COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION HEARINGS BEFORE THE SELECT COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE SECOND SESSION ACTING UNDER H. Res. 21 A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE SELECT COMMITTEE TO 90530 PART 3 MARCH 7 TO JUNE 21, 1944 Printed for the use of the Select Committee to Investigate the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1944 710144 HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION CLARENCE F. LEA, California, Chairman RICHARD B. WIGGLESWORTH, Massachuset EDWARD J. HART, New Jersey JOHN J. SIRICA, General Counsel II STUDY AND INVESTIGATION OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1944 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SELECT COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, The select committee met at 10 a. m., in room 1334, New House Office Building, Washington, D. C., Hon. Clarence F. Lea (chairman) presiding. Present: Representatives Clarence F. Lea (chairman), Warren G. Magnuson, Richard B. Wigglesworth, and Louis E. Miller. Also present: Harry S. Barger, acting general counsel to the select committee. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order. Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Wigglesworth. Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. Before the hearings begin, Mr. Miller and I desire to make a statement in protest against the unusual and unwarranted, in our opinion, procedure about to be followed in this investigation. During the last few days, as we all know, Mr. Eugene Garey, chief counsel for the committee, has resigned, together with the remaining members of the legal staff of the select committee investigating the F. C. C. Allegations made in connection with Mr. Garey's resignation have been shocking. They have yet to be investigated. In addition, certain members of the investigating staff have also resigned. As a result, the committee's staff has been reduced from a peak of 19 to 4 at present, consisting now of a chief investigator, a second investigator, and two stenographers. As soon as Mr. Garey resigned and it was evident that the committee was hopelessly handicapped in proceeding with further hearings or the investigation of the F. C. C., Mr. Fly demanded a prompt hearing, setting out specific subjects on which he desired to be heard and intimated that any present lack of legal personnel for the committee might be compensated for by the fact that the staff of the Federal Communications Commission would, and I quote, "carefully organize material to be presented." This demand by Mr. Fly to be heard immediately is in striking contrast to his refusal to testify when called as a witness before the first public hearing at which testimony was taken by the committee in July of 1943. Nevertheless the majority members of the committee |