Cox's Circus

Two years ago the Federal Communications Commission discovered that Georgia's wirehaired, rabble-rousing Representative Gene ("Goober") Cox had received a $2,500 gift of stock from radio station WALB (Atlanta, Ga.), after helping the station get its license from FCC. (By law, Congressmen are forbidden to accept fees for practicing before Government bureaus.) Ever since then, Gene Cox has tried to tear FCC apart.

He persuaded the House to set up a special investigating committee, with himself as head. Fortnight ago Gene Cox ostentatiously published his list of 24 accusations. Among them, that FCC: 1) tried to censor radio broadcasts; 2) used its powers to reward political friends; 3) got funds from Congress by misrepresentation; 4) menaced national security; 5) terrified and enslaved the radio industry, etc.

Two weeks ago, Gene Cox began his hearings, hoping for headlines. He set out on a fact-fishing expedition, looking for proof of his charges. He met rebuke and rebuff. Budget Director Harold Smith refused to testify. Navy Secretary Frank Knox, subpoenaed, just skipped the hearing. Franklin Roosevelt ordered that no one talk about a dispute between the Army and FCC. Even FCC's ever loyal opposition, the radio industry, called Gene's charges nonsense. With no facts to go on, Gene's circus folded its tents, went home.

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