CHAIRMAN DAWSON OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP58-00597R000200060024-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 21, 2008
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: March 20, 1956
• Content Type: MEMO

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SUBJECT: Chairman Dawson of the House Committee
on Government Operations
1. I refer to Congressman McCormack's suggestion that
the Director call Congressman Dawson and offer to appear before
his Committee.
2. I would recommend against an offer to appear before
Congressman Dawson's Committee. I do recommend however that
the Director authorize an invitation to Mr. Dawson to come down
and discuss problems of mutual interest.
3. Congressman Dawson did come here for lunch during
the last Session, after which he was briefed quite thoroughly by
Col. White, Mr. Kirkpatrick and others on the conduct of Agency
business, the degree of detailed information given to Appropriations
Committees, our internal audit system, etc. At that time, Mr.
Dawson was asked whether he felt that his Committee should organ-
ize asubcommittee on CIA, or alternatively, whether he felt that
the Director should appear before the full Committee. His reaction
was negative on both of these ideas, although he evidently was
impressed by, and very appreciative of the information given him
during the discussion.
4. The Congressman also expressed great interest in the
African problem, and this might well be stated as a reason for
inviting him down for an informal talk with the Director. Such a
meeting might also provide an opportunity for discussion of a number
of matters before the Government Operations Committee in which
the Agency has an interest. Among these are a number of bills
relating to Government procurement practices, from which the Agency
has suggested specific exemptions or the granting of the authority to
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the President to make exemptions by Executive Order. Mr. Dawson
may also want to discuss the annual Federal Property Inventory
compiled by his Committee. We have discussed this matter with
him, and have indicated that we would attempt to devise a means in
the future whereby our property holdings could be incorporated in
some manner into those reported by the Department of Defense.
the first of April.
5. If the Director approves, I will call Congressman Dawson
and invite him down for a meeting with the Director, sometime after
Norman S. Paul
Legislative Counsel
Rscommendati~fon ~~ont~.ned in paragraph 5 is approved.
Director of~68fi~ral Intell~g?nce
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S. 2591, H. R. 6568, H. R. 7339
To amend the Federal Property & Administrative Services Act
with respect to utilization and disposal of excess and surplus property
f under the control of executive agencies.
These bills would vest in the Administrator of GSA exclusive
authority with respect to the utilization and disposal of excess and
surplus property, real and personal, which is under the control of
any executive agency. We commented to the House Government
Operations on 10 March 1956, stating we had no objection to the
House bills as presently worded. They contain the proviso that the
_ President may make specific exemption by Executive Order "in the
public interest. " (See Mr. Houston's memo of 5 March).
IS. 2591 passed the Senate July 28, 1955
H. R. 7333, S. 2365, S. 2469
Extending the authority of GSA with respect to warehouses and
other storage facilities operated by civilian agencies of the Govern-
ment.
~, The Director signed a letter on 23 Mar. 1956 commenting on
~ H. R. 7333, and stated that for security reasons a proviso should
be included making it possible for the President to make specific
exemptions by Executive Order.
H. R. 7209, H. R. 7338, H. R. 9402 /~,~t ? ~2 3 ~'
s. 2369, S. 2480, S. 3199 S, 3 S97
To improve governmental budgeting and accounting procedures.
Hearings held in the Senate on March 20 and 21, 1956. A clean
bill will be introduced.
Under date of May 10th the President sent a message to the Congress
urging early enactment of appropriate legislation, on S. 3199
Comments from both General Counsel and the Comptroller/xgs~
indicate it would be difficult for the Agency to comply with all
the provisions of the bill for reasons of security. OGC stated in its
report -- "It is believed the bill, if enacted, would make it difficult
for the Director to discharge his responsibilities to protect intelli-
gence sources and methods from unauthorized disclosure. It might
also invite Budget and perhaps Congressional criticism since, on a
comparative basis, the product of this Agency might be considered
expensive. Further it would not seem desirable to rely on the Director's
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authority to protect sources and methods as a basis for not comply-
ing with the bill if it were to be enacted in its present form. It is
suggested, therefore, that the Legislative Counsel keep an eye on
the progress of the bill and, if its progress justifies such action,
the Agency consider requesting that a specific exemption for CIA be
written into the bill. "
The comptroller objects to the establishment of a reporting system
for reasons of security.
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TRANSMI'~'T'AL SLIP
ROOM NO. BUILDING
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1 FEB 55 24 I REPLACES FORM 36-6
WHICH MAY BE USED.
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