Page:1954 Juvenile Delinquency Testimony.pdf/318

306 n comic-book publishing firm for lier advice and admitted she hadn't seen the code of efliies used by that firm until the night before the hearing.

It also heard a comic-book publisher invoke the fifth amendment to the Gon- stitution and refuse to testify on the grounds his testimouy might ineriminate him.

In addition, it heard the testimony under oath of the counsel for the News Dealers Association of Greater New York who declared flatly that tic-in sales are forcing the newsstand operators to sell comic books against their will.

Other develojments included the statement by the committee's associate coun sel, HL. W. Leuser, after the hearings adjourned, that the Courant’s series of articles on comic baaks was a tremendous help to the committee.

Beasev said the articles will be made part of the committee’s record and said the Courant’s series was used as the basis for the start of the congressional probe into the comic-book industry and its relationship to juvenile delinquency and erime,

Senator Kefauvrer’s charges against the Child Study Association of America came during fhe testimony of Gunnar Dybwad, association exccutive director,

Senator Kefanver pni in the record copies of reports issued by the association which had been submitted to the committee by comic-book publishers in defense of the industry.

He showed Dyhwad one of the association’s reports written by Josette Frank, an employee of the association. “Why don't you say on this report that Josette Frank is paid by the comic-hoak industry ?° Kefauver asked.

“She doesn't work for the comic-book industry,’ Dybwad replied, “she ig paid by a comic-book publisher. There is a difference.”

Senator Kefauyer then produced another report made by the Child Study Associntion of America authored by Mrs. Sidonic Gruenberg, a child-guidance expert.

“Mrs. Gruenberg wrote a very favorable article on comie hooks,” Senator Kefauver declared, ‘and she too 1s in the pay of the comic-book publishers.”

Dyhwad replied that Mrs. Gruenberg is no longer in the employ of comic-book publishers,

Senator Kefanver replied, “Here are twa people used by your association to evaluete comic books who are being paid hy comic-book publishers. Do you think that’s fair to the ymblie?’

“Yes.” replied Dybwad.

Senator Kefauver then declared, “I think that is traveling under false colors and is pot fair to the public.”

{Sefanver named other prominent experts in the employ of the comic-book publishers including Dr, Laureifa Bender, senior psychiatrist at Bellevue Hos- pilat and professor of clinical psychiatry at New York University; Dr. &. Har- court Peppard, of Newark, N. J., and Dr. W. D. Sones, of the University of Pitts- burgh,

Kefauuver identified Dr. Gender as a member of the advisory board of the Child Siudy Association of Amerier, Dy, Bender testified that she reecives $150 a month from National Comics, which publishes Superman, among others.

She said she is paid as a member of the firm’s advisory board and her name apnears in cach issue along with the names of Josette Frank, Dr. Sones, and Dr, Peppard.

She said the board hadu't met in the past 6 months and that the $150 a month is for advice. Asked for an example, she cifed an oveision when the comic-book firm asked her if she approved of the manufacture and sale of Superman costumes for children.

She said other experts on the advisory board of the comic-book firm are paid larger sums, Showu a eopy of the code of ethics used by the firm, she said the first ttine she had seen it was the night before the bearing. She said a eode she helped draft for the company a few years ago was not im mse,

Invoking the fifth amendment was publisher Samuel Hoth who said he is now ont on balt after being arrested last week on charges of violating New York’s indecent and obscene literature statutes and charges of conspiracy to violate the laws.

Alex Segal, president of Stravon Publications, denied under oath charges that he is now selling names of children who answer ads in his comic books to other firms. He said his firm sold lists of names in the past but stopped the practice last year.