‘Secret Files’ On Dissenters

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32214, 5 February 1970, Page 11

‘Secret Files ’ On Dissenters

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) TRENTON (New Jersey), Feb. 4. An Assistant Attor-ney-General told the Supreme Court that socalled “secret files” kept by the state police were needed to prevent largescale civil disorder, United Press International reported.

The official, Mr Stephen Skillman, made the statement during arguments before the High Court over the right of police to compile files on dissenters and the potential for misuse of the information.

The dispute arose from a memorandum sent by a former Attorney-General, Mr Arthur Sills, to local police departments in April, 1969, advising them to file names and background information on persons believed to be potential disrupters. The American Civil Liberties Union challenged the memorandum and the appellate division of the Superior Court had ruled unconstitutional the paragraph containing the advice. The appellate division ruled that the system of gathering the intelligence would infringe upon the freedoms of speech and association, but it allowed compilation of a file on those suspected of a crime. Mr Skillman said that the information could help departments of state government but would not be made public. The data would be compiled by local departments and filed with the state police. An A.C.L.U. lawyer, Mr Morris Stem, acting on behalf of the Jersey City Chap-

ter of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People, contended that the memorandum would allow investigation of persons participating in legal protests, rallies or marches. Mr Stern contended that the information might be used if a person applied for a state job or to cause him problems with creditors or employers. “I recognise what you fear, though I am not so sure at this time it is real,” said Chief Justice Joseph Weintraub. But Mr Stern said that the memorandum would give “the policeman the power to investigate any kid with long hair standing in Journal Square.”