Page:1954 Juvenile Delinquency Testimony.pdf/15

Rh Senator. Mr. Chairman, before we call the first witness, I just want to compliment the chairman upon a very excellent statement of the purposes of this subcommittee and of this hearing here.

I would like to reemphasize that I feel that congressional hearings must be related to something that the Federal Government has jurisdiction of. This subcommittee is looking into the violations of various Federal laws, such as the Dyer Act, Mann Act, violations of the interstate commerce, and in connection with the subject matter under investigation we, of course, do have a postal statute which prohibits the mailing or using the mails for the distribution and dissemination of indecent and scurrilous literature which will be part of the subject matter of this hearing.

The. That is correct, Senator.

Senator. I think it is also important to point out that Mr. J. Edgar Hoover's report of yesterday shows that whereas the increase in population last year was 5 percent, crime had gone up 20 percent and the particularly large increase was in connection with burglary and stealing of automobiles.

The interesting point is that a large part of the burglaries was committed by juveniles. Also juveniles, according to the FBI report, comprise 53.6 percent of those arrested for stealing automobiles.

As the chairman said, we do not have all the answers, but I think that it is important to look into the various matters which Mr. Hoover and other experts do bring out in connection with the increase in juvenile delinquency; and certainly as to horror and crime comics, not the good kind as the chairman said, but the various small part, most all the witnesses do have something to say about these.

We are not going into this hearing with the idea of condemning anybody or censoring the press or impairing the freedom of the press and bringing out in relation to a Federal statute something so that all of these experts on juvenile delinquency are talking about.

That is my understanding.

The. The Senator from Tennessee is entirely correct and the Chair wishes to congratulate and commend the Senator for his contribution.

Now, will counsel call the first witness?

Mr. . Mr. Richard Clendenen.

The. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you will give before this subcommittee of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Mr. . I do.

The. The Chair with pleasure announces the presence of the distinguished Senator from Missouri, Senator Hennings.

Mr. . For the record will you state your name, your address, and your present occupation?

Mr. . My name is Richard Clendenen, 1445 Ogden Street NW., Washington, D. C.