Evening star., 1948-08-02
Loyalty Program on the Spot

Inc surprise WnlCn WlllldH w. IbciA-
jngton expressed to special Senate
subcommittee over his ability to land Gov
ernment Jobs while under investigation by
the Federal Bureau of Investigation is
shared by a lot of other citizens. He is
correct in feeling that-as his testimony
put tit was unfair to the Commerce
Department, unfair to me and unfair to
the United States Government for per-
son about whom there were questions as
to loyalty to hold such job" The JOB
he referred to is that of chairman OF the
Commerce Departments Export License
Committee a group which, he said, had
access to highly secret data, including
some atomic information.
1t may we'll be that the several investi-
cations now being conducted by congress
sional committees, the FBI and special
Federal grand jury in New York Will
exonerate Mr. Remington completely OF
the grave charges made against him by
Miss Elizabeth T. Bentley, the self-styled
former Communist head of a Russian
spy ring. The fact remains, however, that
while still under inquiry by the FBI, the
grand Jury and the Civil Service Commis-
sion this civil servant, according to his
own statements, experienced no difficulty
In obtaining one sensitive" job after
another. He was even recommended for
appointment to the staff of the Atomic
Energy COMMISSIONS position which he
said he declined because he realized he
would be put in an uncomfortable" posi-
ton. 1t was not until the appointment Of
a new Secretary of Commerce, it seems,
that any serious question was raised by
his superiors as to his continued employ
ment in a confidential capacity. Secretary
Sawyer, upon learning of the various
pending Investigations into Mr.. Reming-
tons alleged associations with Communist
spies, placed him on indefinite leave.
The Remington case clearly puts the
Governments loyalty program on the spot
Under that program, as laid down In an
executive order, it is the announced policy
of the Government to bar from positions
of trust in sensitive" agencies any en-
ploye whose loyalty may be subject to
suspicion. The agencies are authorized to
suspend or dismiss any employe, pending
investigation of his reliability or loyalty
Adequate provisions for hearings on appeal
are made. Yet Mr.. Remington testified
that he had no trouble in transferring
from one confidential post to another IN
the face of FBI and Civil Service inquiries
into Miss Bentley's accusations.
This situation is possible because the
loyalty program leaves to the discretion OF
individual department and agency heads
the question of suspension or dismissal Of
an employe The FBI merely reports to
the administrator finding Of the facts,
without recommendation. There is author
ity, however, for the Civil Service Loyalty
Review Board to check on individual cases,
if it sees fit. Either this authority was not
used in the Remington case or. the board
was not impressed with what it learned.
Whatever the reason for Mr.. Remington s
remarkable staying powers while under
investigation, the public is entitled to a
satisfactory explanation. The Govern
ment's loyalty procedures can be written
off as a flop if it develops that employees
whose integrity has been seriously ques-
toned can continue to have access to
highly secret data-and to be recon-
mended for more important work.