Evening star., 1952-04-02
Commissioners
DiscussLoya|ty
Test Of Workers
Donohue Expresses
Shock at Lack of
Screening Regulation

IVY AsoNtOu
The District Commissioners to.
day discussed the possibility Of
subjecting the city's 10000 munic-
ipal workers to loyalty checks, but
reached no final decision.
Commissioner F. Joseph Dom
ohue raised the question at the
regular board meeting, after
learning to his "shock" in recent
days that city workers are not
screened for loyalty beyond sign.
ing an oath that they do not ad-
vocate the violent overthrow Of
the Federal Government.
Mr.. Donohue was Joined by
Engineer Commissioner Bernard
L. Robinson in questioning a
special committee appointed last
week to consider formation of a
staff to investigate possible cor
|ruption among municipal en-
Iployes. Mr.. Donohue said after.
ward that the committee, which
consists of Corporation Counsel
Vernon E. West. Budget Officer
Walter L. Fowler and the Board
of Commissioners Secretary Geof-
frey M. Thornett. . pointed out
some of the problems of both an
|anti-corruption staff and q loyalty
check.
Recognizes Difficulties.
"I recognize the difficulties in
herent in both matters and there
will be further discussions" Com
missioner Donohue said.
The Commissioner emphasized
that he has no reason to suspect a
particular individual.
But on the basis of my ex-
perience with the way Com
munists operate, know it doesn't
take more than hard steel core
of those people to disrupt an
Organization" he said. MIR. Dono-
hue was the prosecutor of the
West Coast left-wing labor leader,
Harry Bridges. Bridges is free on
appeal of a five-year sentence for
falsely swearing he was Com
munist.
The Commissioner pointed out
that loyalty check of such SEN
sitive" jobs as schools, water
supply. sewers. fire and police, Is
Especially needed.
]. Task for Police.
He added that he does not con.
template that his pet project, the
Ianti-corruption Office, would in.
(clude loyalty screening in its work.
The latter function. he said, could
fall to the Metropolitan Police
Special Investigations Squad.
which keeps watch on Communists
. here.
The only check of District
workers now consists of finger.
printing and a loyalty oath.
, Fingerprints are cleared through
the FBI. The oath is incorporated
into employment forms and
signifies that the worker does not
subscribe to the advocacy of
; violent overthrow of the Federal
Government.
Checks Heretofore Refused.
| Victor A. Howard, secretary Of
the District personnel board, said
that, several years ago, city
officials tried unsuccessfully to
persuade the Civil Service Com
nilsson to include District en-
ployes under the Federal loyalty
program.
At another time. Mr.. Howard
added, a special committee re-
ported to the District Commits
: sioners that the District Govern
ment was such a closely knit"
organization that any subversive.
ness could be easily uncovered.
; Although the District gets prac-
tically all of it's job applicants
from civil service rolls, none Of
these is subject to a loyalty in
vestigation, the personnel official
said.
Asked about the present loyalty
OF the city working force, one top
budget officer unhesitatingly de-
clared 1t is 1899 and 99-one.
hundredths per cent loyal"