Evening star., 1953-01-19
IreIan Insists
McGranery Got
Practice Data
Justice Spokesman,
However, Says Reply
Was Unsatisfactory

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the Attorney General, he clearly
reported on his private law prac-
tice and that of his assistants.
A Justice Department official,
G. Frederick Mullen, public in
formation director, conceded
that Mr.. Irelan sent a letter on
the subject to Attorney General
McGranery. But Mr.. Mullen was
equally insistent that the COM
munication did not meet re-
quirements of the QUESTIONABLE
Mr. McGranery had sent to all
81 United States attorneys.
Mr.. Irelan tried unsucceSSfully
to discuss the matter last night
with Mr.. McGranery at National
BroadcaSting Studios where the
Attorney General appeared on a
Meet the Press" program. He
said Mr.. McGranery refused to
talk about the QUESTIONABLE issue
except to tell him to read the
Attorney Generals report to the
President.
Answered by "a.
That 76-page report, submit
ted to the White House last Sat-
urday, stated that, in reponse to
the request for information
about their privatae law practice.
"the "a United States attorneys
complied and sent to me their
reports"
But a 10-page statement, is
sued at the same time by the
Attorney General and given out
by Mr.. Mullen, said that lone
report has not been received as
yet. though further requests
were made therefor" Mr.. Mullen
said that referred to Mr.. Irelan.
Mr.. Mullen explained today
that this was on the basis of a
staff analysis" of the survey.
He said he would not back down
from the departments earlier
statement that Mr.. Irelan was
the only United States attorney
who did not file a report.
He added, however, that the
department had received a letter
from Mr.. Irelan and that the
United States attorney here had
been excused" from the ques-
tionnaire's request for the names
of all past or present employees
of his Office who acted as counsel
in cases involving the Federal
Government since 1947.
Describing the incident as
'most unfair, a treacherous sort
of thing" Mr.. Irelan said today
his only interest was to set the
record straight and make his
own position completely clear.
He produced two letters, the
first dated last July 20, outlining
the extent of his private law
practice and that of his 40
assistants. The second letter.
dated September II, was an
acknowledgment from the At
torney Generals office, excusing
him from the second part of
the directive, he said.
The letter from Mr.. Irelan to
Mr.. McGranery said in part:
I'm compliance with your di-
rective relating to outside in
terest of United States Attor-
neys and Assistant United States
Attorneys, and other matters,
I respectfully submit the fol-
lowing information, designated
to correspond with the subjects
mentioned in your directive.
IA. Neither the United States
Attorney nor any of the Assist
ant United States Attorneys for
the District have engaged in the
private practice of law. Neither
I nor any or my assistants main
tain private law offices.
Cases Referred to Others.
"Six of my 40 assistants indi-
cate that they occasionally adj
minister estates of decedentS,
principally for friends or rela-
tives, and from time to time pre-
pare wills and deeds under like
circumstances. For my own part
I have but one case remaining
from private practice days. in
which I am the comfy for an in
competent, serving under ap-
pointment of the court dated Au-
gust /, 1910. All cases which /
have been asked to handle I have
referred to other counsel"
B. The United States Attorney
and all assistants devote full
time to the business of the Gov
ernment. Such private practice
matters as indicated above are
attended to on the employees own
time"
The remainder of the letter
asked to be excused from the
final point in the questionnaire.
Mr.. Irelan wrote that the COM
piling of information about past
and present employees who were
legal counsel since 1947 would
mean going through more than
10000 cases. He noted that un-
like other United States At
torneys, the office here has dual
local and Federal Jurisdiction.
Department Stands Firm.
After lis unsuccessful effort
to confer with Mr.. McGranery
last night at the T.V studio, Mr..
Irelan talked there with Mr.. Null
len and produced the earlier cor
respondence. Mr.. Mullen said
this did not change the depart
ment's view. He did not indi-
cate what action, if any, would
be taken.
In his report last Saturday the
Attorney General said he had
ordered all United States At
torneys and their assistants to
end private practice by the close
of this year.
In his TV interview last night
Mr.. McGranery recommended
that the Justice Department be
taken entirely out of the sphere
of politics" He urged that all
United States attorneys be