Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-31

was conceded by the chairman
in undenied testimony. His be-
havior was of a pattern which
brought about condition i'm
pairing the effectiveness of leg
islative inquiries into the opera
tions Of departments in the
Executive branch. This must be
emphasized because of the cost
to the United States Senate in
terms of public confidence. Such
conduct by a committee staff
member should not have been
permitted.
Finding on Carr.
That Francis P. Carr, a vet
eran of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, was in the same
predicament as others on the
staff of the subcommittee in that
he observed the position of DOM
nance of Mr.. Cohn and his un-
doubted influence with the
chairman. AS a professionally
trained investigator, Mr.. Carr
was pre-eminently equipped for
the work he assumed, He was
engaged by the subcommittee
later than Mr.. Cohn and it was
apparent from his own testi-
mony and that of others that
the efforts he put forth were in
the nature of following SUCCESS
lions of his superiors. It must
be concluded that he acceded to
the wishes of Mr.. Cohn. Had he
possessed the authority implied
by his title of executive direc-
tor. no excuse could be made for
him. There is testimony of pro-
test by him but it must be said to
have, been feeble.
That Secretary of the Army
Robert T. Stevens showed a lack
Of competency in this matter
which at times suggested be-
wilderment. He did not grasp
the far-reaching and deleterious
effects of such indecision on
Army personnel. In the months
during which he was being sub
jected to pressure on behalf of
Mr.. Schine, vaccilation and ap-
basement were evident in many
OF his actions, and there is ample
proof in the record of the hear
ings to support a belief that to
a considerable degree he har-
bored the hope that the termina-
ton of investigation of his serv-
ice could be accomplished by
this method. With the morale OF
the United States Army at stake
the problem of Mr.. Schine should
not have been permitted to &c
beyond preliminary examination
of Mr.. Schine's qualifications OF
lack thereof and a firm decision
based upon established reguia.
lions. Secretary Stevens on the
basis of such a conclusion as the
foregoing must share the re-
sponsibility for the resulting in
vestigation.
Finding On Adams.
That John Adams, the highest
legal authority of the Depart
ment of the Army, must have
been impelled by the same de-
sires and detectives as the Sec
rotary of the Army. From the
beginning of his service, he at
tempted to Influence the course
of the subcommittee investiga-
ton. His decisions and his negoti-
ations might have been prompted
at all times by a desire to calm
the aggressions of Mr.. Cohn and
to head off any assault on the
professional reputation of his
chief. Mr.. Adams cannot be
absolved of responsibility. He
should have made his decision in
the matter without delay. His
conduct throughout suggested
bargaining. Mr.. Adams legal edu-
cation and training as well as
his experience as a top employe
of a congressional committee
certainly should have made the
answer clear. He assumed grave
responsibility for the integrity
of the Army when he undertook
his duties. Compromise and equiv.
cation in this case did great
damage and Mr.. Adams mus,
share the blame. Mr.. Adam.
made the Army's charges against
the subcommittee staff available
to a select few of the press before
the members of the subcommit-
tee had this information from
him. II was in this manner thai
members of Congress learned
for the first time of the seriou.
charges in the files of the De.
partment Of the Army. They
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