Evening star., 1955-06-10
.Probers 10 Air
Intimidation Of
Security Officer
By L. EDGAR PRINA

CldTSeS JIIdG GOkcIlltuSIlb
security officer was the target of
intimidation" attempts after he
had agreed to tetstify against the
administration of the empIoye
security program in his own
agency will be aired by Senate
subcommittee next Tuesday.
Disclosure of the case was
made yesterday by Paul E. Had
lick, an assistant counsel of the
Senate Civil Service subcommit-
tee charged with investigating
the security set-up.
It followed almost two hours
/ of testimony by Philip B. PERL
man, solicitor general for six
years during the Truman ad-
ministration. NIr Perlman de-
Ilivered a scorching attack
against the Eisenhower security
program but advised the Sem
ators not to adopt a Democratic
sponsored resolution calling for
a bipartisan 12-man study COM
mission as way to correct in
justices in it.
"Tirade Of Intimidation"
When Mr.. Perlman concluded,
mfr. Hadlick volunteered that
the subcommittee staff had a
witness who had been subjected
Ito a "tirade Of intimidation"
after he had been subpoenaed to
testify.
That was all he said for the
record. Immediately after the
hearing, however. he gave inquir-
ing newsmen this account of the
case:
Clarence E. Clarke, 28-year-
old security officer for the Small
Business Administration. came to
the subcommittee Office late last
month to protest a reduction-in-
force notice he had received. The
discussion turned to the opera
tion of the security program in
his agency. He said it was de
plorable" and agreed to testify.
He asked to be Subpoenaed.
A few days later. Mr.. Clarke
was suspended by his agency on
charges of characterization, -
that he had slapped" a stenog-
Irapher and that he allegedly
Improperly handled Government
documents. He denied the ac-
cusations.
|, Mr.. Hadlick observed that if
the executive branch is allowed
to "get away with intimidation"
that 1--WE would never get an
other witness up here"
Barnes to Testify
Meanwhile, the Small Business
Administration said it would
withhold comment until next
Tuesday when Wendell B.
Barnes, the administrator, is to
testify before the subcommittee,
Mr.. Clarke told The Star II
am firmly convinced that be-
cause of my attempts to put
into effect a true. reasonable and
just Interpretation of the Presi-
dents executive order (Which
established the security pro-
gram I was hit between the
eyes"
He explained that as top Sc
curity officer for the Small Busi-
ness Administration under the
director of the Office of Security
and Compliance, he had recon-
mended changes in the handling
of cases because he had seen
too many employees getting raw
deals.
Mr.. Clarke said his recommen-
dations were tossed aside" He
added that " I felt I then had
to 60 further and I did but
through what I considered to be
proper channels" In his opinion,
this campaign led to his receiv-
ing a reductlon-in-force notice
on May 25.
Sees Morale Affected
He said he believes the admin
Iistration's security program is a
good program" but that abuses
have led to a serious morale
situation" in his agency.
A Republican from Portland,
Me-, Mr.. Clarke was certified by
! the Republican National Com
mittee for his job with the Small
Business Administration. The
agency employs about 900 per-
sons.
DED0DT