THE MICHIGAN DAILY PA Managed News' Hinders Lansing Press I. over the administration's plan. The final decision on whether there will be any new legislation may well hinge on the weight giv- en the two referendum influences.l Should the administration andf congressional policymakers fin- ally decide that the freedom-from-+ controls issue was a major cause of the defeat, there would be small chance of new legislation.E Alternative Program On the other hand, should they decide the vote swung on the ex-' pectation of an alternative pro- gram, chances of new legislation would be greatly improved. Democrats could, hardly oppose new legislation in view of the 1964 election. This could give Republi- cans an issue which they would be 'expected to use to strengthen their hold on the normally Re- publican farm areas of the mid- west and great plains. Yet, some Democrats hold the view that it would be useless for their party to try to win in this area. Cotton Legislation A need for new cotton legisla- tion to replace the existing two- price system with its unfavorable effects on domestic use of cotton could figure in eventual action on, new wheat legislation. There is a; possibility that cotton state Dem- ocrats would join with Republi- cans to pass a wheat-cotton bill over administration opposition, as- suming the administration decid- ed to fight new wheat proposals. Still another factor which could influence congressional action on a wheat bill is the fact that many lawmakers, particularly from urb- an areas, are expressing them- selves as being fed up with squab- bling over farm legislation. Many have voted for such legislation in the last two years only under strong party pressure. Not to be discounted in the leg- islative outlook for wheat is the fact a number of Senate Demo- crats from wheat states come up for reelection next year. Not the least of these is Majority Leader Mike Mansfield (D-Mont). Terms Expire Others whose terms expire in 1964 include Sens. Quentin N. Bur- dick (D-ND), Philip A. Hart (D- Mich), Vance Hartke (D-Ind), Eu- gene J. McCarthy (D-Minn), Wil- liam Proxmire (D-Wis), Stuart Symington (D-Mo), Ralph Yar- borough (D-Tex) and Stephen M. Young (D-Ohio). They may insist that the Democrats push for new wheat legislation. The administration itself has cause for wanting. a. program that would prevent the unlinited pro- duction of wheat which would be permitted in event of no new leg- islation. A big wheat crop in 1964 could weaken the administration feed grain program designed to help reduce surpluses of corn. With unlimited production wheat could sell under sell corn at prices set for corn under the feed grain program. Thus wheat would dis- place much corn in livestock pro- duction, resulting in a possible in- crease in feed grain surpluses. By GENE SCHROEDER Associated Press News Analyst LANSING-The current furor over "manged news" and freedom of information in Washington un- derscores the fact that state gov- ernment in Michigan is not ex- actly an open book. The basic principle that people in a democracy have a right to know how public officials are, handling public affairs is some- times resisted by state politicians whose salaries come . out of the taxpayers' pocketbooks. Newsmen reporting the Michi- gan capital scene have fairly lib- eral privilegessin covering the Leg- islature in its open sessions and; most .lawmakers seem to agree on the importance of keeping the, public informed-up to a point. Closed Doors But much of the real decision- making in the Legislature takes place behind closed doors in se- cret committee meetings. Although sudden death can come to some major and highly contro- versial bills in such star chambers proceedings, no official disclosure is made on how individual com- mittee members voted on the measures or even the total com- mittee vote for and against. Whether through timidity or -ar- rogance or both, some legislators feel the people back home should not know how their representatives voted on specific issues. If the voters did know, they might be surprised at what they learned and throw the rascals out at the next election. Adverse Effects Defenders of the closed com- mittee system invariably come up with the example that if the press disclosed plans for property acquisitions when they are dis- cussed at appropriations hearings it would cost the taxpaying public millions of dollars in skyrocketed prices for the land. But even this argument was weakened recently with the dis- closure that at least one congress- man apparently used his inside knowledge from such a hearing to profit on some land acquisitions in Washington. Most newsmen probably would agree that in some isolated cases the need for secrecy is apparent. Isolated Cases What is not so apparent to re- porters, however, is how this rea- soning can justify a blanket policy of refusal to reveal how lawmakers voted on controversial matters that are killed in committee. Examples of news management or suppression in the past year are not confined to the Legisla- ture: 1) The board of education held a secret meeting at which it made a decision on some multimillion- dollar Flint property and then held up the public announcement until the interested parties could be informed by mail. Secret Sessions The board also met secretly to consider the North Central As- sociation of Schools and Colleges report on Eastern Michigan Uni- versity. While a general summary of the document has been released, its significant details still remain secret. 