Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-30
Lehman Says Courts
May Curb Probers
Un|essCongress Acts
Third-Degree Quizzes
In Offices of Committee
Employees Charged

Senator Lehman, Democrat
Liberal, of New York, declared
today that abuse of the power to
investigate has created public
reaction which may, unless we
act quickly and wisely, result in
a complete paralysis of the vital
investigating power of Congress. "
Unless Congress sets up it's own
rules for fair and impartial in
veStigations. the Supreme Court
may do it, Senator Lehman said,
adding he hopes the present
broad Senate and House au-
thority sis never hedged by rigid
judicial restrictions"
Senator Lehman spoke before
a Senate Rules subcommittee
holding hearings on a variety of
proposed rules to govern congress
sional investigations.
He said that "abuSe of the in
veStigating power by certain
committees and certain commit
tee chairmen" has been growing
mot only over the past two years
but over the past 20 years."
Power to Probe Expanded.
He said investigating power
had been expanded beyond
Simply laying a basis for legisla-
ton ito inquire just for the sake
OF inquiring to arouse public
opinion, and, in very recent years
to expose - 1t is this expansion
he said, that could bring a court
test and possibly curbs.
Because of this expansion in
the scope of Investigations, Sen
ator Lehman said, the zeal OF
congressional committees to in
vestigate has collided with the
rights of the people," and many
individual rights have "been
grossly violated.
"It is a fact that members OF
the press have been called before
investigating committees in an
attempt to intimidate and to
smear them" Senator Lehman
said. This is a violation of the
freedom of the press"
cit is a fact that individuals
have been served with SubpoenaS
and ordered to be present on a
day certain at a place certain
without setting forth the subject
of the inquiry, or the specific
matters on which they are to be
required to testify.
Third-Degree Quizzes.
'It is a fact that subpoenas
have been used by investigating
committees as substitutes fol-
warrants of arrest, to compel the
presence of individuals, and tC
subject them to third-degree in
terrogation, not by committee
members, but by committee en-
ployeS, not in open or even exec
utive hearings, but in the Office!
of the committee employees.
cit is a fact that witnesSe!
have been publicly accused
without proof, of the most helm.
Gus offenSes including Treason
merely on the basis of tht
personal Judgment or prejudic'
of committee chairmen or indi
vidual committee members.
1T is a fact that American
citizens have been called before
committees and subjected
to trial by ordeal, with all thu
weight and power of Congress:
arrayed on one side, while tht
witness has had none of the pro.
tections or safeguards to which
he would be entitled in a cour
of law"
Senator Lehman proposed tina
every witness be insured "againS
unjuStified defamation and dis
grace" by assuring him the RICH
to tell his side of the story ant
the right to have an attorne.
present. Those facing "adverS
evidence" should have the RICH
to cross examine and compel at
tendance of those makinI
charges, he said.