Evening star., 1953-04-29

until they see definite evidence
of misuse of the security risk
powers. The Civil Service Com
mission will maintain q constant
review of the program to deter
mine where improvements can
be made and to see that no mis-
use of powers occur. Therefore.
only time will tell how the pro-
gram will work out.
u + X i
DANGERS-There is no doubt
that the program contains in
herent dangers to employe rights
if not conscientiously admin
iStered.
In the first place, the program
combines security and loyalty. AS
result, an employe can be fired
for anything ranging from Sedi-
ton to drinking too much. The
circumstances under which a
tippling employe would be fired
would depend on the nature Of
the job and the type of work
his agency is doing. But in the
final records there would be no
distinction as to whether an
employe was fired for being a
traitor or for being tipsy. All
are Jumped under security risk"
f1ringS.
Being a security risk" and
therefore subject to dismissal
involves multitude of sins. The
most serious ones, of course, in
volve disloyalty to the Govern
ment. Among these graver Of
fenses are espionage, sedition,
sabotage, giving aid or comfort
to a foreign power, or being a
member or a fellow traveller of
the Communist Party or any
Fascist organizations.
Then, there are a multitude of
security" reasons as to why an
employe can be fired. These in
clude "any criminal, infamous.
dishonest, immoral or notoriously
disgraceful conduct. habitual
use of intoxicants to excess, drug
addiction or sexual perversion. )"
Also. IAN adjudication of in
sanity, or threament for serious
mental or neurological disorder
without satisfactory evidence of
cure" And "any behavior, ac-
tivities or associations which
tend to show that the individual
is not reliable or trustworthy"
What worries employees is that
some Of these things could be
twisted by officials to get rid OF
workers that they have grudges
against or want to replace for
some reason. ....
For example, would a charge
that an employe is extremely
nervous be enough to fire him?
Or would owing some money
mean he is mot reliable? Or
would he be fired if a fellow en-
ploye charges that he Is a
drunk" because he likes a few
drinks after dinner?
RULES OF EVIDENCE-The
new security program applies to
all departments and agencies.
There is no distinction as to SEN
sitive and non-sensitive units.
That means that the security
dismissal powers may be used
against any Of the Governments S
2.5 million workers.
Under the procedure, an en-
ploye may be fired Summarily
by the head of an agency on Sc
curity charges. The suspended
employe then is entitled to a
hearing before an agency board,
the members to be employees of
other agencies. Incidentally, the
agency heads will choose the
members from the panel of
names submitted by other agency
chiefs to the Civil Service Com
mission.
Employe groups are apprehen-
Sive that under such a Setup an
employe won't be able to get the
fairest Of hearings. In the first
place, the employe board men,
bers will be under a pressure OF
a sort themselves. Secondly, the
boards recommendation is only
advisory and the agency head
need not follow it. The employe
groups had sought an impartial
appeals board composed Of lead.
ing citizens in public life.
Employees will have the right
to counsel and the right to pre-
sent witnesses on their behalf
They will also have the right oi
croSS-examination, but in most
cases this will be rather meaning
less. The program provides that
"confidential informants" need
not appear at the hearings If the
disclosure of their identity is not
in the interest of national Sc
eurity. Therefore. employees In
! TNI nES