Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-23
LAFOLLETTE ASKS
FLOOR PRIVILEGES
Be GIVEN TO PRESS
Wisconsin Senator Requests
Amendment of Rule Bar
ring Reporters.
LENROOT "R0LL CALL"
BRINGS DOWN BAN
Purported Vote on Confirmation,
Taken in Secret Session,
Called Inaccurate.
b. the Associated Press.


Amendment of the Senate rules to
extend the privilege of the Senate floor
to representatives of the press associa-
tions was proposed today by Senator La
Toilette, Republican, of Wisconsin, who
yesterday objected to the use of the
floor by any newspaper man after the
rules committee had voted to deny the
privilege to the United Press Assccia-
tion.
The action against the United Press
Association was taken on the basis CT
the publication of purported roll call
of a secret meeting of the Senate by
which Irvine L. Lenroot of Wisconsin
was confirmed as Federal judge.
The roll call has been described as in
accurate. Soon afterward Vice Presi-
dent Curtis announced that the rules
prohibited newspaper men from going
on the Senate floor in doing their work.
Senator Norris, Republican, of Ne
braska, lodged a protest today against
the authority of the rules committee to
report resolution asking the Senate to
condemn the Senator or Senate employe
who divulged information on secret
session. He contended the committee
was without authority to propose such
a resolution, which is now on the Sen
ate calendar.
Criticism of Senate Read.
At the request of Senator Barley,
Democrat, of Kentucky, a letter from
the owner of the Capital Times Of Mad
ison, Wis, was read, criticizing the
Senate for holding secret sessions ana
praising all efforts to obtain secret roll
calls. The letter said the Times would
continue in the future to obtain secret
roll calls and publish them,
Senator Blease, Democrat, Of South
Carolina, introduced an editorial from
the same newspaper with the statement
that each of you Senators who like
to be insulted ought to read 1t.
Vice President Curtis said that If the
editorial contained anything insulting,
Il ought to be submitted for exanina-
ton, but the editorial nevertheless was
permitted to 70 into the Record.
Senator Caraway Democrat. Of
Arkansas, protested, saying it was "an
editorial from q paper nobody ever
e'aThis editor seems to rejoice that
there are thieves and liars In the Senate
and that he Is in touch with them, y
Caraway said.
A. r. Protests Ruling.
The Associated Press protested to
vice President Curtis today against his
ruling barring all press association rep
resentatives from the floor.
The following letter was sent to Mr..
Curtis by the chief of the Washington
Bureau Of the Associated Press:
The Hon. Charles Curtis,
-E IA TTHffA6
Senate Chamber.
Dear Mr.. President:
AS result of an announcement yes
terday by the President of me Senate.
the Associated Press finds itself de-
prived, through no fault of its own. OF
the privilege of access to the Senate
fioor-a privilege which has been ac-
corded it continuously for many years
and which it never has abused.
Naturally. the newspapers making up
the Associated Press have received this
announcement with surprise and regret
Many of them have inquired by tele-
uhone and telegraph why the Associat-
ed Press should be penalized because OF
an incident in which it had no part
whatever. Under the circumstances, /
know I voice the sentiment OF rhe As
,ociated Press papers OF the entire coun-
try in making formal protest, End ask
ing that this protest be made part OF
the Senate record.
am sure that most Senators already
know that the information regarding a
secret Senate session recently puollshed
by the United Press could have been OBJ
tanned by us, but that no effort was
made to compile it for publication. We
refrained from such publication be-
cause we had reason to believe that the
information available was likely, In the
nature of the case, to be inaccurate, and
vre felt that under no circumstances
should we publish a roll call which
would misrepresent the position OF any
Senator. 1t now has appeared that this
eurmise was correct.
/ invite attention to the fact that
accuracy was the compelling considera-
ton, and that the Washington Bu-
reau of the Associated Press never has
and does not now subscribe to any
theory that publication Of secret pro.
ceedings, if the publication is accurate
is in any wise beyond the legitimate
function of a free press.
What action the Senate may see fit
to take against press agency which
describes Senate proceedings inaccu-
rately, is. of course, matter between
the Senate and that particular agency
The Associated Press, therefore. ex.
presses no opinion on the merits OF
the case involving recent publication
of a purported Senate roll call, but II
does protest vigorously against sharing
even by implication, the blame for ar
incident in which it deliberately de-
clined to have any part
Respectfully yours,
BYRON PRICE,
Chief of Bureau.
The Senate today stood divided not
lcrar- st q tadixanr isSlIe ANaH