Evening star., 1951-01-24
House E. D. {. Unit
Likely 70 Keep
Ban on Press
Some Members Call
1t Ridiculous, but
Others Stand Firm

Little hope was seen today that
the House District Committee
would change it's rule that ex-
|cludes the press and public from
its sessions when votes are taken
on pending bills.
Some committee members today
condemned the rule as ridiculous
or unnecessary, but others sup
ported the procedure, saying il
was in keeping with general con-
gressional practice.
The plan Of operations of the
House committee on this point is
in sharp contrast to that of the
Senate District Committee where
practically all legislating is done
in the open. One of the notable
Exceptions in the case of the Sen
ate committee is when votes are
taken on the confirmation of
nominees for District posts.
Press Formerly Admitted.
The House committee formerly
allowed the press to sit in when
action was taken on bills, but this
was halted last spring. The rule
was renewed yesterday at the
House committees organization
meeting.
Debate was stirred up when
Chairman Mcmillan, Democrat. OF
South Carolina told reporters, in
answer to a question on why the
press ban was adopted: 'If you
want to be blunt about it, I would
say that if I want to bar the
press that's my business"
Representative Simpson. Repub-
lican. of Illinois, ranking minority
member of the House District
Cmmittee. said he saw nothing
"antagonistic to the press" in the
committee rule. He commented
that most of the congressional
committees follow the same prac-
tice. and noted that the House
Appropriations Committee even
holds its hearings in executive ses-
sion.
II personally have no objection
to letting the people know how
vote" Mr.. Simpson added, land
any time you want to know how
I voted you come to me-"
Opposing View.
Another member said he didn't
want to be quoted by name, but
made very clear he thought hold
ing closed sessions for action on
bills was all wrong. He put it like
this:
I'm not going to have my lips
buttoned up--unless it's about a
classified matter, and I can't see
that District legislation is any
drawer secret.
It's a ridiculous thing to do.
The only reason for it that can
see is that some members don t
want the public to know how they
voted on bill. If District mat
ters are going to be handled in
the dark, then that's one more
reason why Washington should
have home rule"
Representative O'Hara. Repub-
lican, of Minnesota had a con-
trary view. He said:
I'm not opposed to the rule
for this reason. In the last dis
cussions that take place in execu-
tive sessions before a vote, there
is naturally a freer expression by
members of their reasons for being
for or against a bill and I think
this works for better legislation. -
Klein Notes Effect.
Representative Klein, Democrat
Of New York said he thought it
was probably all right to admit
reporters to all meetings-except
those when votes are taken. He
gave this reason: Suppose you
have liquor bill up and there
is controversy about it's provi-
sions. A dry member of the COM
mittee will vote for your bill in
committee, SO that it can go te
the House for action, but he will
vote against your bill on the House
floor because his district may be
dry"
Other members said they hac
no objection to letting their votes
be known, but indicated they
would support the rule if it comes
up for reconsideration