Evening star., 1950-12-27
1ruman's S Appointees
To Subversives Board
Face Senate Hearing
BY the Associated Press

By the Associated Press
The administration appeared
headed for trouble today with the
new Congress over the five per-
sons named by President Truman
to the Subversive Activities Con-
troll Board.
Chairman McCarran of the
Senate Judiciary Committee said
he had heard some rather seri-
GUS comments about some Of
them"
II think there will be a demand
for hearings" he told reporters,
adding that the committee prob
ably would start looking into the
appointments soon after the new
Congress organizes next week.
He did not elaborate on what he
said he had heard.
The f1ve-member board. named
by President Truman November
27 and now serving under recess
appointments, is composed Of
Seth w. Richardson of Washing
ton, chairman; Peter Campbell
Brown of New York, Charles M.
La Toilette of Virginia, David j.
Coddaire of Massachusetts, and
Miss Kathryn McHale Of In
diana.
No Senate Action Taken Yet.
No action has been taken on the
nominations by the Senate. This
means that Mr.. Truman probably
will have to resubmit the names
for confirmation after the new
Congress convenes.
Thus far there has been little
public criticism Of the appoint
ments. But some lawmakers
have said privately they intend
to question particularly the quail
hcations of Mr.. La Toilette and
Miss McHale for the posts.
Mr.. Richardson. the head Of the
Governments Loyalty Review
Board, has come in for sharp
congressional criticism in the
past, and appears headed for
more.
The board was set up under the
so-called McCarran anti-subver-
sives act which Congress passed
over Mr.. Truman'S veto at the
last session.
Decision Subject to Review.
It's job primarily is to administer
the section of the law dealing
with the registration Of Commu-
mist and Communist-front organi-
cations. The board, acting on a
complaint from the Attorney
General, decides what is a Com
munist, or Communist-front Or
ganization, which are required to
register under the law. Its deci-
sion is subject to review by the
courts.
Senator McCarran has been
highly critical of the way in which
the law has been administered
and has promised an early in
vestigation.
He disclosed that he will head
a judiciary subcommittee which
has the three-fold task Of investi-
eating (A) the administration Of
the McCarran Act; (B) admins
tration of other anti-subversives
laws, and co the extent, nature
and effects Of subversive activities
in and out of Government.
"All of the traitors to America
have not yet been apprehended.
or convicted" he said.
Opposing Group Formed.
The subcommittee. amounting
to the Senate's counterpart Of
the House Committee on I'm
American Activities, already has
been given a green light to start
operations next month. Senator
McCarran said it will be up to
the full Judiciary Committee to
determine who will serve on the
subcommittee with him.
Meanwhile, formation Of COM
mittee to work for repeal Of the
McCarran Act was announced.
The group includes educators,
writers. clergymen. scientists and
q labor leader.
The committee said it wants
the act wiped off the books be-
cause it menaces civil rights.
The founders include Nobel
Prize Winners Emily Balch and
Thomas Mann; Frank Rosenblum,
secretary-treasurer Of the CIO
Amalgamated Clothing Workers;
DR.. John A. Mackey, president of
Princeton Theological Seminary.
and Pierre van Paasen, Unitarian
clergyman and author.