Evening star., 1952-01-20
Rights of Video in Congress
Still Remain Undetermined
On the Air
By Horry Macarthur


The weeks event which stirred the broadcastng trade
It nasnt been stirred in time submission by
Robert Brrett order banning sundry other forms
OF communication while he testifying
The boadcasters let quite howl pain with some
ustcaton These supposed to open hearings
angements had been made them them and
tape-record them for later broadcang These
especially the case OF television both extensive
expensive.
When the first witness called Monday objected to the
mcophones the lights cameras the fash bulbs and number
of other things and had accede politely to his
wishes there chaos The boadcaser attitude was
either hearings they weren't and if they were omen
tne radio and eevson people had much right
else
Assurances that it wouldn't happen again no consoa-
on because the broadcasters wondered the
how could make for the retired major and
superintendent and another for subsequent witnesses
Right Where Costello Left 1t ~.
What the committee looking into District did actually
ressonal hearings Whether Maj Barres testimony will turn
to be worth the passed buck something future to
asdetermine.
AS things stand the whether to teevise or
not to evse public governmental proceedings where it
day. will thing some sort of legal
status for evson at the hearing will have
on that will not be left the of chair
men, witnesses or casual passersby.
It will not be problem to solve good argu
mens both and The best support eevising such
things that televson in addition all the other things
is wonderful tool of democracy open hearing is Just that
and televon modern mans of pushing back the
admit an audience of millions often vay audience
Ffeeoom 70 Report Nor fne issue
THIS probably is more telling argument than the broadcast
ers have when they raise the banner of freedom of press
be pointed out that televson
granted the privileges last week
even when the thrown token some
objection might be raised up battery of type
writer's and linotype machines in the hearing
This around major argument that all this
eevison equipment tend to make te
will be colored by his agitation assumption of
standers whether right that with nothing hide
has nothing to fear from televion who
wants all mcrophones removed from his vicinity want
too many people to hear what he Is going to say.
Still eevson does in fact contribute element which
STANDS the way OF the OF congressional
must be considered
There not much for support of the arguments that
teevison may tend to turn hearing into 1t is
an invasion Of privacy That midget planted
privacy behind when he starts testify public hearing
Interesting Problems Might Come Up
This matter OF invading privacy with the eeconc
might raise some interesting questions though
eevson Ifs great deal different the newspaper
which takes pictures of witnesses carries running account
OF their testimony It is powerful reporter but
Is with equal intensity entertainment medium
sales brochure.
Suppose instance that Clark Gable were called to testify
MetroGdwyn Mayer which, other things the
right to appear televion Can he be forced
contract?
Suppose again that Milton Berle to testify before
performer and his fee for performing minutes
he in contempt Of Congress he refuses practice
the trade at which he makes a living?
These faretched upposions perhaps but point
that the rights of witness these hearings Just
sacred theghs of teeviewers going
decision about teevon halls might just be
as later