Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-25
Johnston Presses
6. 0. P. for Details
On Security Firings
Sy the Associated Press

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Senator Johnston, Democrat,
of South Carolina planned to ask
the Senate today to force the adj
IniniStration to tell how many
Government employees it has
fired as disloyal.
The administration has re-
ported dismissal Of 2,200 persons
as security risks, but has declined
to say how many were claSSed as
disloyal and how many were
tagged as risks because they
talked too much or had other
failings.
To smoke out the Republicans,
Senator Johnston said he would
introduce resolution directing
the Senate Civil Service Com
mittee to require the chairman
of the Civil Service Commission
to supply the figures. Senator
Johnston is the senior Democrat
on the committee.
Congressman and newsmen
have asked both the Civil Service
Commission and Attorney Gen.
eral.Brownell for the figures. but
have failed to get details beyond
the fact that at least one en-
ploye let out of the Justice De-
partment was q former Commu-
mist party member.
Slaps at Brownell.
Senator Johnston, in q state
ment prior to action in the Sen
ate, said that if the administra-
ton has found any disloyal Gov
eminent employees and neglected
to prosecute them, Mr.. Brownell
should resign.
He accused the administration
of practicing deceit and dema-
gogism" in announcing that 1900
Federal employees have been sep
arated" from their jobs under a
new security program put into
effect last year.
Senator Johnston said that
every Government employee, when
starting work. has to take an
oath that he is not q Communist
or q Fascist and does not advo-
cate the overthrow Of the Gov
eminent by force or violence.
Any employe who makes a false
statement is subject to a $40, 900
fine and five years imprisonment,
he said, adding:
IF the new administration has
found one single Government |
employe who is disloyal or en-
gagged in SubverSive activities or
is a member of the Communist
party or a Communist-front or
ganization. then why have they
not used this oath to prosecute
to the full extent of the law?"
If they have found one," Sem
ator Johnston said. Then the
Attorney General has been dere-
lict in his duty by not using the
false oath to obtain an indict-
ment."
HurlS Politics Charge.
The Senator called on Mr..
Brownell ITO tell the public how
many indictments he has OBJ
tanned from among the 1900 mr.
ings claimed by the adminiStra-
ton and if they are none-as
HlSpect-then he should resign
his Office"
Senator Johnston said the
answer was obviouS-that 1.-The
word subversive is now and has
been the political football by
which the Republicans have
gained control Of this Govern
ment."
i He said the Civil Service Conn
mission 'haS been turned into q |
high-powered searching agency |
for Jobs for the political faith |
full" and declared he would offer
q series Of bills to give better |
protection to career Government |
employees.
His statement said that 1883
will be recorded in the annals Of
Government as the beginning of
the 'Spoils-deal' for Federal civil
service employees.
Every action so far taken by
the administration has been de-
signed to strip civil service en-
ployes of all protection and
security" Senator Johnston said.
adding that the morale Of Fed,
eral employees is "at an all-time
low"