House OKs bill to curb searches of new rooms

The House has approved a bill protecting news rooms against searches by police unless a journalist is suspected of a crime or if the object of the search is necessary to prevent the death or injury of another person. The Senate approved a similar bill last month. The administration-supported bill is a response to the controversial Supreme Court decision in 1978 that upheld a search warrant authorizing Palo Alto, Calif., police to search the news room of the Stanford Daily for films and photographs of a student demonstration in 1971. Once minor differences between the House and Senate versions are worked out, the bill will be sent to the President for his signature.