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We goby, | ‘ epee, b ¥ 7 _ bee moO NIV 37 1992 Y ESC GIVES 5-DAY OUSTER NOTICE TOMISS DE HAAS Her Defiance of Probe Cited in Dismissal BY WILLARD EDWARDS The Truman = administration yesterday gave a five-day notice ef dismissal to a woman govern- ment empioye suspected of airing information on communism in the government, The civil service commission ac- tion climaxed a nine-month cam- paign of intimidation against Miriam M. De Haas, 52, @ lovaity board employe, Thru two grand jury inquisitions and protracted secret questioning by belligerent’ investigators, the woman had de-! fied the authorities to prove dere-| - Jiction of duty. | Alone in the world, with her livelihood cut off since suspen-| sion without pay Sept. 15, Miss De Haas sat in her apartment Jast night at 1016 Sixteenth St. NW. and faced a bleak future with courage. She may appeal the discharge notice bul the ex- penses of a legal fight are heavy. Her Attitude Attacked The formal notice sent the woman employe by registered mail did not accuse her of giving information to Sen. McCarthy (R) of Wisconsin. the act of which she is suspected, but it as- sailed her refusal to answer the questions of investigators concern- ing her testimony before = grand ury. ; “Your entire attitude.” the no- fice read, “since the matter was first officially brought to your at- tention on dan. 16 has been such | as to cause a grave doubt to arise as to whether you have the un questioned trustworthiness to con- | tinue to occupy a responsible posi- | tion as an employe of the United States civil service commission.” One week ago, it was noted, the United States court of appeals had set aside the discharge of a 4 | ernment employe who had ad- mitted membership in a subversive organization. Three jurists, all Truman appointees, ruled that an employe could not be fired solely en the basis of such s member-| ee emied Hie ._MasHigh Efficiency Rete | Miss De Haas has an extremely high efficiency rating. Her 12- year government career was Marked by steady advancement until, according to report, she made contact with FBI agents con- cerning government conditions. These FBI contacts apparently made Miss De Haas suspect when | a furor was caused in govern: | ment circles last January by Sen. | McCarthy's publication of loyalty board minutes. She was per: emptorily siimmoned to a secret three-hour interrogation by Cai! James E, Hatcher, chief of the in| vestigations unit of the CSC. She was denied notice of charges, repre- sentation by counsel and other privileges accorded suspected Com- munists on the payroll. Summoned before a grand jury Yater, Miss De Haas freely testi- fie, The civil service commission then attempted to force her to repeat her grand jury testimony. She refused on the ground that grand jury proceedings were con- fidential. Last Oct. 7, Federal Judge Matthew F. McGuire denied ®& government, petition to make public her testimony, asserting ‘Mhat only extraordinary reasons, Jacking in this case, would justify disclosure of grand jury minutes. On the following day. the civil Kervice commission notified Miss DeHaas that she would be givert; until Oct. 15 to “reconsider” her | refusal to answer questions. Thru| her lawyer, Daniel J. Andersen,!} she again refused on Oct. 13. Yes-, terday's notice informed her that’ it was proposed to remove her from employment “to promote ef. ficiency of the service.” Five days were granted for her to answer the charges and to file an appeal if she desired. a tree oe —_ ci eT wis 2 ttt Ladd 4% Nich Z Belfont Clegg —-—___-— Glavin Harbo ___ Rosen Tracy —____— Laughlin Mohr Vinterrowd —_ Tele. Rm. ___ Holloman Gandy Times-Herald. — Wash. Post _ Wash. News _ Wash. Star _ N.Y. Herald Tribune - N.Y. Mirror - N.Y, Compass Date: ‘x2! a