Evening star., 1950-03-17
Justice Department
Opposes Plan 10 Have
fBI Determine Loyalty
Keep Agency os Pure
Foct-Finder or ImperiI
Liberties, 1t Warns
BY the Associated Press

The Justice Department today
denounced congressional pro-
posal to require the Federal Bu-
reau of Investigation to pass judg-
ment on the loyalty of some Gov
ernment employees.
1t said the plan, already ap-
proved by the House, "is fraught
with peril not only to the bureau,
but also to the country ieself.'
The department said the FBI is
now solely an 'investigatiye and
fact-gathering agency" The pro-
posal, it continued, would make
"an extremely radical and unde-
lsirable change" in its responsible
ties and functions.
The plan is included in amend
ments to the national science
foundation bill now in conference
between the Senate and the House.
Definite Findings Asked.
The amendments. adopted by
the House, would require the FBI
to make a definite finding con-
corning the loyalty of any person
employed by the foundation or
awarded one of it's scholarships.
The departments views were
set forth in letters to members of
the House Interstate Commerce
Committee from Peyton Ford, as
sistant to the Attorney General.
Mr.. Ford said the letter re-
flected also the views of FBI Di-
rector j. Edgar Hoover. and Sec,
retary of Defense johnson.
While the department is firmly
of the belief that disloyal per-
sons" should not be employed by
the foundation, Mr.. Ford wrote,
the amendments "go beyond this"
He said in his opinion "they
would bring about a departure
from American concepts of justice
and democratic government"
No Recommendations Now.
He pointed out that the FBI
now does not evaluate or make
recommendations with reference
to information it collects. It mere
ly submits it's information to en-
ploying Federal agencies and lets
them make the final decisions.
"The fine reputation which r
believe the bureau enjoys today
as an impartial investigative
he said, results in large
part because it has carefully re-
stricted its activities to the max
ing of investigations"
He added that the bureau lis
not equipped to go beyond the
field of investigation and into that
OF making the determinations
called for by the amendments"
Fears Harm to Innocents,
BY barring employment of any
one who has "at any time been a
member Of" a subversive organ
ization, Mr.. Ford said, the amend
ments could also deny to the
foundation the services of many
Americans of unquestionable 10y
atty to the United States and it's
form of Government who inno-
Gently Joined a so-called front
organization with the highest mo-
tiveS and who Withdrew " upon
their first suspicion of its subver-
sive character"
He pointed out that in the case
of foreigners considered for asso-
citation with the foundation. it
would be extremely difficult for
the FBI to uncover past affilia-
tions because it has no facilities
for conduct ting Investigations
abroad
Rep. Priest, Democrat, of. Ten
neSsee, who handled the science
bill in the House at the time it |
was amended, told newsmen he
believes Senate House conferees
will agree to eliminate the changes
to which the FBI objects.
After the conferees reach de- |
,ision, both the Senate and the
House have another chance to
consider the bill. The Senate did |
not approve the House changes. !