Evening star., 1955-11-09
Executive Note
Used as Shield,
Dawson Says
BY ROBERT X. WALSH

Many department. neaoS are
Iacting like little presidents" in
refusing information to Congress
lon the basis of q letter President
Eisenhower wrote during the
Army Carthy hearings. Chair
imam Dawson of the House Gov
Iernment Operations Committee
charged today.
The Illinois Democrat declared
lat q subcommittee hearing on
public information policies of
Federal agencies that depart
lment heads cannot hide behind
THAT letter and decide for them
lselves" what to tell Congress and
lthe public.
His comments came after As
lsistant Postmaster General Eu-
Igene J.. Lyons and Abe M. Con,
department solicitor, said they
Iconsider the May. 1854, letter
lof the President as binding
lon their department. Mr.. Goff
described it as primarily a state
Iment Of the principle of the doc
Urine Of separation Of powers in
the Government. He said he was
lconvinced that under this doc
Urine directions Of the Presi-
Ident certainly are binding on
his subordinates.
Intent Made Plain
The postal officials made clear
however. that their department
has no intention of ever refusing
information to Congress without
Jan express written statement by
the President against disclosure
Iof certain confidential material.
Mr.. Dawson explained he had
mo particular quarrel with the
Post Office Department on that
point.
But there Is a tendency in
many departments to quote that
tletter which President Eisen-
hover wrote in q specific situa-
ltion at hearing before a Senate
Investigating Subcommittee" he
continued. Many q department
head has become a little presi-
.ldent' In deciding what informa-
tion should be given to the public
land Congress.
The denial OF evidence re-
lquested by the House Govern
|ment Operations Committee
from agencies has been increas-
tingly growing. People are en-
titled TO know such information
and department heads can't
hide behind that letter"
Testimony By Adams Asked
President Eisenhower,s letter
was in connection with q Senate
subcommittee request for testi-
mony by John Adams, former
Army counsel. concerning COM
Iferences among various execu-
tive officials. The President
wrote 70 Secretary OF Defense
Wilson that the requested tes-
timony should not be given be-
cause 1t would disclose priv
Iileged confidential communities
ltions and thus 60 contrary to
the doctrine of separation OF
powers.
The House subcommittee de-.
voted its third day Of open hear
lings TO questioning Of Post
Once Department ofiicials this
morning and Treasury Depart
Iment spokesmen later today. At
the outset Of the session, Chair
man Moss. Democrat OF Cali
fornia. asked Mr.. Lyons to COM
ment on testimony by Civil
Service Commission Chairman
Phillip Young yesterday con-
lcerning the ban on publication
of names Of persons certified as
eligible for postmaster ap-
lpointments.
Mr.. Lyons explained that the
revised policy was adopted about
. year ago mainly to avoid 'pos-
lcible embarrassment" Of appll-
cants who fail to get on the eli-
gible list, He said the move was
not made to soften political pres
sures or block what he described
IS public curiosity
Undue Impression Feared
Mr.. Lyons added that many
Iof the unsuccessful applicants
felt that publication of the
names Of the three top eligibles
would leave an impression that
something was wrong with the
lothers either because they failed
70 pass the civil service exam
ination or as the result OF in
Iyestigations.
Subcommittee Chairman Moss
said he disagreed with the idea
that publication OF the names Of
eligible applicants. would have
any harmful effect on obtaining
sufncient qualified applicants.
Mr.. Dawson and Representa-
tive Hoffman. Republican OF
Michigan. q member Of the sub
committee, raised two other
IcOrnnIaff1tg Mr. rau,ar,. .ny.s i. I.