Evening star., 1929-06-24
Congressional Immunity.

Senator Hiram Bingham, Republican,
OF Connecticut, has put his finger on a
very real issue with his proposal to
amend the Constitution 90 as to strip
members of Congress of immunity from
prosecution for libel. Section of
Article I now provides that Senators
and Representatives, 90. for any
speech or debate in either House shan
not be questioned in any other place. 3"
In other words. the founding fathers
laid down the principle that whatever is
said on the floors Of Congress cannot,
under the law, be made the basis Of an
action for slander, no matter how evil
its intent or unfounded it may be in
fact.
Gross injustice to private citizens,
Senator Bingham contends, In explain
ing his proposal, is done on many oc-
casio.s as result Of the system Of ir-
responsibility under which members Of
Congress now operate. eff the immu-
nifty were taken away" Mr.. Bingham as
ssrts, many attacks upon individuals,
corporations, religious sects and church.
es would never be heard" Now that
the Senate has voted to liberalize its
rules, so rs to permit discussion of pres
idential nominations In open session,
the Connecticut Senator thinks the
time has come to curb the critical-not
to say neutrality-suspicious. Of Ger
tain statesmen given habitually to
ruthless undertaking.
Senator Bingham would not curtail
the right Of Congress to criticize, or
even attack, the President, cabinet Of
ficers or other officials or employees Of
the Government. They are public serv-
ants. Their conduct Is legitimate sub
iect for scrutiny. Mr.. Bingham rightly
argues that the immunity safeguard for
members Of Congress, as far as the Ma
tons officers are concerned, should not
be removed.
But many Americans viii agree with
him that the line should be drawn
there. The halls Of Congress were not
designed e. forums for the ventilation
Of private grievances or the airing of
personal grudges. Nor was it intended
that they should be backyards for the
hanging out Of dirty linen, the washing
Of which has nothing to do with the
country's business. The Congressional
Record was not established as . re-
pository for defamatory statements
which their makers would be afraid to
utter outside the Capitol.
Senator Bingham would abolish I'M
munity especially Gin order to protect
the names and regulations Of all cit
tzens, Of high and low degree. and TO
prevent irresponsible repetition Of re-
ports. rumors. heresay evidence. derog-
atory statements and aspersions." If
his purpose should some day be carried
into effect. one benefit would result, Of
paramount good to the country. It
would make men Of merit far less timid
than they are today about allowing
themselves to be named for high Fed
eral once.
President Hoover Is known to hold
strong views on this particular phase of
congressional immunity. He has inti-
mated On numerous occasions that the
unbridled tongue on Capitol Hill sys-
tematicaily lashes out Of many able and
patriotic citizens any and all ambition
to serve the Republic. Disclosure of the
truth, however brutal, Is one thing.
Character assassination Is another. II
the truth is spoken at the Capitol, no
utterer Of 1t may fear being questioned
in any other place" To insure the
telling Of the truth, and nothing but
the truth. IS the aim of Senator Bing-
hams immunity amendment. Only
political gunmen," as they have been
called, would have cause to resent and
regret Its enactment.