Evening star., 1951-12-16

that a high-powered, independent
action against corrupt officials i.
in the offing, and the New Yorker
did nothing to discredit reports
that he at least is the Presidents
choice to handle the job.
AS to the conference itself, how
ever, Judge Murphy countered
newsmen's questions this way:
"The only thing I am at liberty
to say is that I saw the President
and had very long talk with him
on matters of interest to the
country.
Declines Further Comment.
ANY further comment will have
to come from him."
Meanwhile, two House RerJbli-
can members of the King :nvesti-
gating subcommittee, which has
disclosed sensational incidents of
irregularities within the Federal
tax system, said they did not
think any separate administra-
tion campaign should have too
great an effect on the subcom-
mittee's future Investigations.
Representative Byrnes. Repub-
lican. of Wisconsin, said such a
move might lessen somewhat our
present responsibility of house
cleaning"
But I don't think the country
can be satisfied with Just a
present-day housecleaning job, :"
he declared. "We will still have
to go into the subject in order to
report on changes that will have
to be made to avoid occurrences. 4"
Some Measures In Mind.
Mr.. Truman has indicated that
he also had measures in mind,
some for his own action and some
for legislation, to help eliminate
corruption in government.
But the main interest has
centered around Mr.. Truman's
hint to reporters on Thursday that
he might have something to say
about an independent cleanup
project by the week end. White
House Press Secretary Joseph
Short served notice this deadline
wouldn't be met when he told
newsmen they could expect no
executive move through today.
President Truman embarked on
the yacht Williamsburg at the
Naval Gun Factory late yesterday
for an overnight cruise on the
Potomac River. He will return
this afternoon. A few friends ac-
companied him, but the White
House withheld their names.
Persistent reports are that the
Presidents plan might be carried
out by some sort of anti-corrup-
ton commission. with powers to
investigate and possibly to prose-
cute wrongdoerS in Government.
Mr.. Truman, however, made plain
that he wants also a clean bill of
health to be given honest officials
who do their jobs we'll.
FBI Intervention Seen.
Some reports have it that the
FBI will be called upon to play a
key role in any extensive admins
tration cleanup program. Tradi-
tionally. however. Director j. Ed
gar Hoover has sought to keep the
FBI out of any situation which in
any way has Smacked Of politics
Mr.. Truman conferred with Mr..
Hoover last week and-asked later
If that agency might be called on
for investigative work-told re-
porters only that the FBI would
continue to do its duty.
Advance information about
Judge Murphy'S visit had news
men keeping a close check yes
terday on the city's hotels, as well
as incoming planes and trains
And the towering, mustached ju-
rist, who gained fame as the pros
ecutor of Alger Hiss and as a
police rackets buster in New York
is a man who stands out in q
crowd.
Announced by White House.
But the first official word o1
the secrecy-shrouded White House
meetings came when Mr.. Short
called reporters in at about 1:1s
pm. and announced:
Judge Murphy was in to SEE
the President this morning anc
the President reported he had q
Continued on Page A, Col. L.
Original Santa Claus
Probably q Bishon