RULES ADOPTED BY THE 84TH CONGRESS

House Resolution 5, January 5, 1955

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 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

NEWARK, N. J., AREA-PART II

A subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities met at 9:45 a. m., pursuant to recess, in the United States Courthouse, Newark, N. J., Hon. Clyde Doyle, chairman, presiding.

Committee members present: Representatives Clyde Doyle and Gordon H. Scherer.

Staff members present: Frank S. Tavenner, Jr., counsel, and Courtney E. Owens, investigator.

Mr. DOYLE. Come to order, please.

Let the record show that the quorum of the subcommittee is present, Mr. Scherer, of Ohio, and Mr. Doyle, of California.

I wish again to express appreciation to those present in the courtroom for their cooperation in the matter of being quiet so that the witnesses can be heard and the stenotypist can record the testimony.

For the benefit of any counsel appearing with a witness, I wish to state that our rules expressly limit the right of any counsel for a witness before this committee to advising the witness of his constitutional rights. We do not permit a lawyer to put the words in the mouth of a witness and tell him what to say, as a matter of fact.

In other words, it is the witness that we are questioning and not the lawyer, and we expect the lawyer's cooperation in obeying the rules of this committee the same as he would be expected to observe the rules of a court.

I have said before that we do not expect any manifestations of either approval or disapproval of any witness in the chair, or his testimony. We received two communications, among others, which I feel should be read into the record. One is from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Essex County Council, 66 North Seventh Street, Newark, N. J., May 11, 1955:

Hon. FRANCIS WALTER, M. C.,

Chairman, House Un-American Activities Committee,

Newark, N. J.

SIR: At the Wednesday, May 11, meeting at the Essex County Council of the Veterans of Foreign Wars held in Roseland, N. J., a resolution was passed welcoming you and your committee to Newark and to Essex County. It was further

resolved on behalf of our 43 participating posts and 5,000 members to pledge our aid to your aforementioned committee in any and every way that we can be of service.

Sincerely,

ROY C. WALKER,

County Commander, Essex County Council, VFW.

In reading that into the record I want to compliment the VFW of Essex County Council and say that is one of the great patriotic orders of our country which has made a study of the functioning of the House Un-American Activities Committee and from every part of the Nation we have received the same type of communication commending the committee for its work and pledging the support of the VFW.

So I have occasion again on behalf of Francis E. Walter, the chairman, unavoidably absent today and yesterday, to thank the VFW of Essex County for this letter.

I received this telegram last night. In the picket line night before last I saw dozens and dozens of placards being carried, on which among other names or slogans appeared the word of "Corsi." I don't know why. This telegram speaks for itself.

Congressman CLYDE DOYLE,

Robert Treat Hotel, Newark, N. J.:

NEW YORK, May 17, 4 p. m.

Will you please make clear to the members of your committee that I completely repudiate the use of my name in connection with the demonstration staged in Newark yesterday. My views on the McCarran-Walter law do not modify or lessen my vigorous opposition to communism.

(Signed) EDWARD CORSI.

I also insert in the record the full text of House Resolution 151, adopted by the House of Representatives on March 23, 1955, which amends the House rules governing not only this committee, but all investigative committees of the House of Representatives.

This is the amendment to the rules which requires not less than two committee members present and which permits a witness to be represented by counsel who may advise his client on his constitutional rights.

(H. Res. 151 follows:)

[H. Res. 151, 84th Cong., 1st sess.]
RESOLUTION

Resolved, That rule XI 25 (a) of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended to read:

"25. (a) the Rules of the House are the rules of its committees so far as applicable, except that a motion to recess from day to day is a motion of high privilege in committees. Committees may adopt additional rules not inconsistent therewith."

SEC. 2. Rule XI 25 is further amended by adding at the end thereof:

"(h) Each committee may fix the number of its members to constitute a quorum for taking testimony and receiving evidence, which shall be not less than two.

"(i) The chairman at an investigative hearing shall announce in an opening statement the subject of the investigation.

"(3) A copy of the committee rules, if any, and paragraph 25 of rule XI of the House of Representatives shall be made available to the witness.

"(k) Witnesses at investigative hearings may be accompanied by their own counsel for the purpose of advising them concerning their constitutional rights. "(1) The chairman may punish breaches of order and decorum, and of professional ethics on the part of counsel, by censure and exclusion from the hearings; and the committe may cite the offender to the House for contempt.