2) The State Agricultural Com- mission closed its doors to the public and press last fall when it was deciding on some aspects of a spray program against Japanese beetles in Monroe and Lenawee counties. 3) The Board of State Canvas- sers attempted to prevent news- men from checking official county election figures against unofficial reports, until the attorney general pointed out that such figures are public information under the law. No Explanation 4) The Supreme Court, as it frequently does, handed down a one-word decision-"denied"-in throwing out a petition challeng- ing the legality of the election procedure under which the new Constitution was adopted. There was no explanation of the judicial reasoning or interpretation involv- ed. Ironically, under the new Con- stitution the court will hence- forth be required to explain its decisions. 5) The "blue-ribbon" Citizen's Committee for Higher Education meets in secret, despite requests for open sessions and the general interest of the academic commun- ity. Gov. George Romney has call- ed its work "the most important in shaping the state's future." Freedom of Information The new Constitution strikes a blow for freedom of information in other areas as well. Legislative committees will be required to make public a record- ed roll call vote on all actions on bills and resolutions, although se- cret meetings still will be permit- ted. All local government budget hearings must be open to the public, and the governing boards of all tax-supported universities must open their meetings to the public and the press. For years, newsmen covering board sessions at the University and Michigan State University have been merely "inviked guests," and the invitations can be with- drawn at any time. Open Records The revised Constitution also de- clares that keepers of the state's purse-strings must make available for public inspection "all financial records, accountings, audit reports and other reports on public mon- ies." This is in keeping with the spirit of an oft-quoted statement from the annals of Michigan's Supreme Court. "If there be any rule of the English common law that denies the public the right of access to public records, it is repugnant to the spirit of our democratic in- stitutions. "Ours is a government of the people. Every citizen rules." SPLAYS LIVELIER! STAYS LIVELIER! LOWER IN COSTI rA M NG BRAIDED RACKET STRING ASNAwAT VANTAGE For Tournament Play Approx Stringing Cost Tennis............S ASNAwAT PRO-FECTED For Club Play Approx. Stringing Cost Tennis......... r Badminton........6 ASHAWAT MULTI-PLY Fat Regular Play. Approx. Stringing Cost Tennis.............$5 Badminton........ 4 L&M GRAND PRIX 50 wow ER'S CIRCLE 71 ell See i 11 s Mr! . ..... .. . *. ..- ...A WATCHES at Ann Arbor's franchised dealer arcade jewelry shop 16 nickels arcade Sf l'I 7 Just Received Slipment-- 100% WOOL Beautifully Embroidered 8 NICKELS ARCADE NO 2-2914 for every deb there's a GOSSAR-DEB 330 Maynard (across from arcade) I I Coming next faI ...a new LM GRAND PBJX50 for 1963-641 Add your name to this growing circle of winnersi Final Lap Consolation Prize Winners! I Tempest Winners...Laps 1, 2, 31 especially selected Louis J. Lobsinger U. of Detroit Roger EGorlicki De Papl U.. Stuart Strenger Georgia State Stanley 1. Faust U. of Oklahoma Judson K. Farnsworth Northeastern U. Raymond T. Joyce, Jr. Bryant Coll ge John C. Lavery U. of Kansas Linda Ivncovich San Jose State Cheryl A, Moore Portland State to be ner deb in new ENGRAVED LYCRA* SPANDEX or regular I -r FOR THE CONSOLATION PRIZE WINNERS RCA Victor's 4-speed port able stereo hi-fi set, "The Walt:," FIRST LAP Ashton B. Burft U: of Kentucky Roger P. Blacker N.Y.U. John N. Bierer The Citadel William P. Martz Kent State Lucy Lee Bassett Emory U. SECOND LAP Richard L. Smit U. of Michigan R. Montgomery, Jr. Texas Tech. Consolation Prize Winners..Laps 1, 2,31 will engrave your Goodbye Message FREE. power net inner bonds give you a pan- cake-flat silhouette. A vertical stretch back panel shapes a trim derriere. Dip front waist won't rol or bind. FIRST LAP Hubert F. Tett Iowa State Billy Q. Farris Sam Houston State Witllm L B !_ dln Michael B. Reed Ursinus College Baxter.Myers, Jr. Stephen F. Austin State Brian F. Goodrich St. U. of N. Y. (Albany) Sylvan Gordan Cal. State Poly THIRD LAP George F. Smith San Jose State Louisamna .Sraey li a.iRev.n hompso LoiiaRStt arold L. Schiid Rev. John Thompson Charles Perry. Jr. 10 of Ilnois Gannon College (Fas.) .., I ..