CONTENTS Fitzgerald, Monsignor Thomas J., executive secretary of the National Office for Decent Literature, Washington, D.C.... Gathings, Hon. E. C., a Representative in Congress from the State Kronhausen, Drs. Eberhard and Phyllis, Anaheim, Calif.. Mundt, Hon. Karl E., a U.S. Senator from the State of South Dakota_ Norris, James R., Jr., special assistant attorney general of Maryland.. Oliver, Hon. James C., a Representative in Čongress from the State Speiser, Lawrence, director, Washington Office, American Civil Lib- erties Union, Washington, D.C... Letters, prepared statements, supplemental material, etc.: Bergmiller, Marguerite M., president, Utica Chapter of the National Creeger, Marion J., executive secretary, the General Commission on Chaplains and Armed Forces Personnel, letter to Congressman Depuy, Judge Chauncey M., Chambersburg, Pa., two letters includ- Ervin, Richard W., attorney general of Florida, statement of 154 156 35 Henry, Judge Edwin A., city of Norfolk, Va., letter to Horace S. Kenyon, Robert E., Jr., president, Magazine Publishers Association, Lunt, Storer B., president, American Book Publishers Council: Publication entitled "The Impact of Literature: A Psychological Discussion of Some Assumptions in the Censorship Debate,' by Marie Jahoda and the staff of the Research Center for Human Relations, New York University. Statement by.. Magazine Publishers Association, Inc., roster of Oakes, Mrs. Robert W., vice president, Dunkirk-Fredonia Chapter of National Christ Child Society, telegram to Congressman Oliver____ 34 Letters, prepared statements, supplemental material, etc-Continued Paul, James C. N., and Murray L. Schwartz, article in University of Pennsylvania Law Review entitled "Obscenity in the Mails: A Comment on Some Problems of Federal Censorship". Recht, Mrs. Clyde, president, Detroit Chapter of National Christ Child Society, telegram to Congressman Oliver Regan, Rev. Robert, Jr., director of legal affairs, Methodist Board of Summerfield, Arthur E., Postmaster General, letter to Chairman Elliott enclosing report to Senator McClellan, and Senate Joint Wiltbank, Mrs. Russell, president, Washington Archdiocesan Council 87 COMMISSION ON NOXIOUS PRINTED AND PICTURED MATERIAL TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1960 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10 a.m., in room 429, Old House Office Building, Hon. Carl Elliott (subcommittee chairman) presiding. Present: Representatives Elliott Green, Daniels, and Giaimo. Also present: L. K. Alderman, Jr., chief clerk, Committee on Education and Labor, Dr. Harry V. Barnard, clerk, Subcommittee on Special Education, and Russell C. Derrickson, chief investigator. Mr. ELLIOTT. The Subcommittee on Special Education will please come to order. The subcommittee today is meeting to hear testimony on H.R. 11454, introduced by the gentleman from Maine, Mr. Oliver. The bill provides for the establishment of a Commission on Noxious Printed and Pictured Material. This bill will be made a part of the record following my statement. The purpose of such Commission would be to conduct a scientific investigation to determine if there is a causal relationship between the reading or the viewing of noxious printed or pictured material and the commission of crimes or other antisocial acts. It is my understanding that at the present time there has been no scientific study to either prove or disprove that such a relationship exists or does not exist. Researchers in the Library of Congress have said that none of the literature pertaining to the subject can be said to be conclusive on the question as to whether reading pornographic material causes socially unaccepted behavior. Other researchers have found no real evidence to date that such a relationship either does or does not exist, and they all say that this is a matter which requires further exploration and more thorough research. Persons with almost every point of view believe that such a Commission, as provided for in this bill is needed. At the present time we hear a lot of opinions expressed, but most of them are based-or some of them at least-on limited observation and, perhaps, some on prejudice. The bill which we are considering today, if enacted into law, would, I think, replace at least some of the uninformed opinions that we hear with relation to these matters with facts. 1 |