Evening star., 1954-09-30
Conduct Of All
U. 5. Employees
To Be Probed
New Inquiry Aims
To Bar improper
And UnethicuI Acts
By Joseph Young

Inc administration has Or
dered all Federal departments
and agencies to investigate the
conduct of all Government
workers. The Star learned today.
The order issued by Budget
Director Rowland Hughes said
the purpose of the program was
"the detection and prevention of
acts of improperly, unethical
conduct and other activities
short OF criminal violation"
Should the investigation, by
special inspection stats in each
agency, turn up evidence of a
criminal nature, they are in
structed to deliver the informa-
ton to the Justice Department.
Secrecy Ordered.
The Budget Bureau has low
cred a curtain of secrecy over its
order. Bureau officials said they
had been instructed not to dis
cuss the program in any detail.
The Budget Bureaus order
was sent to the agencies several
weeks ago. Any Budget Bureau
order represents the position of
the White House and therefore is
mandatory for the agencies.
The order instructs all agen-
c1es to set up inspection stats.
which will be under the super
vision of an official in each
agency of not less than under
secretary or assistant secretary
rank.
The order says that the ill.,
vestigations of the employees
should not conflict with the ad-
ministration's loyalty-security
program.
Meaning Is Vague.
But it does not make clear
just what modes of employe
conduct should be investigated.
Some agency officials interpret
it as meaning the conduct of
employees as it might affect their
agency, such as outside employ
ment that might conflict or COM
promise the Governments inter-
ests.
Others say the order is broad
enough to permit Investigations
of an employees private life.
The order directs the inspec-
ton units not to report their
findings to their personnel offices.
Instead, the inspection data will
be delivered to the agency head.
It is learned that some agency
officials have criticized the order
as setting up "snooping,
geStapo-like setup."
The Civil Service Commission
and other Federal units engaged
in employe investigative work re-
portedly have complained that
the new program conflicts with
GIlClI IIltGSGlBdClO1lS.
Directive Cited.
The Budget Bureaus order
reads in part:
Each department and agency
will undertake a review of its
inspection program, rules of con-
duct, procedures and organiza-
ton along the lines indicated
hereafter. This review has the
objecsive of assuring that the
heads of all executive agencies
possess adequate inspection fa-
cilities to discharge their con-
tinuing administrative RESPONSE
bilities with respect to the con-
duct of personnel under their
jurisdiction.
'It has the further purpose of
supplementing the inspection
and investigatory programs pres
emily carried out by the Civil
Service Commission, the Depart
ment of Justice and General
Services Administration, and of
providing more effective CO.
ordination for these activities
through the executive branch.
It is also supplementary to the
inspection and audit programs of
the General Accounting Office"
The order then directs each |
department and agency to desig- |
nate a top official outside of |
personnel to direct the program. |
It also directs that inspection
stats be set up in all depart
ments and agencies except the
very smallest. In these small
units the official designated to
run the program will conduct
the Investigations by himself
and employees borrowed from
other units of the bureau.
Derogatory evidence uncovered
against an employe would, If
serious enough, lead to his dis
miSsal.
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