Evening star., 1955-01-30

Security Case
Safeguards TO
Be Increased
BrowneII Outlines
New Procedures to
Protect Accused
BY loseph YOUNG

In q move to counteract un-
favorable publicity on the adj
ministration's employe security
program, Attorney General
Brownell has ordered Federal
agencies to give more legal safe
guards to accused employees. it
was learned last night.
Also, apparently in anticipa-
ton of the forthcoming congress
sional investigation of the secu-
rity program, Mr.. Brownell and
his legal staff told the agencies
that they are not required to
spell out to Congress the proc
esses by which they arrived at q
decision in any security case.
The agencies were also told to
inform the Justice Department
Immediately of any request by a
congressional committee for in
formation in security cases.
To Offset Bad Publicity.
The changes in policy were
laid down at special meeting
called by Mr.. Brownell with the
general counselS of the various
departments and agencies.
Also attending the session
were Assistant Attorney General
William f. Tomkins and Thomas
Donegan. special assistant to Mr..
Brownell. who were appointed
recently to head a unit to CO.
ordinate the security program.
The general counsels were told
that steps must be taken to off,
set the unfavorable publicity on
the program from the press. vari-
GUS professional and citizens
groups. and Democratic members
of Congress, who are preparing
an investigation Of the entire
program.
Procedures Outlined.
Mr.. Bfownell informed the
agency legal representatives that
the following procedures should
be followed:
/. Witnesses should be required
to testify In person at the hear
ing Of an employe on security
charges. rather than file q writ
ten statement as is done in many
cases at present. This would give
the ernploye q chance to confront
his accuser.
2. A legal adviser should be
furnished by the agency at all
hearings conducted by the EN-
ploye security boards to make
sure that the legal rights Of the
accused employe are observed.
3. Employees In these cases
should be given a hearing within
IS days after suspension wher-
ever possible. instead of letting
the matter drag for months.
4. Agency heads should be in
formed Of details Of a case before
any employe is suspended.
5. The rule that employees be
furnished with complete written
charges detailing the accusa-
tions against them should be
closely adhered to.
6. There should be greater
adherence TO ordinary legal rules
of evidence than in the past.
This marks the first time that
the administration has stressed
that hearing boards should fol-
low courtroom evidence proce-
dure wherever possible.
Press Releases to Be Checked.
Also, agencies were told that
all press releases regarding Sc
curity cases should be checked
with the general counsel OF the
agency before they are issued.
This, apparently. stemmed from
the administrators troubles in
the Ladejinsky case.
Regarding applicants for Fed
eral jobs. the Justice Depart
ment informed. the agencies that
II a person Is rejected because
of security. this should not be
diyulged to him.
Democrats In Congress are
preparing a widespread inyesti-
gation Of the administrators
security program. The Senate
Civil Service Committee has
asked for $125.000 to conduct
the investigation. while Senator
Humphrey. Democrat. Of Min
nesota. has sponsored legislation
to set UP a bipartisan commits
sion to study the program and
raTl0rt ife Ardfnos fa Ho,o.1..