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FEATURE PRESS SERVICE AmeRICAn. CIVIl. LIbeRtIes UniON, 170 FIFTh AVenUE, NEW YORK 1O, N. y. PATRICK MURPHY MALIN ERNEST ANGELL ARTHUR GARFIELD HAYS Executive Director ROGER N. BALDWIN MORRIS L.ERNST Chmn B'd of Directors Chmn., Nat Comm. Counsel Alan Reitman, Public Reiations Directord ORegon 5-5990 : . March 30, 1953 Weekly Bulletin #1587 SUPREME COURT REVERSES RUMELY CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS CITATION In a 7-0 decision, the Supreme Court has held that Edward A. Rumely was improperly convicted of contempt of Congress because he refused to provide a com- mittee investigating lobbying activities with the names and addresses of persons who had bought literature from him. Rumely was an official of the Committee for Constitutional Government, and the literature was distributed by that organization. Contributions of $500 or over to an organization engaged in lobbying activities must be reported; Rumely did not accept such contributions, insisting instead that persons who wanted to donate larger amounts must buy literature for distribution.as? the buyer saw fit. . In an opinion written by Justice-Frankfurter, the Court ruled that a delicate gating committce extended into an inquiry as to private persons to whom Rumely sold/? books. Thereforc, it construed the authorization of the investigation to mean.: investigation only into representations made directly to the Congress, its membcrs or its committees. Thus, the inquiry directed to Rumely was in excess of thc com- mittec's authority and the contempt citation must fall. Justices Burton and Minton? took no part in the consideration or decision of the case..7 . Justice Douglas wrote a concurring opinion, joined in by Justice Black. They. was a violation of the First Amcndment protecting freedom of speech to reauire.that, a publisher disclose thc identity of those who buy his books. This requirement,. they said, "is indecd the bcginning of survaillance of the press...the purchase of^a book or pamphlct today may rcsult in a subpoena tomorrow...through the harrassment: Thc AcLu had considered the Rumcly case at the same time as the case of.,. William Patterson, head of thc Conmunist-dominated Civil Rights Congress. Pattcrson had bcen citcd for contcmpt of Congress on the same day as Rumely for refusing to disclosc mcmbcrship records of his organization. Thc AcLu did not intcrvcnc in. to determine whether the lobbying laws had been circumventcd, did not violate civil tee's right to make the inouiry. NEW YORK ACLU SUPPORTS BILL FOR EDUCATIONAL TV The Ncw York Civil Libertics Union announced last weck its support of a bil authorizing construction of three pilot stations for non-commcrcial'cducational tclcvision operation.'. "We bclicve that the principlcs undcrlying,out constitutional provisions regarding frecdom of specch will be enhanccd by taking advantage of at least some of the channcls allocated by thc Fcderal Communications Commission in thc state.ofNew York for non-commercial cducational television purposes", the civil liberties group 3aid in a letter sent to Albany by the Rev. John Paul Jones, chairman, and George.E. Rundquist, cxecutive director, of the NycLu. It was addrossed to Senator Walter.J Mahoncy, chairman of the State Scnate Finance Committee, and Assemblyman William-H MacKanzic, chairman of thc Ways and Means Conmittec. Thosc groups are considering the Brydges-olliffe bill which would providc for thc pilot stations.. .Both 681 y 9 AFR`17 1953 q4 SERYIC