The Indianapolis times., 1929-05-27
Mall0n Refuses to Reveal
Where He Got Roll Call
Information,
QUIZZED BY COMMITTEE
Senate Moves to Change
Old Rules Providing for
Closed Sessions.
PY RAYMOND CLAPPER
Iniied Press Sfsn Cnrre.nondent

WASHINGTON. May 27.-Aboli-
ton Of the old senate secrecy rule.
existing from the foundation of the
government, was put definitely on
the Wav TO realization TODAY.
The senate adopted 2 unanimous
consent agreement proposed by
Chairman Charles H Moses Of the
rules committee. by which his COM
mittee will report 4 proposal for
modification Of the secrecy rule to
the senate by next Tuesday. for i'm
mediate considerable before the
summer recess.
This action was taken few min
Utes after the rules committee tried
unsuccessfully 10 force Paul r. NAL
Ion, United Press staff correspond
ent, to reveal where he obtained the
roll call on the confirmation of Ir-
vine l.. Lenroot, as United States
customs judge. which was published
last week by the United Press.
Majority Against Secrecy
Mallon's scoop on the Lenroot
roll call together with similar one
last January on the confirmation,
Roy .. West, former secretary of
interior. have caused a majority of
senator's to recognize that the SEN
ate cannot keep its secrets and that
the rule Of secrecy concerning ac-
tion on presidential appointments
had best be abrogated.
A poll Of the senate taken last
week by the United Press and other
newspaper correspondents showed
55 to % favoring publicity Of senate
executive roll calls.
Called before the niles committee,
Nallon read a statement declaring
he would answer an questions which
he could without violating confid-
ences.
Refuses to Tell Source
You're the author of an article
in the Washington Post on the roll
cal Of the senate?" Chairman Mo-
seS asked.
Yes" Mallon replied.
"Wul you please state the source
o. that information?" Moses asked.
Well. senator. I must respectfully
decline to reveal any source - NAL
lon replied.
AS YOU we'll know every news
paperman has many confidential
sources"
will YOU tell us what senator's
YOU talked with after the executive
session." Senator Claude A. Swan
son Dem. Va. asked
Senator. I'm afraid that would go
r. the source OF the information and
7 must respectfully decline" Mallon
replied.
DO you mean SenatorS9" Senator
Pat Harrison Dem. Miss asked as
TO Mallon's statement in his dis
patch that he had obtained his in
formation from an ''undiSputable
authority"
Mallon replied that he could not
answer this question.
Challenges Watson
Senator James E Watson Rep.
Ind said there we're some inaccu-
racies in the roll call.
Mallon replied that he had only
heard of two inaccuracies referred
70 in senate debate but that he
would. with that exception. chal-
lenCe Senator Watson'S statement.
Watson asked if the fact Mallon
had the privilege of the senate floor
did not make him. in A sense. a
guest of the senate.
Not at all Nallon said. I m
sure no newspaper man would ac-
cept the privilege of the floor if il
prevented him from sending out in
formati ton which he could otherwise
Use. I understand ] was waving 10
rights in accepting the privilege OF
the floor"
I want TO find out Just what are
the ethics of the profession, Sem
ator Hiram Bingham Rep, Comm
said.
He asked Msllon If he had learned
something from a senator who asked
him not 10 publish it would he pub
isl it7"
"Of course not. senator" Mallon
replied.
Bingham said he could not see
the difference in a newspaper man
publishing news received in conf
6ence and news about a session OF
the senate that is secret by rule.
President Has Record
Mallon said he could not take this
view.
Bingham persisted that the Presi-
dent had g record Of confirmation
Of nominations and he does not re-
gard il necessary TO make them pub
lie because of the senate rule.
All know" said Mallon. IS
that I'm a working newspaper man
and print whatever I can get
legitimstely."
Senator Harrison said that Blng-
ham had made it appear that the
President might have given Mallor
the roll call.
I cannot reveal the source, NAL
lon replied. and there was a litter
about the room.
MalIon was under questioning
about three quarters OF an hour
Afferurzrd the committee went into