Rep. Hugh Scott, of Pennsylvania, made known today that 19 U.S. Senators and candidates for the Senate have agreed to join him in co-sponsoring a bill to make it a Federal crime to bomb synagogues, schools, and churches. Rep. Scott is Republican candidate for U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania.
Rep. Scott said this projected legislation “would make it a Federal crime to import, transport, or possess an explosive with knowledge and intent that it would be used to damage or destroy any building for the purpose of interfering with its use for educational, religious, charitable, or civic objectives.” According to Rep. Scott, such legislation “would make available any of the 6,000 FBI agents who are stationed throughout the United States.”
The Post Office Department today requested a conference with the Justice Department to analyze the legal situation to determine if prosecution can be instituted against those mailing anti-Semitic inciting material. Postal officials said that there were indications that hate material played some part in the bombing of synagogues, Postal authorities may prosecute persons mailing hate literature if they can prove it played a substantial part in inciting a crime
Herbert B. Warburton, general council of the Post Office Department, indicated that what the two departments would have to determine was whether the Post Office could refuse to accept hate literature, leaving the publishers to initiate court action to force acceptance, or whether to start court action against organizations which mail such propaganda on the grounds that they have violated the law.
A postal official pointed out that nothing can be done in the case of first class matter. Such letters cannot lawfully be opened. However, recipients of unsolicited lewd or defamatory material may file a complaint. Third class matter is monitored to determine if statements containing religious or racial defamation appear on the envelope itself. Magazines afforded special mailing benefits may be opened for postal inspection at any time and restricted if found to contain violent incitement.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
