Page:1954 Juvenile Delinquency Testimony.pdf/215

Rh To Investigate the Publication of Comics, and in private life, an attorney.

Mr. . How long has the committee of which you are chairman been in existence?

Mr. . Since 1949.

Mr. . Have you made any findings as a result of your investigations and hearings?

Mr. . We have.

Mr. . What are your findings?

Mr. . Well, sir, and, Senator Llendrickson, if I may be permitted to do so, 1 would like to make a statement first.

The. You proceed in your own way.

Mr. . I also would like to asl that I be afforded slight latitude, in that 1 was unable to attend the previous hearings, and 1 would like to place im the record a general summary of the work we have done ju the State of New York and particularly, en: findings and conclusions with respect thereto.

May I say, as a member and chairman of this New York legislative committee, that I am not only delighted to have this opportunity to appear, but on behalf of my committee I should like to express our gratitude to you for the work you are doing, and to state how pleased we are that this subject is receiving the attention of the United States Congress, because we feel that it is oue of the most serious subjects that now faces the people of this country.

I first. became interested in this subject in 1949 when 1 introduced regulatory legislation in the State of New Yerk dealing with comic books,

Shortly thereafter, and in the same year, the New York State jotnt Jegishitive committee to study this subject was created.

The. You understand, Assemblyman, that this subcom- nilitee is not trymg at all to invade the States or take away any au- thority of loca) government. We ure trying to furnish some degree of leadership at the national level, :

Mr. . Yes, sir; and I wish to make it quite clear that we are particularly delighted because we feel that this problem is so large that it must be handled effectively on the Federal level, and that while we feel we can do something in the States, we are hopeful that there will be Federal Jevislation forthcoming as a result of your studies,

Now, we have concluded after making our studies that the studies have conclusively demonstrated that a substantial percentage of pub- lications, in the crime comie field and particularly in the pocket book und picture magazine field, which FE understand vou will get into at a Jater date, contain offensive material primarily concerned with crime, horror, sex, and lust, and that a constant reading of this type of material has been a direct and substantial factor in the sharp in- crease In Juvenile crime and in the lowering of the whole general stendards of morality of our youth.

Onr most recent report, the report of the New York State jomé legislative committee, has been made available to your committee and ¥ am very much pleased to sry that. as a result of our efforts this year, Governor Dewey has signed into law three bills dealing with crime comics and with indeeent publications. The bills are