions because Of their involve
ment."
The latter, Mr.. Mundt said, COM