Evening star., 1951-01-04
Senator'S Ask Bingham
For Closer Scrutiny
In Loyalty Reviews

Some Senators today urged the
new chief of President Truman's
Loyalty Review Board to insist on
closer screening of Federal en-
ployes to weed out any subver-
sives.
The lawmakers said the ap-
polntment of 75-year-old Hiram
Bingham, former Republican SEN
ator from Connecticut, as chair
man of the board, opens the way
for policy changes which they
declared were needed. Mr.. Bing-
hams appointment was announced
yesterday oy the Civil Service
Commission and he will take over
his new duties Immediately. The
job does not require Senate con-
frmation.
Mr.. Bingham succeeds Seth w.
Richardson, also Republican.
who has been picked by the Presi-
dent to be head of the new Sub
versive Activities Control Board.
Mr. Richardson's nomination re-
QuireS Senate confirmation, but as
yet the Senate has not acted on it.
Criticism of Mr.. Richardson in
the Senate Judiciary Committee,
which will handle the nomination,
was responsible in part for the
shelving of his nomination at least
temporarily.
McCarran Criticizes Richardson.
Chairman McCarran of the COM
mittee told a reporter today that
in his opinion the Loyalty Review
Board never functioned as it
should while Mr.. Richardson was
chairman.
There ought to be a very COM
plete change of policy under the
new chairman to provide for a
more careful investigation of the
loyalty or disloyalty of Govern
ment employees" Senator McCar-
ran declared.
Mr.. Bingham, who lives at 1918
r street NV, served as United
States Senator from 1924 to 1888.
Previously, he was Governor of
Connecticut.
Served i'm World War /.
Mr.. Bingham was a captain in
the Connecticut National Guard
and during World War I held
several important assignments in
military aeronautics with the
Army. He was commanding officer
of the Allies largest flying school
in France.
During the last few years, he
has published several works.
Among his books are Lost City of
the Incas," Freedom Under the
Constitution" and THE Future of
the Monroe Doctrine"
AS explorer scholar years ago,
he discovered Vitcos, last capital
of the ancient Incas in Peru;
made the first ascent of Mount
Coropuna. a 21,700-foot peak in
the Andes. and explored the ruins
of Machus Piccu. site of Inca
temples.
Mr.. Bingham crusaded for re-
peal of prohibition ir 1882,
shortly before his defeat for re-
election to the Senate by Angus
tine Longernan, Democrat.
Censured by Senate.
During his second term he was
censured by the Senate. He had
listed Charles L. Evanson, a |
highly paid official of the Con-
necticut Manufacturers Associa-
ton, on the Senate rolls as his
clerk, and had taken him into a
secret session of Republican men,
bers of the Senate Finance Com
mittee, at which tariff rates were
being written.
BY a vote of 81 to %, the
Senate on November 4, 1929, al
though absolving him of corrupt
motives" condemned Senator
Bingham's action as contrary to
good morals and senatorial eth
les" It was the first time in 27
years that the Senate had CEN
Sured a member
He has been married twice. His
first. wife was Alfredo Mitchell,
granddaughter of Charles Tif-
fany, founder of the New York
firm of jewelers.. Seven sons were
born Of that marriage, which
ended in divorce in 1897 after
81 years. In the same year he
married Mrs. Suzanne Carroll Hill.
The loyalty boards future work,
for the most part, will be con-
cerned with persons seeking Fed
eral jobs. Practically all present
Federal employees have been
checked for loyalty. The board,
however, still has authority to
reopen loyalty cases whenever it
feels the situation warrants it.