Court Opinion

ID: 9446213
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 21:49:14.01609+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:30:34.134472
License: Public Domain

REED, Associate Justice, retired,
(dissenting).
The power of Congress, through its committees to investigate the operation of Government activities, is unquestioned when the facts sought are to inform Congress with a view to legislation. Appellant's objection is that Congress had not authorized this committee to investigate the efficiency of the government processes.
This is not a situation such as Watkins v. United States, 354 U.S. 178, 77 S.Ct. 73 S.Ct. 543, 97 L.Ed. 770, where the of the investigation was not clear, nor of United States v. Rumely, 345 U.S. 41, 1173, 1 L.Ed.2d 1273, where the purpose meaning of the phrase “lobbying activities” called for definition. Here the Committee had the duty of studying the efficiency of the operation of Government activities at all levels. In directing its investigation toward certain required reports of labor unions to the Government, it was within the scope of its authority. Legislation to protect union funds more fully might be required.
Congress alone has the authority to decide the scope of a committee’s jurisdiction. It is only when the scope of the authority granted is uncertain or beyond constitutional power that the judiciary may intervene to protect a contumacious witness. It is conceded by the opinion that only a narrower resolution was required to call for replies to the questions asked.
Such judicial supervision of legislative procedure as this decision imposes is, in my opinion, not only an invasion of legislative prerogatives but hampers congressional investigations. Congress must empower its committees by general language to make needed investigations. The witness may be protected by questions narrowed so as fairly to inform him of the information desired. Watkins v. United States, 354 U.S. 178, 215, 77 S.Ct. 1173, 1 L.Ed.2d 1273.
I would affirm this conviction.