Evening star., 1950-04-16

meQL O1OClal. Inc lnteQt Is tIlHt
no strong fifth column" be Or
ganized here. to aid in the defeat
of the United States should 1t be-
come involved in war.
The legislative proposals follow
two lines. First, to strengthen
espionage laws. Second. to force
into the open the presence and
activities of Communist or Fascist
organizations, and to compel their
registration. including their men,
bership.
Heavy Penalties
The first of these measures to
receive affirmative action by
either house is IAN act relating
to the internal security of the
United States" which passed the
House March is. 1t provides heavy
penalties-flnes of $4,000 or i'm
prisonment for 10 years or both
for persons who obtain and turn
over to foreign agents or persons
who might use them to the detri-
ment of the United States, any
information concerning national
defense projects or plans. vessels
or military stations. or any docu-
ments or blueprints having to do
with national defense.
A list Of bills have been pro-
posed in both the House and
Senate to combat un-American
activities by requiring the regis
tration of Communist-front or
ganizations as well as member
ship in any Communist political
organization. The aim is not to
outlaw the so-called Communist
Party, but to compel full publicity
and complete knowledge of its
activities and ramif1cations.
First among these bills is the
Mundt- Nixon bill, sponsored by
Senator Mundt. Republican. Of
South Dakota and by Representa-
tive Dixon, Republican, Of Cali
fornia. This measure. in amended
form, has been favorably reported
by the Senate Judiciary Commit
tee and placed on the Senate CAL
endar by a committee vote Of IL
to !. The one holdout was Sen
ator LANCER. Republican, Of North
Dakota. Senator Kefauver. DEM
|ocrat. Of Tennessee voted for the
sport of the bill. but reserved
She right to oppose some of Its
provisions If and when it comes
on the floor. He also said he had
grave doubts about the bills con-
stitutionality and that 1t may
violate guarantees of freedom OF
press. speech and individual
liberty"
Chances Are Slim
Whether the Mundt- Nixon bill
now sponsored in the Senate by
Senators Ferguson of Michigan
and Johnston Of South Carolina,
Democrat, as we'll as by Senator
Mundt, will be taken up for con-
sideration and action during the
present session Of Congress. de-
pends upon the attitude of the
Democratic leadership of the
upper house. At present the bills
chance for a place on the admin
istration's program is mighty dim
During the 80th Congress some
what similar Munot--IiXon bill
passed the House. but died in the
Senate Judiciary Committee
where it was being revised, when
that Congress adjourned.
Other bills to combat Commu-
mist and other subversive activities
in the United States, now before
Congress, include one by Repre-
sentative Wood, Democrat, Of
Georgia. This would make it un-
lawful for Federal employees and
for persons employed in connec-
ton with national defense con-
tracts to be members of or
affiliated with the Communist
Party or other subversive organi-
cations.
Still another bill. offered by
Representative Sheppard. Demo-
crat, of California, makes 1t un-
lawful for any person to be a
member of the Communist Party
or of any organization known by
him to propose the overthrow of
the Government Of the United
States.
Bill Calls for Reports
Representative Holifleld, Demo-
crat. of California has introduced
a bill directing the Attorney Gen.
eral to report to Congress In detail
the efforts Of the Department Of
Justice to enforce the Federal
Corrupt Practices Act, the act to
require the registration Of persons
disseminating propaganda in the
United States, the Alien Registra-
ton Act and the act Of 1910 re-
quiring the registration Of certain
organizations within the United
States. 1t also calls on the Attor-
ney General to recommend to
Congress what other legislation
may be necessary to safeguard the
country against "the creation of a
totalitarian system" and to
strengthen the laws we now have.
A bill to combat un-American
activities by requiring the regis
tration Of Communist front or
ganizations has been introduced,
too. by Representative Boggs,
Democrat, Of Louisiana.
The House Committee on Post
ONCE and Civil Service has re-
ported favorably a bill requiring
matter sent through the mails by
Communist, Facist, totalitarian or
subversive organizations to be
plainly marked with the name Of
the organization-and that the
organization has been designated
by the Attorney General as seek