Mr. HOOVER. Our antitrust workload commitments are expected to continue to rise throughout the fiscal year 1963 because of the emphasis being placed by the Antitrust Division upon criminal prosecutions in connection with increased inquiries as to possible violations being committed by racketeers in the labor field, price fixing in industry, and the like. In addition, added emphasis is being placed by the Department upon the enforcement of civil judgments and inquiries into mergers. All of this will require the assignment of additional manpower.

FEDERAL RESERVE ACT

Violations of the Federal Reserve Act, involving embezzlements and related offenses by officers, employees and customers of banks and other financial institutions, continue to increase. An alltime high of 2,238 violations involving shortages in excess of $11 million were received for handling during 1961. The tremendous jump in this type of violation can be better visualized when you consider that in 1951 violations reported numbered 698.

Our investigations during 1961 resulted in an alltime high of 484 convictions and in recoveries totaling over $2,800,000.

This chart which I hand to the committee shows the steady upward climb in this type of violation over the past 3 years as well as the increasing number of convictions which have resulted from our investigation of these cases.

(The chart referred to follows:)

Mr. HOOVER. Convictions in fraud against the Government matters reached an alltime high of 605 during 1961. These cases arise from false statements or false claims to the Government or in matters within its jurisdiction. Most of the cases grow out of Government procurement contracts for supplies and services, particularly those concerning purchasing operations of the military in the national defense effort.

This chart which I show to the committee portrays the increasing number of convictions we have obtained over the past 3 years in this area of operations.

(The chart referred to follows:)

Mr. HOOVER. Pursuant to congressional enactments and instructions of the Attorney General, the FBI is responsible for investigating allegations that individuals have been deprived of rights and privileges guaranteed them under the Constitution and laws of the United States. I will briefly review the procedures we follow to fulfill our responsibilities in the civil rights field.

No organization in the United States has a deeper respect for civil rights than the FBI. Beginning with the training course which is provided our newly appointed special agents, great emphasis is placed upon topics such as constitutional law and the laws and court rulings governing arrests, searches, seizures, confessions and evidence.

During my tenure as FBI Director, I have insisted that every civil rights investigation be given thorough, prompt and impartial attention. These cases are handled by special agents who have completed advanced training courses which specifically qualify them to conduct civil rights investigations. And at our headquarters, they are supervised by a select staff of men with broad knowledge and experience

in these matters.

Some idea of the vast size of our investigative responsibilities under the civil rights statutes may be found in the fact that 1,813 alleged violations of civil rights were reported to the FBI during 1961. The wide distribution of these cases is shown in this map which I present to the committee.

(The chart referred to follows:)

Mr. HOOVER. The 1,813 civil rights cases handled during 1961 included 1,563 cases involving law enforcement officers. This certainly shows there is no reluctance on the part of victims and others to bring these alleged violations to our attention.

Some sources have inferred that we might be reluctant to investigate personnel of other law enforcement agencies. This assumption is completely unfounded. As long as the civil rights statutes are part of the Federal law, and as long as the FBI is charged with their enforcement, we will carry out this responsibility thoroughly, promptly, impartially and without apology to anyone.

When the FBI receives a complaint alleging police brutality, we immediately launch a preliminary investigation which includes the most thorough type of interviews with the victim, the subjects and witnesses as well as a review of appropriate records. Written statements are obtained during pertinent interviews whenever possible and the results of investigation are furnished without delay to the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice for its immediate review and decision as to further action.

From time to time a complaint of alleged police brutality may be received which raises a question as to the desirability of immediate investigation. One example of this would be a matter in which local authorities are taking vigorous action and appear to be proceeding in good faith. In every such instance the facts are brought to the immediate attention of the Civil Rights Division for a determination as to whether the investigation should proceed or be held in abeyance.

If investigation is requested by the Civil Rights Division, it is immediately instituted by the FBI.

When a civil rights complaint is received which involves some matter other than police brutality, the complaint is brought, without delay, to the attention of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice for its immediate review and decision as to action. In order to assist the Civil Rights Division in appraising each alleged violation, our special agents obtain a full and detailed account of the complaint in writing whenever possible. If the complaint has been made by someone other than the victim, we also attempt to locate the victim immediately so that his account of the alleged violation can be obtained. Thereafter, in the event an investigation is requested by the Civil Rights Division of the Department, it is immediately instituted by the FBI.

There is no delay on the part of our field offices in furnishing civil rights complaints to FBI headquarters even when the complaint does not allege police brutality. Dependent upon the urgency of the situation, they are received by telephone, teletype, or the mails. Promptly upon their receipt, they are transmitted, without recommendation or evaluation, to the Civil Rights Division of the Department.

At the outset of a civil rights investigation which involves police. officers or personnel of other public agencies, we contact the head of the agency, as well as the Governor if a State institution is involved, and provide a brief explanation of the allegation which has been received and our jurisdiction to investigate. This often enables us to obtain information which has already been gathered by the agency involved; and, in the overwhelming majority of cases, our policy of