Evening star., 1934-02-18
The Question Of Privilege.

The Senate Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections has met In execu-
tive session to consider charges
brought against Senators Long and
Overton by Mrs. Hilda Phelps Ham
mond. representing the Women's
Committee of Louisiana. But whether
the inquiry will proceed in open ses-
sion apparently depends on a report
from the Senate Judiciary Commit
tee on the question whether such petit
tions as those containing the Long
Overton charges are privileged and
whether they should be received.
The Judiciary Committee has had
the question before 1t for many
months At recent meeting the sub
committee to which it had been re-
ferred was authorized to report to the
Senate whenever the subcommittee
reached its conclusions. This short
cut, obviating the necessity of consid-
Grafton by the full committee, should
expedite the matter 1t should be ex-
pedited
In the Lorimer case, year after
the Illinois Senator took his seat in
the Senate a Legislative Voters
League" through its president, wrote
informally to Senator Cullom of I'LL
nois and asked for an investigation Of
corrupt methods pursued in the
State Legislature in the last two
years." A statement was inclosed
setting forth reasons for suspecting
such conditions. Senator Cullom pre-
sented the charges to the Senate and,
after their reference to the Committee
on Privileges and Elections, the Sem
ate by resolution authorized an inves-
tigation, which was made.
The procedure in the present case,
involving both Senators from Louis
lana, is different, in that the charges
have been placed before the Senate
directly, instead of through the inter-
cession of another Senator. Senator
George of Georgia, chairman Of the
Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions, is understood to feel that
question Of precedent is involved
which should be settled by the Judi
ciary Committee.
That may be important, and Sena-
tor George enjoys the respect Of the
Senate for his knowledge Of consti-
tutional law. But if such communica-
tions to the Senate as those from the
Women's Committee of Louisiana are
held not to be privileged, what would
be the effect of such decision?
Would it merely clarity the right of
an accused Senator to seek through
the courts redress for damaging al
legations? Would it mean that the
Senate committee investigating such
allegations would proceed with its in
vestigation behind closed doors'
1t is a little difficult to understand
why any Senator should receive any
greater protection, in his defense
against charges brought against him
and investigated by a Senate COM
mittee, than the average citizen. The
! only way of determining the truth or
falsity of charges is through investi-
cation. If charges are shown to be
false, a member of Congress stands
to suffer much less than the citizen
who is called before an investigating
committee. In the case of the men,
Der of Congress his acquittal Of
charges is definite and is widely pub
licized. In the case Of a citizen who
has been brought before an investi-
eating committee he may suffer dam
aging statements against his good
conduct and reputation which.
though he is innocent, remain against
| him.
1t would seem that the Senate
should be more anxious to clear the
names OF It's members against whom
charges are brought by full and free
investigation than to pursue some
other course that would leave the
matter in doubt.