Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-03-25
By George Beveridqe

vision can be "a tremendou:
power for evil" Senator Wiley
Republican, of Wisconsin sale
last night he will introduce a bill
tomorrow to provide a Thorough
study" of problems involved il
telecasts of Capitol Hill events.
His statement came as Tht
Star, in an attempt to bring ou
widespread implications of thu
public's rapt attention to the Sen.
ate crime hearing telecasts, pollee
leaders in politics, education, law
psychiatry, various Government
agencies-and the man in thu
strickland found mixed opinion!
about the wisdom of expanding
such use of television.
Senator Wiley, a member of the
crime investigating subcommittee
which is having such a wallopinl
success with TV audiences, calico
for set of voluntary rules tt
govern all telecasts of congress
sional hearings. These rules, HI
said, must be set up to preevnt
the hearings from "degenerating'
into "three-ring circus" {
"fourth-rate stage production
with hamming and phony thea
tries" or IAN unjust inquisitior
of people under klieg lights"
Sees Ever Larger Role.
But, at the same time. he sait
it is quite clear that we are 60
ing to have to reckon with tele.
vision in the future work o.
Congress. If America is attacked
he said, Congress might have II
disperse and "legislate by tele'
vision" He added:
1T may become the most pow.
erful single medium during the
1852 Presidential and Congress.
sional elections.
las a matter of fact, 1t is OBJ
vious to every American that tele:
vision is going to assume an evel
larger role in the entire political
economic and social life of oul
Nation"
Senator Wiley said he has seri-
GUS doubts that the crime bust
ing" hearing should be televisee
continually. Some sessions, hi
said, should be closed.
The television camera is two.
edged sword which can wount
the innocent as we'll as the guilty,
the Republican said. Every per-
former at a congressional hear
ing-be he Congressman, staff
aide or witness-has a terrific
responsibility"
Decision Up to Committees.
He added that when televisior
is present, committees must de-
eide at what point investigations
are unfit for a wide audience be-
cause of "sordidness and ped.
ding in filth" The telecast also
is open to sudden outbursts Of
profanity or lewd gestures, he
pointed out.
1t is obvious that when g
committee calls men who are re-
ported to be murderers, racket
GERS, goons. etc." he declared, "it
is giving those witnesses a ire
power for evil. If a
man can assassinate another with
bullets, how much easier it is
for him to assassinate another
man with words"
The Senator said he wanted to
distinguish. however, betwee n
how constructive it is for the
nations television audience to
view someone like former Presi-
dent Hoover. testifying before the
Foreign Relations Committee. - as
compared with someone like Frank
Costello"
In view of the widespread rami-
fcations of public telecasts
on all phases of American life.
here are some of the questions
asked in The Stars poll:
Should telecasts be extended to
more hearings, to the House and
Senate chambers, to the Presi-
dents press conferences, to the
courts and to other public events?
Would their transmission, taking
the crime hearings as an example
provide any substantial value
other than entertainment? Do the
telecasts hamper the conduct OF
hearings, or violate any rights OF
participants?
Value Questioned.
The answers show sharp differ
enceS of opinion on almost every
point. Some raised the question OF
TVS economic ability to set up
extensive public service" sched-
ules. Some felt the demand would
be small. Some questioned then
value.
White House sources said Presi-
dent Truman 'unqueStionably'
would be opposed to telecaSts OF
his news conferences. on grounds
that he must make off-the-recoro
statements or give background
with worldwide implications-too
frequently in order to answer
questions adequately. These are
the same grounds on which the
President has refused to permit
radio accounts of the meetings
This situation is evident in
many of the interview shows now
on TV screens, it was noted, in
which the witness" either must
answer on-the-record or not an
swer at all when a questioner puts
him on the spot.
The White House sources sale
the same arguments would pro.
hibit telecasts of news conference.
by the Secretary of State.
Other Reactions Voiced.
Following are the reaction!
voiced by others:
Senator Tobey, Republican, Of
New Hampshire Televisior
should be extended to. the Senate
chamber for major speeches ane
events of special interest. Aside
from public interest. this might
act as "a whip and spur to those