Evening star., 1952-01-30
McGrath' ''ssActiyities
InPriyate Business
May Be Probe Target
By Robert K. Welsh

Attorney General McGrath'sl
private business affairs as well as
his official activities may be an
important part of a forthcoming
investigation Of the Justice De-
partment, House Judiciary Com
mittee members said today.
A seven-member subcommittee
will be appointed, perhaps tomor-
row, by Committee Chairman
Celler. Democrat. of New York. It
will operate under q resolution
voted By the committee yesterday
for q mon political" inquiry into
"the administration Of the Justice
Department and the Office Of the
Attorney General"
Representative Walter, Demo-
crat, Of Pennsylvania and Repre-
sentative Chelf, Democrat, Of
Kentucky are mentioned most
prominently for the Craftsmanship.
Representative Heating Of New
York, sponsor of the resolution,
and Representatives Killings Of
California and Bakewell Of Mis-
souri, are expected to be the Re-
publican members.
McGrath In Dual Role.
Mr.. McGrath, who promised
complete cooperation with the
inquiry stands in a dual role of
investigator and investigated. He
recently was designated by Presi-
dent Truman to direct cleanup
of corruption in Government. He
has had difficulty finding q special
prosecutor.
William =. Leahy. Washington
attorney. and Cody Fowler, a.
Florida lawyer, reportedly refused
to accept appointment. Mr.. Nc
Gratf also had hoped to get an
acceptance from the late Robert
p. Patterson, former Secretary of
War, who was killed in a plane
crash in New Jersy last week.
The Attorney General had hoped
to appear before the House COM
mittee yesterday when it met toI
consider the Keating resolution.
He visited Chairman Celler's Office
but left after being informed that
the committee, on motion of Rep
resentatiye Forester, Democrat,
Of Georgia, voted not to hear him.
Some members explained the
committee apparently felt there
would be adequate opportunity for
Mr.. McGrath to be heard later.
The committee staff already has
begun a preliminary. examination
Of more than a dozen specific
cases" which individual members
believe should be looked into. Mr..
Keating said he has submitted 8
or 10 and Mr.. Bakewell and Mr..
Killings have suggested others.
Personal Affairs Involved.
While most Of these grew out
Of tax fraud and other disclos-
ures at House Ways and Means
subcommittee hearings in recent
months. several dealt with Mr..
McGrath's personal activities,
committee sources indicated.
One of these concerned his
former position as a $4,000 al
year trustee Of a trust organi-
zation connected with Textron.
Inc, q New England textile firm.
Senator Tobey, Republican, of
New Hampshire, has frequently
criticized Mr.. McGrath's one
time role in that project and .un-
successfully demanded a Senate
committee investigation. Mr
McGrath, who became one Of the
trustees while he was governor Of
Rhode Island. has defended his
participation and conduct.
Mr.. McGrath's reported finan-
cial interest in a race track in
New England also is one of the |
matters brought to the attention
of the subcommittee staff for pos
sible examination in the inquiry. |
One Of the principal complaints
already on flle Is the protest of
Representative Bakewell and
others that Mr.. McGrath and
Justice Department authorities in
general "interfered" with the
handling of grand jury considera-
ton Of cases involving former In
ternal Revenue Bureau officials in
st. Louis and San Francisco. Mr..
McGrath has denied interference
or improperly of any kind.