The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-13
This Should Be Cleared Up

Did you know that the director of the budget has been deputized by the Presi- dent to control the censor all testimony given by federal employees before con- gresSional committees? According to ! sworn statements made before a Senate Committee, no public employe can tell Congress about what is going on in the department where he works unless first he obtains permission from the Budget Bureau. If Director Harold Smith, or his representatives, do not like the testimony that any of the almost 3,000000 federal workers would give, they are authorized to forbid him to testify, or to control what he shall say. This is an amazing situation. The Budget Bureau supposedly Is financial agency. Its responsibility, we had supposed, is prepation of budget and oversight of budgeted expenditures. Yet this nnocuous-appearing arm of the White House, it now appears, can prevent Congress from inquiring into the func- tioning of the national government. The little that is known about this strange development comes from testimony given by Edward J. Shaunghnessy, deputy commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (Justice Depart ment), after he had answered questions in connection with a bill proposing to grant complete independence to Puerto Rico.
 MT. Shaughnessy asked permission to clear proposed amendment through the Budget Bureau, before turning it over to the committee.
 "May I ask why it is that you have to clear your testimony through the Budget Bureau?" inquired Chairman Tydings. of ic nn cf Tho prnciHnnf and the rule of the Bureau of the Bud get," MT. Shaughnessy replied. 2, q thought that was a financial office" remarked the chairman.
 "They act as legislative advisers to the President" MT. ShaughneSsy informed him.
 "Even though it costs them no money, the Bureau of the Budget also acts as clearing house for all legislation, so every department theoretically has to go through the Budget Bureau before they can testify before a congressional com mittee?"
 "That is correct" confirmed the wit ness.
 Suppose the budget did not like what you said here today, what would hap pen?" asked Senator Tydings.
 "They would stop it"
 "You mean you could not testify on this bill, you could not present the exper- fence of your department as you believe the testimony appropriately should be, unless that meets with the approval of the budget?"
 That is correct, sir"
 There is no evidence that the Budget Bureau har' abused this strange power that was given to it so secretively that even Congress had no Warning. Neither, for that matter, is there any evidence that it has not, unless MT. Shaughnessys dictum that lon matters of this kind the Bureau of the Budget generally accepts the views of the experienced agencies" carries weight. Voluntarily if fearfully, the nation has subjected itself to war censorship as a necessary protective measure. But this is not military cen sorShip It is by an agency whose staff does not necessarily know Garand rifle from 105-millimeter anti-aircraft gun. It is political censorship. It should not be permitted to remain buried in a com mittee pigeon-hole. It should be looked into.