Broadcasters’ news bulletin (July 1932-Mar 1933)

Record Details:

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July 16, 1932 E3C0mEKDS FULL TIME ST. LOUIS LOCAL Acting on throe applications, involving the renewals of Stations KWF and TivIL of St. Louis and an application for a new station at Alhany, Missouri, Examiner Pratt this week recommended denial of the new station application, as well as the renewal application of Station ZIWE, and favored granting of unlimited time to Station WIL (Report Ho. 386). At present Stations WIL and KFWF are licensed to share time with 100 watts power on 1200 kc. The Albany applicant requested the facilities of the St. Louis Stations. In his discussion of the evidence presented on behalf of Station EF^F, operated by the St. Louis Truth Center, Examiner Pratt has considered carefully the question of disposition of funds solicited for charitable and religious nurposes through the medium of broadcasting. It appears the St. Louis Truth Center has relied upon gjpeals for f-onds to carry on its work made through its broadcast stations. In this connection, there is cited in the record an excerpt of the Commission recommendation made in August, 1928, when Station KFWF was called for hearing on its renewal. ’’The St. Louis Truth Center, Inc., purports to be a religious corporation but its only members are two brothers, the Rev. Charles K. Hartmann, Emil Clifford Hart¬ mann, and their sister*" said the Commission in making its report four years agOc "They are operating a religious center in St. Louis end both that institution anc the broadcastir.g station are supported entirely 05’ contributions from individuals who attend the institut:on or respond to solicitation over the air". Gommentiig on ohe fact of the witness* inability to advise what disposition was made of funds secured in this manner, the Commission continued; "There is, of courset no objec¬ tion to proper appeals by rahio for contributions for worthy purposes, but the Com¬ mission is not entirely satisfied that that is what has been done in the case of this station. Certainly, when a station receives such a vakuable franchise as a license to broadcast and uses that to solicit contributions , it should at least keep accurate records of money received and the ohrpose for which it is used. It owes that duty to the listening public, Tne solicitations lor purely private end selfish purposes is hardly a use of a radio station which can be found to be in ohe public interest, convenience or necessity. It is unfair to give a few individuals such privileges for that purpose since, because of the limited number of channels, all the rest of the citizens of the country cannot be permitted to broadcast. Furthermore;, the solicitation of fuu.ds for one purpose, and the use of them for another, smacks of fraud and cannot be considered to meet the test of the law." Examiner Pratt now finds the ot. Louis Truth Center has a net worth of abou; $150. COO, Within the last two years the average bank balance of the organization has been between eighteen and twenty thousand dollars. In commenting on this condi¬ tion; the Report states: "As before pointed out this property has been acc^umulated through the donations made by citizens of St. Louis to this organization in the belief that such donations would be used for religious purposes. The Examiner feels that he cannot state too strongly his opinion that Emil Hartmann, his brother and sister have used the funds of St. Louis Truth Center for purposes far remote from and contrary to the causes fOx which they were given. The x-ecord is replete with evidence of facts .which substantiate ihis opinion." It was further fouxxd the state charter issued to this organization does not empower the corporatiun to opex’ate a broadcast stationc In view of the evidence, the Exarainer xs of the opinion this station has been devoted to the advancement of private rather than public purposes ana reccmmended denial of the license, principaxly on the latter grxur.d.