Congressional Probes A Recent Phenomena
Wednesday, March 3, 1954
One of the phenomena of recent years has been the rise in importance of the congressional investigation. Best known today is, of course, Wisconsin's Sen. Joseph McCarthy's group to investigate subversives, but countless other investigations have received public note.
Today, as the committee is accused of being an instrument for rise to power by ambitious senators, of being a partisan instrument employed by one party to the detriment of another—or, as in the case of the Kefauver committee, employed by one party to the detriment of itself—perhaps it is time to investigate the investigating committee.
First, exactly what is such a body? It exists to investigate, naturally enough. But with the investigating power would seem to go three auxiliary aspects:
1. The power to compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses.
2. The power to compel the production of papers and information.
3. The power to punish for contempt.
All powers are not concretely stated, but rather derived from necessary implication in the legislative function. In other words, Congress must be presumed to be informed before it can act on a public matter. The investigating committee is the means of bringing that information before Congress.
George B. Galloway, who has written "The Investigative Function of Congress" in the American Political Science Review, has listed three purposes of the investigating committee.
"This is the most familiar and least challenged use of the investigative function. It is available when the legislature is seeking information deemed necessary for legislation or detecting defects in laws already enacted or in voting supplies."
Mr. Galloway lists first the purpose of the committee as an aid in legislation.
"It affords a convenient channel through which the representatives of the people can get at the conduct of officials who have acquired greatly increased control over their lives. In short, it reveals inefficiency and dishonesty—serious evils which often cannot be exposed in any other way."
Second, Mr. Galloway lists the investigation and informing the public of officials' actions.
J. W. Hurst, writing in "The Growth of the American Law," has included another reason for informing the public: "In the face of the impersonality and self-centeredness of 20th century urban life, government faced the problem of creating a workable minimum of informed public interest in community affairs."
At last, Mr. Galloway says, "The power and duty of the legislature to inform the voters regarding the administration of existing laws, to turn the searchlight on their government, is implicit in the whole theory of democracy and popular sovereignty.
Experts seem to agree that implicit in a government of fallable men in the missuse of the committee—or any body so constructed. It would seem to be true, however, that the injuries thus done are inconsiderable compared with the evils that would result from depriving Congress of the power to supervise the public business or from hampering its committees from getting at the facts.
Many of the violent charges that one senator—already named has irresponsibly made were made on the Senate floor. It was in the committee itself that the charges were investigated, weighed, and most often found wanting.
Since 1792, when the first congressional inquiry was called to seek out the causes of the defeat of Gen. St. Clair by the Indians, the investigating committee has performed a vital function.
Its powers would seem clear and reasonable. Its purposes would seem fair and necessary. The Congress has largely kept pace with the expanding powers of the President, thanks to the legislative inquest. —Letty Lemon.
Our basketball team is on its way to the NCAA tournament. At this time it would appear that Oklahoma A. & M. also will qualify.
This year the regional playoffs will be at Stillwater. It's likely that the Jayhawks will meet the Cowpokes for the third time this year. The teams have split the pair of games they've played against each other, a 54-50 win for the Aggies at Stillwater and the 66-55 victory for the Jayhawks here last Friday night.
One Man's Opinion
It's unfortunate that the NCAA has seen fit to hold the playoffs at Stillwater, Should KU and Oklahoma A & M meet, the Cowpokes would have an extreme home-court advantage. It's contended by sports experts that a team playing on its home court is given from five to 15 points by the opposition. Comparative scores would support this view. Familiar surroundings and fan backing account for the difference.
Of course the NCAA*has no way of knowing what teams are going to qualify for the playoffs. However, it should either choose a neutral court or wait until the conference races are decided before selecting a site.
Yesterday the Kansan carried student comments on the campus traffic and parking problem. There would appear to be something to this idea of too many students riding to class when they could walk. What we need is some good old-fashioned exercise.
It has been evident for some time that the University needs some new cheers. Members of the pep organizations have been working on it, but so far no one has come up with anything. Any ideas?
We have been wanting to drop by the Student Union and observe women students being instructed in the art of playing billiards. We are curious to see if they're told to wear slacks or keep one foot on the floor.
Dr. Clarence Manion was fired from his position as chairman of the commission on intergovernmental relations and we're waiting to see if his name will be placed on the list of "security risks."—Tom Shannon
Member of the Kansas Press Assn., National Editor Assn., Inland Daily Press Association, National Advertising Represented by the National Advertising Service, 420 Madison Avenue, N.Y. City. Mail Subscription rates: $3 a semester or $45 a year (add S1 a semester if in Law School). Send every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays. Uni-Order confirmation examination printed Entered second class master's degree, 79, 140 Lawrence, Kan. Post Office under act
UNIVERSITY
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of March 5,1879 NEWS STAFF
Page 2 University Daily Kansan Wednesday, March 3, 1954
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LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler
Letters
Dear Editor.
In regard to your article "Don't Be Half Safe! Know Your Signals!" by Ron Crandon, I would suggest that the Daily Kansan practice what it preaches.
The 1953 Supplement to General Statutes of Kansas 1949 states, (P. 28, Ch. 8, Art. 5) "When a motor vehicle is equipped with illuminated directional devices front and rear, and stop signal lamp or lamps on rear, such devices may be used in lieu of such hand and arm signals when in proper working order. Any stop or turn signal when required herein shall be given either by means of the hand and arm or by a signal lamp or lamps or mechanical signal device."
Another section of the statutes adds that these lights must be visible, day or night, from a distance of at least 100 feet.
The Daily Kansan cannot be relied up as a source of valid information in this case. Is it to be trusted in others?
George W. Karr college freshman
Beginning next fall, two masterpieces of literature will be required reading in English I. They are "The Odyssey" by Homer and "The Iliad" by Jethroe.
Did you know department; Men and women matriculate together at KU.
We understand that the real reason the New York Yankees sold pitcher Vic Raschi to the St. Louis Cardinals was because Yankee manager Casey Stengel heard Raschi say he "was going out and pitch a good one."
We see from a local newspaper story that basketball-football star Harold Patterson is no commoner. He's a "muscle-plated kangaroo." And we thought he was just a burly Jayhawk.
Short Ones
The Kansan society page soon will reflect that spring is the time of weddings and cooings—the billing follows.
"If all the hypo-fermic needle points used at the hospital last semester were placed end to end they would make an 87-foot slim steel tube""and Buildings and Grounds probably would use it to sprinkle Strong hall lawns.
Those required Fine Arts recitals are proving their worth—fine arts, students get more sleep than persons in any other school.
That time has come to start thinking up New Year's resolutions for 1955—this year's already have been disregarded.
Wish final exam week would get here so we could get some sleep.
Don't be surprised if the Inter-Coop council invites Horace B. Davis, ousted former associate professor of economics at Kansas City university, to speak here soon. Prof. Davis invoked the Fifth amendment before the Jenner committee and later got the boot from KCU's board of trustees.