Evening star., 1951-12-24
GrunewaId Held
Alien Property
Position in 1912
Was Investigator
But Ex-Custodiun
Says Job was Minor
By George Beveridee


Henry w. Grunewald, mystery
man of House subcommittee
probe into tax scandals, once was
on the Federal payroll as a special
investigator" with powers to
represent and speak for" the
Alien Property Custodian at di-
irectors' meeting of corporations
under control Of the Government.
Information on Mr.. Grune-
wald'S link with the Governments
vast alien program. it was learned
today, has been provided by the
Civil Service Commission in COM
Ipliance with a request by Senator
Wiley, Republican, of Wisconsin.
The Senator has demanded q
sweeping investigation of the en-
tire alien property program, under
which the Government during war
time seized extensive copyrights
and multimillion dollar enterprises
controlled by enemy aliens.
Was Adviser to Custodian.
The data given Senator Wiley
during the last few days, it was
learned, disclosed that Mr.. Grune-
Wald was war service appointee
between January, 1912, and Feb
ruary. 1943, and listed as special
assistant to the custodian (inyesti-
gator)." It listed his grade as CAT
IS, with pay of $22.22 per day,
when actually employed with the
Alien Property Custodian, WASH
ington, D. c."
Mr.. Grunewald's duties, the
commission reported to Senator
Wiley. were listed on his Civil
Service job-sheet in the following
words:
Under the general administra-
tive direction of the custodian
and responsible only to the latter.
serves as special assistant and
advisor to the custodian and in
such capacity makes highly con-
fldential investigation with respect
to operating procedures and
practices being followed by vested
corporations: represents and
speaks for the custodian at dir
ectors' meetings. stockholders
meetings. ETC.. Of the vested cor
porations. and to perform related
work assigned by the custodian"
Use Of Powers Not Indicated.
The custodian during the period
listed. Senator Wiley's Office re-
ported. was Leo T. Crowley.
There was no indication of the
extent. If any, to which Mr..
Grunewald actually used the broad
powers described in his job sheet,
However, an aide said, Senator
Wiley nine days ago asked AS
sistant Attorney General Harold
I. Baynton. head of the Office Of
Alien Property, for a report on
specific duties performed by Mr..
Grunewald and other details Of
his activities as an assistant to
Mr.. Crowley. No answer to the
request has been received.
Mr.. Crowley. now an official Of
the Chicago, Milwaukee st. Paul
& Pacific Railroad. told The Star
by longdistance telephone from
Madison, Wis, that Mr.. Grune-
wald was employed on the investi-
gative staff of the alien property
custodian for "only three or four
months in 1912" He said he did
not know whether Mr.. Grunewald
worked for any other Government
agency later that year.
1T was comparative minor lob.
as I remember, and he worked on
a per diem basis when we were
setting up a staff to investigate
enemy property holdings in this
country early in the war. I met
him only once or twice and don't
believe he had any very important
assignments"
Voice on Policy Denied.
Mr.. Crowley, who headed the
wartime Foreign Economic Ad.
ministration after two years as
alien property custodian, declared
that Mr.. Grunewald had "ab-
solutely no policy making au-
thority" and never represented
Mr.. Crowley or any one slse at di-
rectors meetings of corporations.
Since Mr.. Grunewald's name
came UP at recent Senate COM
mlttee hearings I have talked
with some of my former associates
and others to determine the cir
of his employment
while I was alien property custo-
dlan." Mr.. Crowley said, 'I have
been unable to determine who
recommended him or appointed
him. I don't believe did so per-
sonally but, of course, if there was
wrong I would be the
one to assume general RESPONSE
bility. I feel confident there was
wrong"
He explained that the alien
custodian's Office had a
great amount of organizational
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