Evening star., 1951-01-05
Sponsors 10 Push
Wire-Tapping Bills
In New Congress

III view congress
Wire tapping legislation will be
pushed in the new Congress by its
sponsors in both Senate and
House.
Representative Keating, Re-
publican, of New York, reintro-
ducing aSbill he had pending in
the 81st Congress, yesterday called
for its enactment as lone of the
most important steps in the field
OF civil defense which can pos
sibly be taken"
The Keating measure went to
the House Judiciary Committee
Of which the New Yorker is a
member.
On the Senate side of the
Capitol. Chairman Neely of the
Senate District Committee said
today he would push for enact
ment of the measure approved by
his committee on the last day of
GIle o1SC congress-.
May Be Introduced Monday.
Mr.. Nicely, Democrat, of West
Virginia plans to reintroduce his
bill. probably Monday, the first
day set by the Senate for receiv-
Ing new legislation.
He characterized the bill an
plying only to the District, as
intended to protect the public
against abuse of eavesdropping de-
vices.
The national legislation spon-
sored by Representative rKeating
would legalize wiretapping evi-
dence under certain limits.
Mr.. Keating, in a statement in
the Congressional Record, referred
to editorial comment in The Star
recently. recommending that the
bill be broadened to include kid
naping and other crimes involv-
ing human life.
Not Opposed to Modification.
II am not opposed to that modi-
f1cation," he said, indeed would
be inclined to favor it. The i'm
portant thing at the moment.
however, is haste and no argu-
ment over details should be al
lowed to delay the early enact
ment of legislation so vitality need
ed to save our country.
Il have urged that an early
hearing be granted on this bill,
and earnestly solicit those mem
berS who agree to express their
views emphatically to the chair
man of the Judiciary Committee,
and the leadership which will ac-
cord priority to the various meas
ures necessary to protect our
country"
Letter Inserted In Record.
Mr.. Keating inserted in the
Congressional Record a letter
from Charles F. Martin to the
editor OF The Star urging enact
ment of the Keating bill.
The Iawnlaker explained his bill
would permit the use of evidence
obtained by wire-tapping in cases
involving treason, espionage, sabo-
tage and other crimes involving
olsloyalty TO the country.
Under existing law" he said
traitors, spies, saboteurs and
those who would destroy our Ma
ton are permitted to use tele-
phones widely in their nefarious
activities, while the FBI and other
investigative agencies are pre-
cluded from using evidence against
them, which has been obtained
by 1nterception of their messages,
This is certainly carrying the
right OF privacy to an absurd and
ridiculous length. No nation can
survive which does not meet prob
lens threatening it's very existence
with more realism than this.
Protection Alleged.
, Protection is afforded bv this
bill against abuse through the
requirement that a Federal judge
must grant permission for the
overlapping in order to make the
evidence obtained thereby admis-
sible. This is to prevent an over
Jealous investigator from infring-
ing on the legitimate rights of
innocent and lOyal citizens so ieoJ
ously guarded under the Amer
lcan system guaranteeing freedom
OF expression.
IF we are to cope successfully,
however, with the Communist
menace in this country, we must
unite the hands of those charged
with the responsibility of appre-
hending traitors or enemy agents
who unfortunately infest our pre-
ctous land. No time is to be lost.
We should act at once"