Sharp Words Mark Term's First Forum

Like the congressional investigations it considered, the Law School Forum sometimes reached the stage of sharp exchanges and bitter denunciations as it opened its spring term of programs last night at Rindge Tech.

Discussing the topic "Congressional Investigations--How Can They be Improved?", the Forum brought two congressmen, a Washington reporter, and a New York attorney to offer their recommendations and their criticism.

The men, Senator Homer Ferguson, Representative F. Edward Hebert, Christian Science Monitor reporter Robert L. Strout, and Allen A. Klots, all agreed that Congressional investigations are necessary, but were not unanimous in setting up a program of controls for the inquiries.

Strout's solution was short. "Put men of integrity, wisdom, and with a sense of decency and fair play on the committees and most of the troubles will vanish overnight," he said. He urged that reforms come from within Congress itself.

Hebert Upholds Committee

When he attacked the House Un-American Activities Committee, claiming that the group "has raised more questions than it has settled, and has been unfair in its procedure," Strout found an opponent in Hebert, a former member of that body.

Hebert declared that a blanket indictment of the Un-American Activities group is unfair. "Individuals, not the committee, are responsible for any misdeeds that have occurred," he said. Elaborating, he attacked political motives of some committee members:

"When you have the votes you can do anything you please. The boys up there have the votes and I am off the committee."

Congressional investigations have the primary purpose of uncovering facts, the Louisiana congressman said. Senator Ferguson, chairman of the Senate investigating committee, agreed, but said the broad authority of such groups "entails responsibility for fair and judicious hearings," since rules of trial law do not hold in these inquiries.

The rights of individuals testifying before congressional probes were the chief concern of the speakers. All felt that witnesses have rights which must be protected but that the welfare of the country stood above anyone's individual rights.

To protect witnesses, Klots recommended that congressional groups make clear statements of their purpose in investigation, that witnesses have the right to counsel, and the right to read a formal statement into the record at the conclusion of their testimony