Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-17

- Soviet Foreign Minister
7ohl, Premier of East Ger
discussion of questions of
New York to head the So
'.-AP Wirephoto.
committee will be directed, HI
said. Senator Hennings also OBJ
served that some citizens ART
fearful that Gin delving into Ger
tain sensitive areas, we might b'
opening up a Pandora's box O.
new evils" Replying to thes,
people. he said if the founding
fathers had the vision to pro
claim these rights I'VE can d.
no less by matching their cour'
age" to awaken an appreciation
Of these rights.
Rabbi Norman Gerstenfeld o.
the Washington Hebrew Congre.
CATION delivered the invocation
Mr.. Virgins explained thai
censorship was not the only evi
the First Amendment sought t.
iprevent. but any action Of gov
eminent by which 1t -l4ight pre-.
vent free and general discussion
of public matters. He grouped
the actions to be guarded against
into these five categories:
| Il. Those that Withhold infor'
nation about Government at TIT
source and deny the people tn,
right to get the facts.
20. Those that censor tn,
press and by prior restraint pre-
vent the publication of informa'
ton that has been obtained.
IS. Those that impose pen.
alties after publication so saw.
age or severe that citizens hest.
tate to write or speak Of what
they know.
Il. Those that deny access Il
materials and machinery essen
tial to publication.
IS. Those that prevent thu
distribution Of printed materia
or dissemination Of information
by other means"
HAS government obstructet
the general discussion of pub
lie matters by withholding in
lformation?" asked Mr.. Virgins
Indeed 1t has. Committees oil
Congress, despite their own rules
to the contrary. have. in recent
years. held more than a thirc
of their committee proceedings
in secret. Courts and quasi
judicial independent agencies
while performing the functions
Iof courts. have met behind
closed doors. Executive depart
iments have frequently withheld
and concealed matters Of vita
public concern. Transactions not
lat all touched with military Sc
curity have been shrouded in
secrecy. Those that have in
volved military security have
been concealed beyond a time
required by national safety"
In discussing censorship by
prior restraint. Mr.. Virgins said
that. Notwithstanding a Supreme
Court decision marking out the
meaning Of prior restraint" the
Federal Communications Com
mission, in q subsequent ruling
that was not contested, laid down
the limits Of future political
C o m m emit 1t would allow a
licensee.
Abuses Cited
In referring to penalties i'm
posed after publication, Mr.. Wig
gins said congressional commit
tAes have summoned newspaper
men before them and called
them to account for comment
critical Of members of Congress,
even when the utterances in
volved no violation Of law.
Mr.. Virgins also charged that
punishment for contempt, SO
arbitrary and severe as utterly
to- inhibit public discussion and
newspaper reporting in that jur-
isdiction. has been ordered by
the Florida courts, notwith-
standing the enlightened and
modern view of contempt gen.
orally prevailing in the State
and Federal courts of the United
States"
Referring to the passage of a
law requiring registration OF
printing equipment utilized by
the Communist Party. Mr.. Wig
gins said: This act (however
well intended and directed
against however odious an Or
ganization) comes closer to
press licensing than any measure
enacted since the adoption of
the Constitution"
Mr.. Virgins also declared the
Post Office Department. exer-
cising powers mot at all care
fully devised or widely under
Stood" has frequently interfered
with the distribution of printed
publications.
The spokesman for the editors
concluded that "those who would
set up laws and regulations to
keep Americans from seeing
hearing or reading what they
choose exhibit a lack of faith
in the principles Of our Bill of
Rights and a lack of confidence
in the people upon whom their
own authority rests"
Churchman Speaks