Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1936-03-26
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"ee0 EURO versy that is boiling
on Inquiries and surging around
the head Of Ala
Dama's Democratic Senator Black, who
is the chairman Of the senates lobby
investigating committee. AS an off
shoot OF this controversy, the federal
communications commission is in wa
ter much too hot for bathing and It
begins to appear that when the steam
blows Off the communications COM
mission is likely to be thoroughly
discredited federal agency because of
the part 1t played in Senator Blacks
unprecedented seizure Of private tele-
grams from the Western Union and
Postal Telegraph companies.
Speaking generally, it has been sell
dom that United States senator has
ever attempted to assert the authority
that Senator Black has used and it is
equally unprecedented that a federal
agency has gone to the extremes that
characterized the action of the COM
munications commission in connection
with the seizure of the messages.
But some good may come from the
police court prosecution tactics en-
ployed by Senator Black and some
good may come from the accusations
1eveled at the communications com.
mission because that body helped Sen
ator Black carry out his plans.
The countrywide indignation that
has arisen from Senator Blacks usur-
patton Of power has brought to the
front question that needs public at
tention and needs it badly.
refer, in this connection, to the
steadily expanding efforts Of congress
sional Investigators, especially sena-
torial investigators, to take over, as
their own, powers that always have
been regarded as reserved exclusively
to the courts. The consensus among
Washington observers certainly is that
the legislative inquiries have devel-
Oped to a point where the most hum
BILE requirements of justice have been
and are being completely ignored.
Whether they are so intended, these
inquiries, and this includes investiga-
tons conducted by committees not
only Of congress but Of state legisla-
tors and even city councils, are ap-
preaching the point where they are al
most tyrannical.
1t goes without saying, then, that
the time has arrived for citizens to as
sert themselves. These inquiries will
not proceed when the elected legisla-
tors, state or national, learn that the
people do not approve Of such high
handed tactics.
In order to have an understanding
of the latest of these escapades, it is
necessary to review
Blacks briefly what has hap
Activities pened in the case Of
the senate lobby in
vestigating committee. Almost a year
ago the committee sought the aid of
the federal communications commits
sion which had the color Of authority
in law for investigating the business
Of the telegraph companies. Senator
Black issued broad subpoena, direct
ing the telegraph companies to make
available any and all messages his
committee desired. Communications
commission agents then went into the
telegraph company files, read every
thing they could find and made copies
Of all Of the messages which those
agents, under guidance Of Black in
vestigators, thought would be helpful
to the Black committee in exposing
operations of r-ivate individuals.
The purpose of this, as outlined by
Senator Black, was to locate clues to
the Vaccinations Of business interests
who were seeking passage or defeat
for legislation pending in congress.
The Alabama senator wanted to "show
up" lobbyists. He contended and has
maintained consistently that "these
malefactors Of great wealth" could not
accomplish any influence in congress
unless it were done secretly and "in
the dark"
In other words, Senator Black per-
suaded members of the communications
commission to help him in his fishing
expedition. He persuaded that organ
ization that it should become a party
to an unrecedented effort designed as
a dragnet, a movement to smear any
body and everybody who had used tele-
graphic service.
The Black plan was carried out in
secret. Senders and receivers Of mes
sages which those agents copied knew
nothing about It. The operation was
lust as much "in the dark" as any OF
the lobbying about which Senator
Black complained, even more SO. 1t
was only by accident that the facts
became known but when they did be-
come known, the lid was promptly
blown off.
The end is not yet, nor is 1t even in
sight. One federal judge has issued
restraining order against such tactics
and a half dozen other applications
for similar orders are pending. Un-
doubtedly, the questions, whatever the
rulings may be, will find their way
eventually to the Supreme court OF
the United States.
The senate itself is looking Into the
situation. 1t has, by resolution, asked