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, character, 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 Activities. (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 Acivities 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 meetings, 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 4 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1953 UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES, San Francisco, Calif. PUBLIC HEARING The subcommittee of the Committe on Un-American Activities met, pursuant to adjournment, at 9:30 a. m., in the hearing room of the board of supervisors, city hall, Hon. Harold H. Velde (chairman) presiding. Committee members present: Representatives Harold H. Velde (chairman), Donald L. Jackson, Gordon H. Scherer, and Clyde Doyle. Staff Members present: Robert L. Kunzig and Frank S. Tavenner, Jr., counsel; William A. Wheeler and W. Jackson Jones, investigators; and Juliette P. Joray, acting clerk. Mr. VELDE. The committee will be in order. The Chair yields to the gentleman from California, Mr. Jackson. Mr. JACKSON. Mr. Chairman, in accordance with rule 10 of the rules of procedure for the House Commitee on Un-American Activities, House of Representatives, a telegram was dispatched on yesterday to Representative Robert Condon, extending to him the opportunity to appear before the committee if he so desires. This is in accordance with the standard procedure of the committee in notifying any individual who is adversely named during an open hearing of the committee as Communist, Fascist, or a member of a subversive organization, and offering the same forum in which the allegation was made for the purpose of affirming or denying any statement which might reflect upon an individual's character. Mr. VELDE. Mr. Counsel, do you have a witness? Mr. KUNZIG. Yes, Mr. Chairman. Kathleen Griffin Hee. 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? Mrs. HEE. I do. Mr. VELDE. Let the record show that for the purposes of this hearing I have set up a subcommittee consisting of Mr. Donald Jackson, Mr. Gordon Scherer, Mr. Clyde Doyle, and myself, as chairman, for the purpose of this hearing. 3349 TESTIMONY OF KATHLEEN GRIFFIN HEE, ACCOMPANIED BY HER COUNSEL, MORGAN V. SPIECER Mr. KUNZIG. Will you state your full name, please, for the record? Mrs. HEE. Kathleen Griffin Hee. Mr. KUNZIG. I note that you are accompanied by counsel. Would counsel kindly state his name and address for the record? Mr. SPIECER. Morgan V. Spiecer. Mr. KUNZIG. Your address, sir? Mr. SPIECER. San Francisco, office address. Mr. KUNZIG. Mrs. Hee, when and where were you born? Mrs. HEE. I was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 1911. Mr. KUNZIG. Are you presently a citizen of the United States? Mr. KUNZIG. When and where were you naturalized? Mrs. HEE. I became American citizen through the nauralization of my father while I was still a minor. Mr. KUNZIG. When was that, do you know? When your father became a citizen? Mrs. HEE. My father was naturalized in 1940. Mr. KUNZIG. What is your present address, please, Mrs. Hee? Mrs. HEE. I live in Berkeley. Mr. KUNZIG. What address? Mrs. HEE. 2464 Prince Street. Mr. KUNZIG. And your present employment, if you are employed? Mrs. HEE. I am a waitress. Mr. KUNZIG. Where? Mrs. HEE. At the Clairmont Hotel. Mr. KUNZIG. Mrs. Hee, yesterday you were named in sworn testimony before this committee as having been a member of the Political Affairs Committee of the Communist Party of Alameda County. Would you please affirm or deny that statement? Mrs. HEE. I didn't hear the testimony of yesterday's session. Mr. KUNZIG. Then I shall ask you in a different way; have you ever been a member of the Political Affairs Committee of the Communist Party of Alameda County? Mrs. HEE. I decline to answer that question under the fifth amend ment. Mr. KUNZIG. You decline to answer on the grounds that to do so might tend to incriminate you? Mrs. HEE. That to do so would require that I would be a witness against myself. Mr. KUNZIG. In a criminal proceeding, as the fifth amendment goes. Mrs. HEE. I don't believe that the fifth amendment has been restricted to simply criminal procedures. I believe it has been considered to apply to activities of this committee. Mr. KUNZIG. Do you know Charles Blodgett, who testified here yesterday? Mrs. HEE. I decline to answer on the same grounds. Mr. KUNZIG. Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party, Mrs. Hee? Mrs. HEE. I decline to answer on the same grounds. Mr. KUNZIG. Are you now a member of the Communist Party? Mrs. HEE. I decline to answer on the same grounds. Mr. KUNZIG. I have no further questions, Mr. Chairman. Mr. VELDE. Mr. Jackson. Mr. JACKSON. No questions. Mr. SCHERER. No questions. Mr. VELDE. Mr. Counsel, is there any reason why this witness should be further retained under subpena? Mr. KUNZIG. No, sir. Mr. VELDE. The witness is dismissed. Call the next witness, please. Mr. KUNZIG. Mildred Bowen. Mr. VELDE. In the testimony you are about to give before this subcommittee do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Miss BOWEN. I do. TESTIMONY OF MILDRED BOWEN, ACCOMPANIED BY HER COUNSEL, LAWRENCE SPEISER Mr. KUNZIG. Would you state your full name, please, and spell it for the record? Miss BOWEN. Mildred Bowen, B-o-w-e-n. Mr. KUNZIG. I see that you are accompanied by counsel, so would counsel please state his name and office address once again for the record? Mr. SPEISER. I am Lawrence Speiser, staff counsel of the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, 503 Market Street, San Francisco. Mr. KUNZIG. It is Miss or Mrs. ? Miss BOWEN. Miss. Mr. KUNZIG. Miss Bowen, would you please tell us when and where you were born? Miss BOWEN. Born in Chicago, Ill., August 9, 1903. Mr. KUNZIG. Your present address? Miss BOWEN. 604 28th Street, Oakland. Mr. KUNZIG. Are you currently employed? Miss BOWEN. No. I am not. As I believe one of the spokesmen for the committee expressed the hope that the witnesses before this committee would be, I find myself high and dry since Tuesday morning; unemployed since Tuesday morning. Mr. KUNZIG. Where were you employed prior to Miss BOWEN. I would prefer not answer that question. Mr. KUNZIG. Are you not answering on the grounds of the fifth amendment? Miss BOWEN. Yes. Mr. KUNZIG. You refuse to answer as to your employment because to so do might tend to incriminate you? Miss BOWEN. Yes. Mr. VELDE. In line with the policy of the committee, you are directed to answer the question. 41002-54-pt. 4- -2 |