JOURNAL OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00682R000200120129-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 21, 2004
• Sequence Number: 129
• Publication Date: March 18, 1955
• Content Type: NOTES

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Office of Legislative Counsel
Friday - 18 March 1955
1. Miss Meekeson, of the Legal Advisor's office in the Department
of State, called to express concern about the proposed amendments to
the Internal Security Act of 1950 having to do with the registration of
persons with intelligence knowledge. Her concern is based on the same
arguments as previously called to our attention .by ONI and G-2, and
she told me that these arguments all stemmed from one source. She
is preparing the State Department's comments for Chairman Celler,
of the House Judiciary Committee, and feels that this law would make
it necessary for Consular or Immigration officials to include in the
written questionnaire which an alien must fill out some questions as to
their knowledge in these specific fields, which, if answered in the
affirmative, would have to be followed by registration or exemption.
I have told her that CIA is satisfied with the present draft.
2. Mr. Foley, of the staff of the House Judiciary Committee,
called to make routine inquiry as to whether CIA desired to comment
or testify on pending legislation in the field of wire tapping. I told Mr.
Foley that in view of our statutory prohibition against police or internal
security functions we did not engage in wire tapping in the United States,
and did not have any comment on pending legislation.
3. the Deputy Security Officer, has received
a call from Mr. Kimbell Johnson, Chief of the Investigations Division
of the Civil Service Commission, regarding current testimony taken
before the Senate Committee on Government Operations, which is
holding hearings under the Chairmanship of Senator Humphrey on
legislation to establish a Commission on the Security of Federal
Personnel. In the course of the Civil Service Commission testimony,
Senator Humphrey asked the Commission witnesses about the investi-
gative procedures in various Government agencies, and was told that
the Commission did not control or inspect these procedures in the
Departments of State, Defense, or the FBI or CIA. Sen. Humphrey
asked whether the Commission might obtain some statements regard-
ing the procedures in those agencies. is preparing 25X1A
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 a classified statement on the subject, which,. after appropriate clearances,
he proposes that I.show to Sen. Humphrey and urge that we not be involved
in any public testimony. Earlier in the testimony Sen. Humphrey had
indicated that he dirt not propose to query the FBI or CIA on their procedures,
and in view of my past experiences with him, I would be inclined to think
that he will fallow that position. -
4. Mr, Lazar Volin, of the Department of Agriculture (Code 161,
Ext. 5337), states that he had been invited by the American Committee
far Liberation Frorn Bolshevism to talk as a representative of the Depart-
ment at a meeting which the Committee was arranging in Munich. He
informs me that the Department of Agriculture procrastinated for some
time on sending him as they knew nothing about the organization. In this
connection he has been. referred to me by Ben Mandel, of the staff of the
Senate Internal Security Committee, to ask me whether I knew anybody in
the State Department who might give them some background on this organi-
zation. Queries to the organization have all been replied to by letter,
which, while they presented a distinguished letterhead, did not give sufficient
detail for Agriculture Department- officials. It is now too late for Mr. Volin
to accept the speaking engagement,
5. Chairman Murray (D. , Tenn, ), of the House Civil Service Com-
mittee, has introduced H. R. 46$$, and Cong, Rees (R. , Kans.) H. R. 4820
on the subject of cornpensatian for Government employees. Both bills are
currently before the Committee for hearings, and have been referred to
AD/Personnel for comment. The Rees bill is the Administration bill on
this subject.
6. Mr. Dawson (D, , Ill. ), Chairman of the House Committee on
Government Operationsa has introduced H. R. 491$, which. will raise per
diem allowances from $9, 00 to $13.00 per day, together with a proviso
that where travel within the United States required greater expenditure the
heads of agencies may-authorize an actual expense basis, Legislation in-
creasing the per diem will probably pass the current Congress.
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