Evening star., 1943-03-07

0f5uit tAeainstA.P.
Constitutional Guarantee
Of Free Press Is Issue,
House Member soys
BY the Associated Press.
Representative Harness. Republi-
can, Of Indiana asked the Rules
Committee yesterday for clearance
on his resolution calling for House
Committee investigation of circum-
stances surrounding the Govern
ment's suit against the Associated
Press, charging violation OF anti
trust laws.
Representative Harness wrote
Chairman SABBATH of the Rules Com
mittee that circumstances in the
action 80 directly touched the con-
stitutional guarantee of a free press
that they should quite properly" be
Investigated Immediately.
The Government suit, charging
that the Associated Press was a
monopoly, sought an order directing
1t to open membership rolls to any
newspaper willing to pay its pro-
portionate share of the cost of
gathering news.
The Associated Press, non-prof1t
cooperative news-gathering organ
ization, asserted in its answer that
"a free press requires that news
papers shall be free to collect and
distribute news, and that they shall
be. free to choose their associates
in so doing"
Demands Investigation.
Text of Representative Harness
letter to Chairman SABBATH:
May I respectfully call your
attention to House Resolution 70,
which I offered on January Is, now
pending before the Rules Commit.
tee. This resolution proposes the
establishment of special committee
Of the House to investigate circum-
stances surrounding the complaint
recently filed by the United States
against the Associated Press alleging
. violation Of the antitrust law.
I'm my opinion, the circumstances
leading up to and surrounding this
action 50 directly touched the con-
stitutional guarantee OF free press
that they should quite properly be
made the subject of a full, searching
and immediate investigation by this
Congress. Undoubtedly. you are IA
miliar with the charges and COM
plants Of publishers throughout the
country against the Department Of
Justice for bringing this suit. Many
Of these publishers have boldly de-
nounced the action as a direct
attack upon the American free press
or as an effort to control and direct
wire services for the special benefit
OF publishers who are administra-
ton supporters.
1T Is, likewise, my opinion that
the membership of the House is in
agreement with my viewpoint in
this matter. Several members have
expressed themselves quite vigor-
ously upon this subject within the
past few weeks. In far greater
numbers, members have evidenced
their intention to maintain the con-
stutional guarantees of the free
press.
Danger to Free Press.
The most recent expression on
this subject was made in q speech
on the floor OF the House yesterday
by our colleague, the gentleman
from Indiana, Mr.. Halleck, mem
ber Of your committee. feel sure
that Mr.. Halleck. ~accurately re-
fected the sentiment ssof the House
in his very able Statement Of the
0Angef oH1rcsatihg the Americans
free pfeas and In his graphic dey1
scription Of the invaluable services
which the press Of the Nation has
rendered and Is rendering in this
emergency.
Referring to questionable forces
which are at work within the Gov
ernment. Mr. Halleck said, II there
are some whose animosity leads
them to attempt to destroy the
newspapers which stand between
them and their goal. let us seek
them out and render them harm
less. For when you destroy the
newspapers you destroy one of the
most effective internal implements
OF war and of peace which this
Nation possesses. Destroy them and
you destroy the confidence of the
people in their Government-and
with it, that Government.
Il subscribe entirely to this able
statement. Under any circum-
stances, we must jealousy guard the
freedoms guaranteed in the First
Amendment to the Constitution, one
OF which Is the free press. Now,
more than ever, under strict CEN
sorship, which necessarily limits
these freedoms, we must be jealous
TO allow no unwarranted infringe
ment Of these rights.
Such an investigation should not
undertake to try the lawsuit, nor to
interfere in any way with the reg
ular and orderly procedure of the
courts, but should ascertain what
forces and facts Influenced the
bringing Of the action and deter
mine the truth or falsity of the
charges that this suit was instituted
to weaken and destroy the freedom
Of the press.
Il, therefore, urge that the COM
mittee report House resolution 79
to the House at the earliest pos
sible date"
Stolen Kiss Gets Man
Years Jail Sentence