STUDY AND INVESTIGATION OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION HEARINGS BEFORE THE SELECT COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FIRST SESSION ACTING UNDER H. Res. 21 A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE SELECT COMMITTEE TO PART 1 Printed for the use of the Select Committee to Investigate the Federal Communications Commission A45 HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE EUGENE E. COX, Georgia, Chairman EDWARD F. HART, New Jersey RICHARD B. WIGGLESWORTH, Massachusetts II STUDY AND INVESTIGATION OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1943 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SELECT COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, The select committee met at 10 a. m. in the caucus room, Old House Office Building, Hon. E. E. Cox (chairman) presiding. Present: Representatives E. E. Cox (chairman), Edward J. Hart, Warren G. Magnuson (arriving later), Richard B. Wigglesworth, and Louis E. Miller. The CHAIRMAN. I think we might as well proceed. Mr. Magnuson, a member of the committee, did not expect to be here this morning. However, he told me last evening that he had rearranged his engagements so as to make possible his presence. I am reluctant to proceed in his absence, but I am not certain whether he is in town or not. The committee will come to order. I hope you will pardon just a brief statement before we proceed. This is addressed particularly to my colleagues, the members of the committee. STATEMENT OF HON. E. E. COX, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND CHAIRMAN OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen of the committee, we are about to open public hearings in an investigation which involves one of the fundamental elements of the Bill of Rights-freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is in these modern days no less involved in, and embraced by, radio communication than in the press. They are simply two parts of the same fundamental element of liberty itself and of our American system which guarantees that liberty under the Constitution. It is not to be denied that there has been a marked and dangerous trend toward suppression of free press and free speech under the exigencies of war. This is inevitably so because the requirements of war do impose certain restrictions and limitations upon the scope of information and intelligence which may be carried to the people by the press, by the radio, indeed, by word of mouth. The very fact that the exigencies of war do impose certain and proper limitations upon the exercise of freedom in the press, over |