Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

The NEWS MAGAZINE of VOL. 3, NO. 12 WASHINGTON, D. C THE FIFTH ESTATE DECEMBER 15, 1932 $3.00 PER YEAR — 15c A COPY Little Lame Duck Radio Legislation Seen Radio Commission Shakeup Threatened After March 4; Appropriations Slashed, Lottery Ban Slated to Pass THE LEGISLATIVE outlook for radio in the current lame duck session of Congress is quiescent, with only passing thought being given to broadcasting. The Senate probably will enact the Davis omnibus bill (H. R. 7716), which has been amended in Senate Committee to eliminate holding of hearings before Commission examiners, prohibit broadcasting of lotteries, revise the political section of the Radio Act and otherwise change procedural provisions of the law. The Senate Interstate Commerce Committee Dec. 13 reported the measure favorably, with Senator Dill, (D.) of Washington, author of most of the amendments, instructed to present it to the Senate. The Committee eliminated the provocative station license fee provision designed to raise about $670,000 a year to defray the cost of radio regulation. It incorporated a new amendment providing that the Commission or any member thereof shall preside over hearings in lieu of examiners. Senator Dill declared there is nothing in the law authorizing examiners to conduct hearings, and that many complaints have been received from stations about the Commission's "aloofness." "The Commission should do that work itself," he said, "or else we might as well have one man run radio. The Commission has gone too far. It wants everything in writing and is conducting itself like a select body such as the Supreme Court." No Additional Measures PRESIDENT Hoover's plan for sweeping reorganization of federal bureaus and agencies in Washington, announced in a special message to Congress Dec. 10, leaves the Radio Commission untouched. It is indicated that President Hoover may later submit additional recommendations covering other agencies, but it is doubtful that radio will be affected. There is a possibility, though remote, that he may eventually seek reduction of the Commission to three members. The recent absorption of the Radio Division, Department of Commerce, by the Commission is believed to have accomplished what the administration had in mind in radio consolidations. Prior to the announcement of the President's plan, speculation centered on the possible transfer of the Commis sion to the Department of Commerce, under an Assistant Secretary for Radio, dispensing with the services of four radio commissioners and returning to the one-man rule of radio that existed prior to the Commission's creation in 1927. In official circles, the appointment by President Hoover of a successor to Chairman Saltzman, who resigned last July, is being talked about. But Senate Democrats at a recent conference agreed to block confirmation of all but routine nominations by the Republican administration. This would clear the way for Democratic appointments after March 4 by President-elect Roosevelt. While confirmation is lacking, it has been reported that President Hoover would like to appoint a Republican to succeed General Saltzman as fourth zone commissioner, and, in return for an assurance of his confirmation by the Senate, he would reappoint as third zone commissioner Judge E. O. Sykes, whose term expires Feb. 23. In that connection the names of Senator Watson, of Indiana, Republican leader of the Senate, and Glenn, of Illinois, both defeated in the November elections, have been mentioned as possible Hoover nominees for the Saltzman successorship. It has been a time-honored custom for the Senate to confirm Status of Radio Legislation The following tabulation shows the present status of radio legislation in Congress, practically all of the bills being holdovers from the first session: SENATE S. 4 — Fess radio educational bill, pending Committee on Interstate Commerce. S. 21 — King copyright bill, pending Committee on Patents. S. 22 — King bill licenses for unused patents, pending Committee on Patents. S. 176 — Hebert copyright bill, pending Committee on Patents. S. 481 — White omnibus radio bill, pending Committee on Interstate Commerce. S. 750 — McNary bill to prohibit lotteries, pending Committee on Interstate Commerce. S. 1035 — Tydings copyright bill, pending Committee on Patents. S. 1866— Dill patent bill, pending Committee on Patents. S. 2374— George bill to give City of Savannah, Ga., naval radio station being abandoned, pending Committee on Naval Affairs. S. 3046 — Dill bill on clear channels, pending Committee on Interstate Commerce. S. 3047— Hatfield bill for labor clear channel, referred to subcommittee: Hatfield, Brookhart and Bulkley. S.3649 — Shipstead bill to change allocation, pending Committee on Interstate Commerce. S. 3985— Dill copyright bill, pending Committee on Patents. S. 4399 — Metcalf bill appropriating money for Radio Commission to cooperate with states for radio educational work, pending Com mittee on Education and Labor. S. Res. 28 — Howell bill for investigating possibility of broadcasting from Senate chamber, pending Committee on Rules. S. Res. 58 — Dill bill to investigate RKO, pending Committee on Audit and Control. S. Res. 71— Dill bill providing for broadcasting from Senate chamber, pending Committee on Rules. HOUSE H. R. 139— Vestal copyright bill pending Committee on Patents. H. R. 421— Hoch bill to amend I. C. C. Act to define radio as "Common carrier" pending Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. H. R. 7253— Connery bill to provide clear channel for labor, pending Committee on Merchant Marine, Radio and Fisheries. H. R. 8759 — Amlie bill prohibiting radio advertising on Sunday, pending Committee on Merchant Marine, Radio and Fisheries. H. R. 12844— LaGuardia bill establishing fees for patented radio equipment, pending Committee on Patents. H. R. 12845 — LaGuardia bill establishing fees for radio advertising, pending Committee on Merchant Marine, Radio and Fisheries. H. Res. 10976 — Sirovich copyright bill reported; on House calendar. H. Res. 80 — Horr resolution to investigate Radio Commission and NBC control of Pacific coast stations, pending Committee on Rules. H. Res. 110 — Amlie resolution on free speech, pending Committee on Merchant Marine, Radio and Fisheries. December 15, 1932 • BROADCASTING appointments to other federal posts of outgoing colleagues, regardless of political lines. It is more likely, however, that nothing will be done on this and the chairmanship situation until after the new administration takes office. Judge Sykes is acting chairman, and, if reappointed, is the logical selection for the chairmanship under a Democratic administration. The name of Ewin L. Davis, retiring chairman of the House Merchant Marine, Radio and Fisheries Committee, and a Tennessee Democrat, also is mentioned for a Commissionership, which could only be accorded him, under the existing Zone law, through retirement of Judge Sykes. There is talk also of a Federal judgeship for Judge Sykes. The opening days of the new session found little attention given to radio. In contrast to other years, not a single radio measure was introduced during the first week. On the calendar, however, are more than a score of holdover radio and copyright bills. The only mention of radio officially in either House were addresses by Senator Dill and Senator White, (R.) of Maine, on the Court of Appeals' decision in the WIBO case. Shakeup Threatened ENACTMENT by Congress of new Federal pay cuts, as proposed by President Hoover in his annual message, might have the effect of changing the Radio Commission personnel situation considerably. General Saltzman resigned from the Commission largely because of the first pay cut, which would have forced him to take a reduction, including retired Army pay, from $16,000 to about $9,000. Moreover, it is expected that the incoming Democratic administration, to meet its patronage obligations, will oust non-civil service Republican Commission employees and replace them with Democrats. In addition, reduced budget estimates made to Congress, calling for drastic economies, may eventually lead to the release of additional Commission employees. The budget estimates submitted to Congress Dec. 8 call for an appropriation of $780,427 for the Commission during the fiscal year 1934 as against $872,000 for the 1933 fiscal year. The Commission soon will release about 30 field employees in line with the reorganization occasioned by its acquisition of the Radio Division. This combination of circumstances has surcharged the atmos(Continued on page 29) Page 5