Evening star., 1952-02-23
McGrath Probe
Asks Files on
Tagging Cases
Stussen Invited to
Offer Evidence on
Officials Wealth
By George Beveridoe

A sweeping probe of the Justice
Departments record of pressing
for prosecution of wrongdoerS-
designed to pinpoint "unreaSon-
able delays or failures"-will con-
stitute the first phase of a House
Judiciary subcommittee investi-
CATION Of the department.
This was made plain yesterday
when the subcommittee, headed
by Representative Chelf. Demo-
crat, Of Kentucky, asked the JUS
tice Department and all other
Federal agencies for voluminous
data on cases which have not been
pushed to prosecution.
In another development, Mr.
Chelf and Representative Heating
Of New York. ranking Republican
subcommittee member, invited
Harold E. Stassen to turn over
"any credible evidence" he has
that Attorney General McGrath
has become a millionaire during
MS career in public life.
Stassen Asked Probe.
Mr.. Stassen has said he mad
confidential reports" to that
effect and called for q congress
Sional probe Of the reports
Meanwhile, the subcommittee s
request for prosecution records
gave the first indication Of the
pattern Of operation to be followed
by the House group. 1t also may
bring the first test OF how far the
administration will cooperate
with the inquiry.
Mr.. Chelf said the demand for
the tremendous" stack OF records
covers the departments prosecut-
Ing activities during the past six
years. He asked for the informa. Z.
ton within 30 days.
Commenting that thousands OF
eases" may be involved, the chair
man said he has not discussed the
request with any Justice Depafts
ii1eht ofilelal, He said he did not
anticipate any trouble"
However, Mr.. Heating, whose
resolution led % the House prebe,
said that If we're not eelhe 10
eet cooperation from The depart
ment, the seeneF we knew about
II the better"
List of LaGEiRG Cases,
Specifically, the requests
!, Asked the Justice Department
for q list OF all eases referred 10
II or 10 United States Attorneys
by other Government agencies IN
which aetien was refused or the
cases returned to the agencies,
with reasons for each action, IT
also asked for dat( on cases pend
ing before the department for
more than o year,
2, Asked other agencies for lists
OF cases referred to the depart
ment in which action was de-
clined, cases were returned or are
still pending,
Mr.. Chelf told reporters the
initial action is "just one ap-
proach-it is not the full story"
He said the subcommittee also
may investigate antitrust and
other cases initiated within the
department itself.
Will Cover Morris Activities.
The chairman also made plain
that the House inquiry will be
broad enough to cover activities
of Newbold Morris, the admins
tration's appointee to conduct his
own probe Of corruption in Gov
ernment.
Thus far, the subcommittee has
hired only one investigator, a "a
year-old former FBI agent. The
group, Mr.. Chelf said, has hit
snag on trying to get special Office
space for a base Of operations.
The invitation to Mr.. Stassen
about the reports on Mr.. McGrath
was telegraphed to the Republi-
can presidential candidate, asking
II Mr.. Stassen would be available
for q conference in Washington or
an interview by one Of our in
veStigators elsewhere"
Stassen Says He'll Cooperate.
In Rochester, Mimi, Mr..
Stassen said he had not received
the invitation. but that he would
cooperate with the subcommittee
He told reporters:
"In view Of Mc0rath's flip and
evaSive answers given TO the press,
I feel the committee should cali
him. put him under oath and in
vestigate his accumulated wealth. "
A Justice Department spokes-
man earlier had told reporters
Mr.. Mcorath had no comment on
tho report except to thank Mr..
stassen "for the compliment"
. "a ~