FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES PART 1-Panel Discussion With Editors et al. 14.2. Congress. Hous.. HEARINGS BEF E A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FOURTH CONGRESS R.V.S. CONTENTS 73 Page 21 Cross, Harold L., freedom of information counsel for American 9, 36, 42, 45, 63 Easterly, Guy, publisher, La Follette (Tenn.) Press.. Koop, Theodore F., director, Washington News and Public Affairs, Mollenhoff, Clark, Washington Bureau, Des Moines Register and 20 28, 61 32, 53, 65 29, 44 Pope, James S., executive editor, Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal 4, 38, 50 Reston, James, Washington correspondent for the New York Times 25, 59, 62 Slocum, Richard W., executive vice president, the Philadelphia Bulle- 16, 42 Wiggins, J. R., executive editor, Washington Post and Times Herald 7, 48, 66 Letters, statements, etc., submitted for the record by-- Cross, Harold L., freedom of information counsel for American Society Excerpt from opinion of the United States Supreme Court__ Excerpt from transportation section of the Interstate Commerce 63 67 Dawson, Hon. William L., a Representative in Congress from the State of Illinois and chairman, Government Operations Committee: Excerpt from statement entitled, "The Power of Congress and of the President Over the Control of Government Information" Easterly, Guy, publisher, La Follette (Tenn.) Press: Excerpt from Koop, Theodore F., director, Washington News and Public Affairs, Excerpt of letter on behalf of CBS News to the Department of 28 Moss, Hon. John E., a Representative in Congress from the State of California, and chairman, Special Subcommittee on Government AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES PART 1-Panel Discussion with Editors et al. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1955 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT INFORMATION, COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, Washington, D. C. The subcommittee met at 10:30 a. m., Hon. John E. Moss (subcommittee chairman) presiding. Members present: John E. Moss (subcommittee chairman), William L. Dawson (chairman of the Government Operations Committee), Dante B. Fascell, and Clare E. Hoffman. Mr. Moss. First, I would like to welcome all the members of the panel who are with us this morning. This is not a hearing. It is an informal discussion to give the subcommittee members and the public an opportunity to learn the views of the specialists in the field of information and, particularly, their views on the free flow of information from the Federal executive agencies to the public. Let us be clear on this point: You are not here as witnesses. This is an on-the-record discussion so the people may sit in, so to speak, while we exchange ideas on a problem that is vital in a democracy. We shall discuss the general question of the availability of Government information from the viewpoint of the press, including radio and television, which are the main outlets for information in a democracy. Each of you has made a contribution to the movement toward greater freedom of information. There are many others who should be here, but we had to limit the number of participants. I can best explain the goal of the House Government Information Subcommittee by quoting from a letter sent to me on June 9, 1955, by the distinguished chairman of the House Committee on Government Operations, Congressman William L. Dawson, chartering our subcommittee. He pointed out the importance of an informed public, and stated: With this guiding purpose your subcommittee will ascertain the trend in the availability of Government information and will scrutinize the information practices of executive agencies and officials in the light of their propriety, fitness, and legality. You will seek practicable solutions for such shortcomings, and remedies for such derelictions, as you may find, and report your findings to the full committee with recommendations for action. I am inserting Congressman Dawson's letters establishing the subcommittee in the record. 1 |