Evening star., 1955-05-26
Security Setup
Special Inquiry
in Hour
BY L. EDGAR PRINA

The widely heralded, $125, 600
special Senate inquiry into the
Federal Employe Security Pro-
gram finally opened public hear
ings today and promptly laid an
egg.
The Investigating subcommit-
tee called Civil Service Commis-
sioner George M. Moore as its
first witness. 1t questioned him
for about 80 minutes on a recent
speech in which he said that
1,443 Government workers had
been restored to their jobs since
January, 1858, after having been
"wrongfully" discharged, de-
NOTED or suspended.
Mr.. Moore gave the same
answers as he gave a couple
weeks ago when the subcommit-
tee asked him in a letter to ex-
plain the matter. His reply was
made public at that time.
Acted on Appeals
The Commissioner testified all
of the ,443 cases concerned vet
Grams preference and that the
CSC had acted on appeals by
the employees in restoring them
to duty. He said that none of
the cases involved security mat
ters-the subject of concern to
the subcommittee.
Senator Johnston, Democrat,
of South Carolina. heads the
subcommittee. Other members
are Senators Carlson. Republi-
can, of Kansas, and Nicely, DEM
ocrat, of West Virginia.
Former Senator Harry P. Cain,
a Republican member of the
Subversive A Activities Control
Board, and Philip Perlman. for
mer Solicitor General. were to
have been heard today. But
when Senator Carlson notified
the chairman that he would be
out of town until next week,
their appearance was put off un-
til next Thursday.
In a statement closing the 60
minute hearing. Senator Johns
ton indicated he is going to take
up the years-old battle between
the legislative and executive
branches over the availability of
security and personnel files for
the use of Congress.
He said he had written to the
State. Agriculture and Defense
Departments and the Foreign
Operations Administra ton re-
questing files on certain indi-
viduals. He read the replies into
the record. They were identical
in substance. Each agency noted
that the subcommittee had
asked for information which
was given 'in confidence" and
that dealt with national secur-
ity. Each said that it was there
fore reviewing the requests for
policy purposes and promised to
advise the subcommittee further.
Senator Johnston asserted
that he hoped he did not have
to use the subpoena power. but
that if it was necessary he would
not hesitate to use it.
In the past Congressional
committees have issued SUBJ
poenas for such documents but
the executive branch has ignored
them. There has been no way
for Congress. to enforce such a
compliance.)
The chairman said the sub
committee had many complaints
showing prima facie cases of
injustices.T He added that the
staff must have access to files in
order to determine the facts in
these cases.
Johnston Repeats Pledge
Senator Johnston repeated his
pledge to keep partisanship out
of the hearings and said that
the subcommittee was not in
terested in sensational news or
embarrassing anyone.
Former Senator Guy Gillette
echoed the chairman's views
when he told Mr.. Moore:
We're on the same team,
we're in your corner. We're not
conducting adversary proceed
ings."
After stating that he felt it
would be unfair to question Mr..
Moore on anything beyond the
1,443 cases mentioned above, Mr..
Gillette read into the record a
list of questions which the sub
committee planned to put to
Civil Service and Justice De-
partment witnesses at future
sessions.
One asked how many of the
8,008 persons dismissed as secur-
ity risks in the first year and
one-half of the program had