Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-26

who favored open sessions as o general
proposition, took the position that ap-
pointees on whom fight is made should
be considered in closed session. A very
large group. including Blaine, La Fol-
lette, Couzens. Black, Thomas Of Okla
hona, favored open-session discussion
On all questions.
The Senate committee on rules. the
poll discloses. has six Republican men,
bers who are opposed to open sessions
and one listed as n-committaA Az
five Democratic members of the rules
committee are listed in favor Of open
sessions. Senator Jones proposed
amendment for opening the sessions on
nominations Is on the table, waiting for
him to call it up. He is opposed to hav-
ing 1t referred to the rules committee
unless he is given assurance It VIII be
reported back to the Senate either ia
vorably or unfaTorably within a day on
two. Senator Robinson's substitute also
is on the table. The amendments pro-
posed by Senator's Connally and Black,
however. have been referred to the COM
mittee on rules.
ConnaEy Makes Statement.
Senator Connally issued the follow
ing statement In connection with his
proposed amendment.
Il have long favored open executive
sessions Of the Senate. In my cam
paign for the Senate last year I told
the people that should favor opening
the doors of the Senate. have intro
duced a resolution to change the rules
Of the Senate IN that regard. The Nal
lon incident has brought the matter
wildly before the country and the
Senate.
The people Of the United States do
not believe in secret government. The
Senate in passing on nominations Of
the President to Office Is exercising q
power conferred by the people. The
people have a right to know how their
Senators vote on such important QueE-
lions. The power of Federal judges az
fects the property. the liberty and the
lives Of the people. There is no rea-
son why action confirming or rejecting
their appointment should be taken be-
hind closed doors, and stiil less rea-
son why a vote on confirmation should
be kept secret. The Senate ought TO
open its doors"
MailoB TO Appear.
Paul r.. Mallon, the correspondent OF
the United Press who wrote the story
Of the vote on the Lerlroot nomination
which drew the FIRE Of the rules COM
naittee, has been summoned to appear
before the committee tomorrow. The
expectation is that he viii be asked
where he obtained his information and
that he will decline to give the source
Of his information. The rules OF the
Senate forbid any Senator or employe
of the Senate to give out any informa-
ton regarding what transpires In secret
executive session Of the Senate under
threat of expulsion or discharge, as
the case may be. No attempt Is made
IN the rules TO forbid nevspapers from
publishing any information, however.
Senator La Toilette Of Wisconsin, who
attacked the position taken by the rules
committee in the Mallon case, has de-
nanded that any investigation under
taken by the rules committee into the
so-called leak" shall begin with an
exam!na ton of members Of the Senate
itself. Senator Pat Harrison Of Mis-
sissippi. a Democratic member Of the
rules committee. has offered O resoiu-
ton providing that the members OF the
Senate shall be examined but no action
has been taken on 1t.
The fight to open up the sessions OF
the Senate at which nominations are
considered has been going on for years.
with spasmodic interest bringing the
matter TO the fore. AS far back as
1886 the late Senator Plat, Republican,
of Connecticut. offered an amendment
to the rules similar to that now brought
forward by Senator Jones Senator
Platt at that time called attention to
the fact that the first rule in regard to
nominations was adopted in the Senate
on January 3, 1920 That rule provided
that all information or remarks touch
ing or concerning the character or quail
ifications Of any person nominated by
the President shall be kept secret. No
penalty was attached at that time for
violation of the rule. None was provid-
ed until 1874. when expulsion for q
Senator or dismissal for an ofhcer OF
the Senate was written into the rule.
The Senate has several times since CEN
sured members for violating the rule.
! Senator Platt failed TO have his amend
ment providing for open sessions adopt
ed. During the debate Senator Platt
! said
idea Is Anticipated.
THE election which Rave most
! fraauer s. heard TO proIi6.ry fot open
sessions on nomination., is that this
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