Evening star., 1955-02-14
Senator Magnuson
Hints He'll Probe
FEC on Lamb Case
BY III. Assoeio,ed Pres.

Chairman MagnuSon, Demo-
crat, of Washington of the Sem
ate Commerce Committee said
today his committee may inquire
into the Federal Communica-
tions Commissions handling of
its inquiry into the background
of Edward Lamb, the publisher
broadcaster.
Senator Magnuson said all
he knows about the case is
what he has read. plus his
recollection of Mr.. Lambs ap-
pearance before the committee
last year when it was considering
President Eisenhower's nomina-
ton of John c. Doerfer to be
member of the commission,
The Senator said he was
particularly impressed by the
news accounts concerning Mrs.
Marie Natvig, a turnabout Gov
eminent witness, who testified
she had been "coerced' and
brain washed" into testifying
falsely against Mr.. Lamb.
Senator Maguson, whose COM
mitte handles legislation per-
tanning to the commission, said
IF Mr.. Lamb wishes to appear
before the committee he certain
ly will have an opportunity to
do So"
Investigation Uncertain.
The Senator said he did not
wish to say definitely that his |
committee would investigate the |
Lamb case because "the COM
mission itself might make any |
correction that needs to be |
made"
He added the committee plans |
/ to take a thorough look at the |
whole field of radio and tele-
vision broadcasting - possible I
monopoly, network operation, |
very high frequency versus ultra /
high frequency and similar mat
ters--and that the Lamb case |
might well be looked into then.
The commissions hearing be-
fore examiner Herbert Sharfman
is on allegations that Mr.. Lamb,
a Toledo tOhio), lawyer, once
knowingly associated with Com
munists and gave money to the
Comr1un ist Party.
Link to Reds Denied.
Mr.. Lamb, publisher of the
Erie (Ra) Dispatch and operator
of radio and television stations
in Ohio. Pennsylvania and
Florida, has repeatedly denied
the allegations.
At issue is renewal of the Ii
cense of his Erie television sta
ton, WICU. Nothing has been |
said in the hearing thus far per-
tanning to Mr.. Lambs operation
OF WICU or of any of his other
stations. |
The hearing resumed last week
and was scheduled to go on to-
day but was recessed until
Wednesday because of the illness
of one of Mr.. Lambs lawyers,
Russell Morton Brown.
Mr.. Brown has stated fire.
quently during the hearing,
which started last September is
and which has built up record
OF testimony of more than
million words, that he was sure I
Congress would want to look into
the commissions handling <of
tine Lamb case. t
10 Witnesses Called. +
The commission called 10 wit
nesses in the presentation of its
direct case. but Mrs. Natvig was
on the stand longer than any of
the others. |.
Mrs. Natvig said last week her
previous testimony was lie
and that commission lawyers,
especially Walter r. Powell jr.,
had "coerced" her into lying and
had frightened her out of re-
pudiating sooner her testimony.
Mr.. Powell, now in private
employment, has termed her ac-
cusations the "baldest kind of
Justification"
Joseph M. Kittner, assistant
chief of the commission S Broad
cast Bureau, has said Mrs. Nat
Wig came to the commission after
having talked twice to the FBI
and appearing before a District
OF Columbia grand jury. He said
she was never asked or induced
to make a single false state
f11ent