Evening star., 1949-02-01
Harmony Conference
Planned With Clark
On House Spy Inquiry
By Robert K. Walsh

Win a ban on cameras, tele-
vision and radio at it's hearings,
the House Committee on Un-
American Activities planned a
harmony" meeting with Attor-
ney General Clark soon to talk
over its Communist spy investi-
cation program.
Representatives Walter, Democrat,
of Pennsylvania, Harrison, Demo-
crat. of Virginia and Nixon, Re-
publican, of California will seek
an audience" with the Attorney
General, Chairman Wood an
nounced after the committees or
ganization session late yesterday.
While putting off detailed discus
sion of procedures and staff ap-
pointments, the new committee lost
no time in ordering a major change
in the conduct of its hearings.
Coverage of public hearings will
be restricted to reporters for news
papers, periodicals and radio sta
tions. Chairman Wood said no
cameras, still or motion picture; NO
radio broadcasting or recording
equipment and no television ap-
paratus will be allowed.
Unanimous Action.
The chairman refused to identify
the sponsor of the resolution, but
he reported it passed unanimously
Asked whether the new committee
has resolved on an ERA of har-
mony" with Justice Department off,
cials. with whom the old committee
was frequently at odds, Mr.. WOOD
grinned and disclosed that the
subcommittee hoped to see Attorney
General Clark personally today
He added that it might confer also
with Assistant Attorney General
Alex NJ Campbell, who has been
directly in charge of the New York
Federal grand jury inquiry into
Communist spy operations. Mr..
Campbell, it was learned from other
members, telephoned while the COM
mittee was in session, but there has
been no arrangement made so far to
have him appear before the COM
mittee.
New Regulations Protested.
Radio and photographers asso-
Citations we're up in arms. mean
while, over the committees new
hearing regulations.
officials of the White House Pho
tographers' Association, consisting
of newspaper and newsreel groups
here, and the House radio gallery,
representing all radio news broad
casting companies in Washington,
announced that formal protests
would be sent to the committee.
We certainly will ask the COM
miUtee to reconsider its action,
Albert L. Warner, chairman of the
House radio gallery, said. The Ex-
ecutive Committee of our organiza-
ton expects to meet later today
and We undoubtedly will file a
formal protest It seems very un-
fair to cut off such a big area of
public communication in the re-
porting of news events"
Will Ask Change.
Anthony Muto, chief of the Fox
Movietone News bureau here, said
the White House Photographers
Association would protest and that
he and several other individual
bureau heads also would ask the
committee to rescind its order.
Chairman Wood said he had not
received any protests as yet. Com
menting on the order. Representa-
tive Nixon said: 1T was the large
representation of photographers,
broadcasters and reporters that gave
the committee hearings in the past
an atmosphere that caused us to be
referred to as a circus"
In other moves yesterday, the
committee:
Decided to ask for a 5000, 900
budget. A resolution to that effect
will be submitted to the House to-
morrow in the hope the Committee
on House Administration will hold
. hearing Thursday.
Appointed Mr. Wood, Mr.. Walter
and Mr.. Nixon as subcom-
mittee to study and recommend a
successor to former Chief Investiga-
tor Robert E. Stripping, who resigned
on January g. The successor, it is
understood, will be an attorney and
have the title of chief counsel.
Designated Mr.. Wood to can.
vass the situation" concerning
the rest of the investigative and
clerical staff. Most of those en-
ployes have stayed on this year, but
have not been paid since the 8Oth
Congress expired.
The requested 100000 appropria-
ton would provide for retroactive
payment of salaries, Mr.. Wood
explained. He did not indicate how
many of the present employees will
be retained Several weeks ago
he remarked that Republicans, as
we'll as Democratic members of the
committee, would have a say in
the selection.
Norway will soon ship 10000 tons
OF fresh herring to Britain.