PUBLIC LAW 601, 79TH CONGRESS The legislation under which the House Committee on Un-American Activities operates is Public Law 601, 79th Congress [1946], chapter 753, 2d session, which provides: Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled *** PART 2-RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RULE X SEC. 121. STANDING COMMITTEES 17. Committee on Un-American Activities, to consist of nine members. RULE XI POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES * (q) (1) Committee on Un-American Activities. (A) Un-American activities. (2) The Committee on Un-American Activities, as a whole or by subcommittee, is authorized to make from time to time investigations of (i) the extent, charac ter, and objects of un-American propaganda activities in the United States, (ii) the diffusion within the United States of subversive and un-American propaganda that is instigated from foreign countries or of a domestic origin and attacks the principle of the form of government as guaranteed by our Constitution, and (iii) all other questions in relation thereto that would aid Congress in any necessary remedial legislation. The Committee on Un-American Activities shall report to the House (or to the Clerk of the House if the House is not in session) the results of any such investigation, together with such recommendations as it deems advisable. For the purpose of any such investigation, the Committee on Un-American Activities, or any subcommittee thereof, is authorized to sit and act at such times and places within the United States, whether or not the House is sitting, has recessed, or has adjourned, to hold such hearings, to require the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents, and to take such testimony, as it deems necessary. Subpenas may be issued under the signature of the chairman of the committee or any subcommittee, or by any member designated by any such chairman, and may be served by any person designated by any such chairman or member. RULES ADOPTED BY THE 83D CONGRESS House Resolution 5, January 3, 1953 RULE X STANDING COMMITTEES 1. There shall be elected by the House, at the commencement of each Congress, the following standing committees: (q) Committee on Un-American Activities, to consist of nine members. RULE XI POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES * 17. Committee on Un-American Activties. (a) Un-American Activities. (b) The Committee on Un-American Activities, as a whole or by subcommittee, is authorized to make from time to time, investigations of (1) the extent, character, and objects of un-American propaganda activities in the United States, (2) the diffusion within the United States of subversive and un-American propaganda that is instigated from foreign countries or of a domestic origin and attacks the principle of the form of government as guaranteed by our Constitution, and (3) all other questions in relation thereto that would aid Congress in any necessary remedial legislation. The Committee on Un-American Activities shall report to the House (or to the Clerk of the House if the House is not in session) the results of any such investigation, together with such recommendations as it deems advisable. For the purpose of any such investigation, the Committee on Un-American Activities, or any subcommittee thereof, is authorized to sit and act at such times and places within the United States, whether or not the House is sitting, has recessed, or has adjourned, to hold such hearings, to require the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents, and to take such testimony, as it deems necessary. Subpenas may be issued under the signature of the chairman of the committee or any subcommittee, or by any member designated by such chairman, and may be served by any person designated by any such chairman or member. INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA-PART 2 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1953 UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES, PUBLIC HEARING San Francisco, Calif. The subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities met, pursuant to adjournment, at 9: 35 a. m. in the hearing room of the board of supervisors, city hall, Hon. Harold H. Velde (chairman of the committee) presiding. Chairman members present: Representatives Harold H. Velde (chairman), Donald L. Jackson, Gordon H. Scherer, Morgan M. Moulder, and Clyde Doyle. Staff members present: Robert L. Kunzig and Frank S. Tavenner, Jr., counsel; William A. Wheeler, investigator; and Juliette P. Joray, acting clerk. Mr. VELDE. The committee will be in order, please. This morning I am happy to welcome our colleague, the Honorable Morgan Moulder, of Missouri, who completes our subcommittee, to be here from now until Saturday, at which time we will be obliged to adjourn the hearings. Mr. Counsel, do you have a witness? Mr. TAVENNER. Yes, sir; Mr. Roy Hudson, will you come forward, please? Mr. VELDE. In the testimony you are about to give before this subcommittee do you solemnly swear that you will tell the truth, the whole, truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Mr. HUDSON. I do. TESTIMONY OF ROY HUDSON, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS COUNSEL, GEORGE ANDERSEN Mr. TAVENNER. What is your name, please, sir? Mr. HUDSON. Roy Hudson. Mr. TAVENNER. Are you acompanied by counsel? Mr. HUDSON. I am. Mr. TAVENNER. Will counsel please identify himself for the record? Mr. ANDERSON. My name is George Andersen. Mr. TAVENNER. When and where were you born, Mr. Hudson? Mr. HUDSON. Nevada, Tonepah, Nev., April 9, 1904. Mr. TAVENNER. Where do you now reside? Mr. HUDSON. San Francisco. Mr. TAVENNER. Will you tell the committee, please, what your formal educational training has been? Mr. HUDSON. Grammar school through eighth grade. Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Chairman, I desire to offer in evidence, and ask that it be marked "Hudson Exhibit No. 1," a letter from Earl Browder, general secretary of the Communist Party, addressed to counsel for this committee under date of November 27, 1939, in which he gives a list of the national committee of the Communist Party, elected at the 10th convention. Mr. VELDE. Do you offer that into evidence? Mr. TAVENNER. Yes. Mr. VELDE. Without objection it will be admitted at this point. (The letter from Earl Browder dated November 27, 1939, was received in evidence as Hudson Exhibit No. 1.) DEAR SIR: I received by mail the subpena issued November 22 to me to appear in Washington, Tuesday, November 28 at 10 a. m., and to bring with me a list of the full names of the directors of Compro Daily, list of the full names of the members of the National Committee of the Communist Party of the United States, list of the full names of the members of the Political Committee of the Communist Party of the United States, list of the full names of the Secretariat of the Comintern, and a list of the districts of the Communist Party of the United States. My secretary informs me that in reply to my long-distance telephone inquiry you stated that it would not be necessary for me to appear personally if I mailed you the material requested. I am therefore enclosing the following materials: 1. List of the full names of the members of the National Committee of the Communist Party of the United States. 2. List of the full names of the members of the Political Committee of the Communist Party of the United States. 3. List of the full names of the Secretariat of the Executive Committee of the Communist International (Comintern). 4. List of the districts of the Communist Party of the United States. With regard to the requested list of the full names of the directors of the Compro Daily, I do not have such a list and have never had it. I have requested the lawyer of the Compro Daily to furnish me with such a list and whenever it comes to my hand I will send it on to you. I wish to call your attention to a correction in the list of the members of the National Committee of the Communist Party of the United States as I submit it herewith which omits the name of Mr. Rubin, which I gave to you in my letter of September 8. Since submitting the original list on September 8 I have learned that Mr. Rubin had tendered his resignation in October 1938, and it had been accepted. This occurred at a time when I was absent from the country and it had not been called to my attention until the question came up on the basis of the list which I originally gave you. Please take note of this correction. Very truly yours, EB: EC UOPWA LOC. 16 (8) Earl Browder, General Secretary, Communist Party, U. S. A. |