Evening star., 1951-12-17
Murphy Accepts Job
As Head Of Cleanup;
Assured Of Free Hand

Federal Judge Thomas F.. Muir
ply has agreed to head a high
powered "housecleaning" cam
paign to sweep wrongdoers out
of Government Jobs, the Asso-
ciated Press reported today from
New York, although the White
House maintained a close silence
on the report.
The word that Judge Murphy
who conferred with President
Truman at two secret meetings
here Saturday-has accepted the
high-level assignment came as
the President returned last night
from a yacht trip down the Po-
tomac.
On his return to New York Sat-
urday night. the husky, towering
jurist told reporters only that he
expected definite action" as a
result of his conferences. He said
any story Should come out of
Washington"
ETcc ndH0 hepOfte0.
From New York the story came
that Judge Murphy would be
given a free hand to take what
ever steps he sees fit to wipe out
corruption in Federal agencies and
give clean bills of health to honest
officials.
The Associated Press said the
source of the information on the
jurist's acceptance could not be
disclosed.
Judge Murphy's only assertion
was that any probe of corruption,
wherever it might be, should be
100 per cent investigation"
While the White House has CIV
en- no official hint of the type of
cleanup program the President is
drawing up. the most persistent
reports are that Judge Murphy
will head non-partisan commits
sion designed to take action
against jobholders who have be-
trayed Mr.. Truman'S trust.
No Specula tion on Aides.
II this is so, however, the best
kept secret of all is who other
members of the investigative body
would be. While Mr.. Truman has
conferred with FBI Director j.
Edgar Hoover, Attorney General
McGrath and other officials, there
has not even been speculation
about who might serve on the
suggested commission.
Mr.. Truman repeatedly plunged
directly into the job of setting up
the cleanup project as he broke
off his Key West vacation in face
of sensational disclosures of scan
dals and irregularities by the
House Ways and Means Subcom-
mittee, headed by Representative
King, Democrat. of California.
Cruise Guests Not Revealed.
The list of persons accompany
Ing the President on his wind
swept Potomac cruise was not dis
closed. But it generally was be-
lieved that Mr.. Truman had taken
along number of advisers on
whom he relies for working out
the program.
According to the New York re-
ports, Judge Murphy will not
leave his lifetime post on the
bench, but will be given a leave
of absence after clearing his
docket.
The jurist, whose highly sue
cesSful investigative and proSecut-
ing career is marked by the prose-
cution of Alger Hiss, also is known
as the reform official who cleaned
up New York police rackets. At
46 he was appointed to the bench
last June to succeed Federal Judge
Harold R. Medina, who was moved
up to the Circuit Court of Appeals.
Some Republicans have insisted
that the scandal disclosures will
be major issue in the 1852 presi-
dental election.
Mr. Truman, who has not said
yet whether he will try for Office
again, has predicted that the
scandals will not figure in the
campaign because, he claims, the
whole matter will be cleared up by
next year.