Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

executive-director, but he discouraged that move. Other Officers Named: MR. McCOSKER succeeds Harry Shaw, WMT, Waterloo, la., as NAB president. Leo Fitzpatrick, WJR, Detroit, a member of the board, was elected first vice president and John Shepard, III, Yankee network, was elected second vice president, succeeding J. J. Storey, WTAG, Worcester, Mass., and Paul W. Morency, WTIC, Hartford, respectively. Arthur Church, KMBC, Kansas City, was elected treasurer to succeed M. A. Howlett, WHK, Cleveland. The executive committee of three, created in 1930 and against which much criticism has been levelled, was abolished. The suggestion came from Henry A. Bellows, WCCO, Minneapolis, CBS vice president, chairman of the committee. Mr. Bellows said the committee had served its purpose, acting on emergency matters when the board of directors could not be called into session. William S. Hedges, WMAQ, Chicago, and twice NAB president, and F. M. Russell, NBC Washington vice president, were the other members. Since all three members were associated with networks, allegations of network domination had been made, but these were ridiculed on the floor by retiring President Shaw and by other broadcasters. Eight vacancies on the board of directors were filled, of which five were for three years, one for two years and two for one year each. Elected to the three-year tenures are: J. Thomas Lyons, WCAO, Baltimore; Lambdin Kay, WSB, Atlanta; Leo B. Tyson, KHJ, Los Angeles; I. Z. Buckwalter, WGAL, Lancaster, Pa., and J. T. Ward, WLAC, Nashville. W. W. Gedge, WMBC, Detroit, was elected for the two-year term, and Donald Flamm, WMCA, New York, and Gardner Cowles, Jr., KSO, Des Moines, for the one-year terms. Immediately following the closing session Nov. 16 President McCosker called into session his new board of directors to follow through on routine resolutions and to give preliminary consideration to more important aspects of the new program. He arranged for subsequent meetings to consider plans for filling the war chest and candidates for the paid executive Clarence Cosby, KWK, one of our conventio n hosts, at the trapshoot. post. During the convention it was reported that former Gov. Al Smith of New York had been asked by wire whether he would consider the post and had responded that he could not do so but would be happy to recommend some one. To Probe Wire Rates : THE QUESTION of line charges assessed by A. T. & T. and its numerous subsidiaries on stations and networks, reported to aggregate between $8,000,000 and $10,000,000 annually, was raised just prior to adjournment, and resulted in the passage of a resolution offered by Stanley Hubbard, KSTP, St. Paul, authorizing appointment of a committee of five to investigate them. Only a handful of broadcasters was present at the time, however, and the validity of the resolution is in doubt because of the absence of a quorum. President Shaw, Managing Director Loucks and Mr. Schuette each had mentioned the land line matter in formal' addresses. Mr. Loucks also took up the matter of the leasing stipulation on Western Electric turntables for transcriptions. Representatives of both Western Electric and Electrical Research Products, Inc., which markets the turntables, were on hand. In introducing his resolution, Mr. Hubbard charged that land line assessments were exorbitant, and that the rates are not uniform. He offered to the association the services of William Green, St. Paul attorney, who served several years ago as special counsel of the Senate Interstate Commerce Committee during its investigation of radio and communications in connection with the Couzens Communications Commission bill. NAB Music Urged : CREATION of an industry-owned radio music supply, through a new corporation which would become a subsidiary of NAB, was advocated by Mr. Schuette to rid the industry of its dependence upon ASCAP. His resolution, referred to the board of directors for consideration, provides that a Radio Program Foundation, with a capitalization of about $150,000 subscribed by the industry through preferred and common stock sales, be set up. Declaring that many composers of modern music are available, both in and out of ASCAP, Mr. Schuette said such a corporation could print orchestrations for stations at about 25 cents each and CONVENTIONEERS— that a minimum of 10 releases a week could be arranged at the start. Thus, he asserted, an adequate library could be established. Reorganization of NAB will be worked out under a resolution au-j thorizing the board to study changes necessary in the by-laws and constitution. Principal changes advocated are the reorganization of the board itself so that there will be equitable geographical representation for each class of station and the revision of schedules of dues to enable local stations with small incomes to join the association. Plans for membership campaigns through state drives will be worked out. Opening Session: HAROLD A. LAFOUNT, actim chairman of the Radio Commission, delivered the convention's principal address shortly after the opening formalities on Nov. 14. In a frank CONVENTION NOTABLES — Left to right, seated: Lewis Allen Weiss; WJR; Scott Howe Bowen; Earl A. Gammons, WCCO; Leo Fitzpatrick, WJR; Stanley Hubbard, KSTP; J. O. Maland, WHO-WOC. Standing: W. O. Pape, WAPI-WODX; A. J. Eaves, Western Electric Co.; I. R. Baker, RCA Victor Co.; Don Searle, KOIL; Kenneth Berkeley, WRC; O. C. Hirsch, KFVS; I. M. Taylor, WEBQ. G. E. Zimmerman, KPRC discussion of problems confronting the broadcasters and their relations with the Commission, Mr. Lafount called for a "united" industry to face these problems and to keep American broadcasting "the best in the world." Criticizing over commercialization of programs, the commissioner declared it was a temptation into which many stations have fallen. Instead of operating primarily in the public interest, some stations are operating mainly for the profits they gain through excessive and uninteresting advertising. "In so doing, I warn them," he Page 6 BROADCASTING • December 1, 1932