Arizona republican., 1922-06-07
By Frederick J. HaskIn

WASHINGTON, d. c., June s.
The senate committee on rules is re-
ported to be making a quiet investi-
cation on leaks of news from sources
of government information. This is
a recurring activity which on one
or two occasions has brought to light
unethical handling of information by
newspaper correspondents, practice
heartily condemned by the profession
as a whole However, it is the usual
thing for investigating committees to
fail in their search for organized
leaks.
A leak is the obtaining of advance
information of important govern
ment activities and the furnishing of
the information either to persons who
viii be able to make money out of
the early knowledge or TO newspapers
which will derive the advantage of
beating their rivals The word leak
is meant TO imply that the informa-
tion is obtained as the result of some
unethical or downright unlawful con-
nivance between the man obtaining
the information and some govern
ment employee.
The most famous recent leak was
the peace leak which, it was alleged.
resulted in several million dollars be-
ing made by Wall street spectators
who came into advance information
that the President intended writing
Germany a note seeking to induce
peace. The investigation revealed
that some information had emanated
from the Whise House prematurely.
Even more recently a leak was dis
covered from the supreme court of
the United States.
Howe yer, most advance publications
of information, which appear on the
surface to re. ult from leaks, have
no such explanations News in Wash
ington which is of particular value
both to stock exchange spectators
and to newspapers desiring to outdo
their rivals in early publication, is the
news of decisions in big cases before
such bodies as the supreme court,
the Interstate commerce commission.
the federal trade commission or spe-
cial committees.
How Advance News is Secured
Here is the way advance news OF
decisions not .infrequently is pub
lished. The big press associations,
some of the important trade papers
and newspapers have men assigned
to particular work who are especially
equipped for its responsibilities. 1t is
recognized by news managers. for in
stance, that an advantage lies in hay-
ing a man familiar with railroad mat
ters covering the news of the inter-
state commerce commission. A big
case is filed. Hearings are held at
which witnesses for or against the
proposed rate change in question are
heard Lawyers argue the points be-
fore the commission. This is all pub
lie and any newspaper man or any
member of the public can hear the
testimony and the arguments.
Now a conscientious correspondent
covering the interstate commerce
commission will be familiar with the
general provis sons CT the act to reg
ulate commerce. He will know the
merits of the pending case. He will
hear and stuay all the testimony and
the arguments. He will know per-
sonally the members of the commits
sion who decide the case with all
their prejudices and pet theories of
regulation
As the memf ers of the commission
study the case the reporter will study
the case Then when he thinks, or
hears through gossip, that the deci-
sion is about ready to be announced,
he will write his own decision. fol-