Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-24
Deliberate Mistakes
To Embarrass COP.
Charged by CIardy
Legislator Asks Cleanup
In Agencies as Result
Of Hiss Pension Mixup
By the Associated Press

Representative Clardy, Repub-
lican of Michigan said today he
is convinced some members of
the Eisenhower administration
make mistakes deliberately to
start trouble between Congress
and the White House."
Mr.. Clardy called for q
Cleanup" in executive agencies
as a result of confusion earlier
this week about the administra-
tons attitude toward a govern
ment pension for Alger Hiss.
The Michigan Republican told
newsmen they were fully justi-
fed" in interpreting the pub
licly-stated position of two top
Federal agencies to mean the
administration opposed legisla-.
ton to deny Hiss and other con-
victed felons the right to collect
Federal retirement pay.
Hagerty Differs.
Gen. Eisenhower's press secre-
tary, James c. Hagerty, said the
exact opposite was true.
Hiss is a former official of the
State Department who has been
convicted of swearing falsely
when he said he never passed
secrets to a Communist spy ring.
Under existing law he is eligible
for a $700-a-year Federal pen
sion when he reaches the age
of g..
The House Civil Service Com
mittee is holding hearings on
bills by Mr.. Clardy and Repre-
sentative st. George, Republican,
of New York that would specif1-
cally deny a pension to Hiss.
News stories on Tuesday re-
ported the Civil Service Commits
sion and the Budget Bureau took
the position the Government
must go through with retirement
pay to Federal employees even
when they are imprisoned for
criminal acts. The views of
these agencies were sent to the
House committee.
Sees Wrong Conclusions.
Mr.. Hagerty said yesterday he
was at a loss to understand how
any one could conclude the ad-
miniStration was against legiS-
lation to deny Hiss a pension.
The presidential secretary said
neither of the two Government
agencies had sent their reports
on the matter to the White
House.
Gen. Eisenhower, Mr.. Hagerty
said, is very much in favor of
denying Hiss a pension.
Mr.. Clardy said he never has
had any doubt of Gen. Eisen-
hower's position in relation to
Hiss, that he always was con-
f1dent the President would take
the position he did"
Calls Press Justified.
But, Mr.. Clardy said:
Il think the press was fully
justified by experience and prece-
dent in interpreting as it did
the position of the Civil Service
Commission, and of the Budget
Bureau which normally speaks
for the President.
Il blew a gaSket myself when
I read the opinion stated by
Philip Young chairman of the
Civil Service Commission. But
I wasn't surprised over his atti-
tude because of the way he has
been obStructing the efforts in
Congress to get q Government
housekeeping"
Mr.. Young was not immedi-
ately available for comment. Mr..
Hagerty said he would have no
further comment.
Mr.. Clardy said the mixup
clearly demonstrates the need
to clean up a lot Of these de-
partments which act without the
knowledge of the President"
There's a need to root out
some people below the top level
who, I am convinced, make mis-
takes deliberately to start trou-
BILE between Congress and the
White House." he told reporters.