Evening star., 1951-12-15
BY the Associated Press


nine months ago his administra-
ton was made up of honorable
men, puts the finishing touches
today to a new broom program
of sweeping out officials who have
betrayed his trust.
Announcement of the detailed
program was expected by today
although there may be some
delay.
Whenever it comes, it appeared
certain that strapping Federal
Judge Thomas F. Murphy of New
York, famed as the prosecutor
of Alger Hiss and as a police
racketS buster, would be offered
la key role.
The generously mustached
Judge Murphy had an unpub-
|licized appointment with Mr..
Truman yesterday but a snow
storm prevented his flying here.
The latest unofficial word was
that he would see the President
today or Monday.
Left Home Early Today.
In New York efforts to reach
Judge Murphy this morning
brought word from Mrs. Murphy
that he left the house before she
awakened, leaving her a note say
ing he would see her later in the
day.
Irving Perlmeter. assistant
White House press secretary, was
asked if Judge Murphy would see
the President today.
He replied "he is not on the
calling list" and refused further
comment.
Last night Judge Murphy said
in New York that a report he had
agreed to serve on an anti-corrup-
tion commission was "a million
miles from the truth"
He would not say when he
would see Mr.. Truman.
Independent Body Seen.
Indications are multiplying
that, barring a last minute
change. the Presidents program
will take the form of setting up an
independent body with power to
investigate and perhaps to pro-
secute.
One Of its jobs definitely will
be to clear the names of Govern
ment offici@ls-Mr. Truman says
they form the great majority
who are honest and who tend to
their jobs.
White House telephone lines
were busy as the President ale-
eating much Of the spade work to
his counsel. Charles Murphy
lined up the people he wants to
enlist in his program. Charles
Murphy is not related to the
judge.
Not a word on the progress of
this effort was made public.
Judge Murphy's appointment
looked to Washington Democrats
like an astute move. He has a
reputation as an advocate of good
government. He headed recent
cleanup in the New York Police
Department and was widely her
aided as an anti-Communist cru
sader for the Hiss prosecution.
Alger Hiss, formerly a high
State Department official. is now
serving a prison term. Judge
Murphy obtained his conviction
on charges of falsely denying that
he passed official secrets to q
Soviet spy ring operating In
Washington before World War II.
Murphy Inactive in Politics.
Judge Murphy is a Democrat
but has never been active in party
politics. This also might be in
his favor should Republicans
charge that the President is trying
to conduct whitewash.
1t was at Key West, Fla, last
March that Mr.. Truman told a
news conference the men around
him were honorable men. The air
at that time was full of accu-
Sations that certain Government
officials had been accepting mink
coats, deep freezes and other CON
siderations" from people who
wanted favors from the Govern
|ment.
1t was about that time, too,
that the President said that a
Senate Committees report of al
legged influence" in Government
lending activities was Jasmine. +"
This remark set off new and
even more sensational phase of
the inquiry.
Then the income tax scandal
broke and Mr.. Truman-though
saying the situation is not much
(See TRUMAN, Page A-3.)