Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-01

0QAlG kAAUJQh R0AbAN0A AA8aACo 1
appear sympathetic TO plans Of |
the Virginia Press Associations |
Freedom Of Information Com
mittee to introduce an open |
meeting. open records" bill in
the State legislature In jan
uary.
The attitude Of certain 9TH |
ers. more important and with |
the strings Of power In their |
grasp. seems equivocal II not |
hostile. to proposals for OUT
having or restricting executive |
sessions.
% Papers Respond
Thirty-three Virginia news
papers responded to . vir-
ginianPilot questioning On
government secrecy. Two-thirds
Of them reported instances Of
state or local government |
bodies resorting to some form
Of secrecy.
The reports Indicated that
often Q blank and sound-proof
wall shuts on the public from |
knowledge Of how controversial |
issues are resolved.
A desire 70 leave an impress |
SION Of unanimity sometimes |
has led public ofiicials to
smother the honest controversy |
Of democratic government by
reporting decisions as routine
and unopposed.
The uncertainties that win
attend the introduction Of the
VPA bill are Indicated by the
comments Of political leaders.
Almond Cautious
Gov.-Elect J. Lindsay Al
mond. jr.. was cautious when
asked about the principle Of
public business being conduct
ed In the public view. Although
saying he would approach any
bill : offered with an open
mind" he declined TO comment
further.
1t. Gov. A. Z. s. Stephens.
presiding ofiicer Of the Senate.
declared himself this way: II
think that at times executive |
sessions are absolutely neces-
ssry to the welfare OF the COM
nonwealth. but that all records
Of votes taken in executive ses-
s,,7a should be made public"
Mr.. Stephens predicted the
legislature would rise up
sgeinst" any bill that would
outlaw executive sessions. I've
served IN the House and Seq
ate for ~ years. and I've never
seen anything done at an exec
utive session that was mimi
cable to the public interest"
he said.
! Asked for an example Of the
need for such sessions. he re-
piled: There are times that
you have information that has
come TO you In such o way you
can't make q public display Of
It."
Cites Some Exceptions
Delegate Robert Whitehead.
the Livingston Democrat who
leads the anti : organization
forces, said. AS Q general rule. |
] think hearings ought TO be
public. However. I can visual |
ize exceptional situations where |
the public interest might other
wise require"
Speaking Of public bodies |
generally. Mr.. whitehead said. |
81 think we have entirely too
much secrecy too many |
closed or executive sessions ~ |
they call them" On the other |
hand. he observed that It would |
be difncult to draft q good bill. |
Senator Ted Dalton Of Rad |
ford. Mr.. Almonds Republican
challenger for the governor
ship, said he not only favored
anti-secrecy legislation but ac-
tually was planning to intro
duce q bill or resolution him.
self. He added that he would
willingly yield to q Democrat
wishing to introduce q meas
ure.
Senator Dalton recognizes
only two reasons for closed
meetings as legitimate: % The |
national security. which might |
be involved at the State level. |
say during a national emer-
gency when the National Guard
had to be called UP. and CD
when q discussion might re-
feet unfairly on q persons
character.
Most newspapers replying TO
the QUESTIONABLE found some |
public bodies willing TO keep |
their doors open. And most re-
spondents conceded that not
every discussion by q public |
body should be exposed TO pub
lie view.
Inherent Danger
The danger regarded as in
herent In the closed session was
that a public body holding
such sessions almost invariably
finds itself tempted to discuss
controversial matters.
There Is evidence that the
press itself often fails TO press
vigorously for open meetings.
Several college and university
boards Of visitors, which to-
gether handle millions Of dol
lars In public funds annually,
say they have met for years
without a reporter ever asking
to attend.
School boards were most fire.
quently cited by reporters for q
tendency TO bar the public and
withhold information. Infiam-
matory racial issues repeatedly
underlie much Of the secrecy.
Political causes. friction be-
tween board members, and del
icate personnel problems were
other factors cited.
The right for the public TO