Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-05
Curb on live N
Views Of Congress
Hearings Is Attacked

Proposed restrictions on Five"
television coverage and radio
broadcasting Of congressional
investigating committee hear
ings were attacked at q Senate
subcommittee session today by
network spokesman who called
such moves unconstitutional,
unfair and against the public
interest.
A Senate Rules subcommittee
headed by Senator Jenner. Re-
publican, of Indiana. conducted
the hearing-without TV or
radio coverage-on a bill spon-
sored by Senator Bennett. Re-
publican. of Utah. The resolu-
ton would ban Give" TV or
radio coverage of committee
hearings on sponsored time. It
would allow unsponsored cover
age under certain limitations.
Robert H. Hinckley, vice pres
ident Of the American Broad
casting Co., first scheduled wit
ness, declared in a prepared
statement that such legislation
would "rribble" at constitutional
guarantees of free speech and
free press. He commended that
television, as a news medium,
has the same constitutional right
to cover public governmental
proceedings with the same free
dom as newspapers, news maya
zines and other sources of pub
lie information.
Cites Newspaper Ads.
Noting that newspaper and
magazines legitimately carry adj
vertising in the same editions
in which they report committee
hearings Mr.. Hinckley asked:
"How consistent is it to tell
us that we may have the priv
ilege Of conveying the same news
information in our media of pic
lures and sound but only pro-
vided we forego all advertising
revenue from sponsors and sign
agreements to that effect?"
Commenting on complaints
that television cameras made
circus" Of some hearings, Mr..
Hinckley remarked that a cam
era photographs only what it
sees "just as seismograph can
merely record an earthquake,
not produce one"
He added that television has
covered solemn church serv-
ices, opera performances, United
Nations sessions and that con-
gressional committees need not
fear that the showing of their
hearings would necessarily pro-
mote a circus" atmosphere.
Others Join i'm Opposition.
Representatives of other major
broadcasting companies joined
in urging rejection of the Ben
nett resolution, and several
similar bills introduced in the
Senate and House this year.
To a man they also opposed a
proposal that's no witness who
objects should be "televised.
filmed or photographed"
Ralph w. Hardy of Washing
ton, vice president of the Asso-
citation of Television Broad
casters, assailed the proposed
curbs as paternity discriminatory
and a partial infringement of
freedom of speech and of tbs
press /. 4. unfair, unsound and
against the public interest"
Mr.. Hardy said television
should be allowed to cover the
sessions of the Senate. Present
rules forbid even Spectators to
carry cameras into the Senate
galleries lest they sneak" a
PlCGuIG.
Richard S. Salant, a Columbia
Broadcasting System vice presi-
dent. said that "television does
not make the demogogue; it
exposes him."
Davidson Taylor, National
Broadcasting Co. director Of
public affairs, argued this is an
"age of electronic journalism,
television cameras and micro
phones are as an integral part
of news dissemination as the
typewriter"
James L. Cardigan, program
ming and production director
for DuMont Television Network,
said coverage Of the Mccarthy
Army hearings drew "unani-
nous" praise from TV viewers.
Army Moneuvers