NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1948)

WASHINGTON b, D. C SSOCIATION House Hearings on Petrillo in First Week; NAB President Calls Him ‘Economic Pirate’ Four Voice of Democracy Winners Selected; Plans for Awards Luncheon Now Being Made Led by NAB Pi’esident Justin Miller, who called James C. Petrillo an “economic pirate” and techno¬ logical unemployment of musicians a myth created by the AFM president, representatives of the radio in¬ dustry, and recording and transcription firms, last week testified before the House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee on their experiences in dealing with the music czar. During a crowded week which also produced Petrillo’s acquittal on charges of violating the Lea Act, industry witnesses spoke in rapid succession, as in¬ vited by the Committee, whose chairman is Rep. Fred A. Hartley, Jr., (R-N. J.), co-author of the TaftHartley Act. Judge Miller’s opening statement and subsequent questioning by the Committee members was televised and shot by newsreel cameramen in the caucus room of the Old House Office Building, scene of the recent Hollywood and Hughes hearings. The NAB President’s formal statement denied flatly that radio and records have caused technological un¬ employment among musicians. “Mr. Petrillo’s problem is not to solve unemploy¬ ment which actually doesn’t exist,” he said, “but to carry something back to the members of the union who elected him.” Ready to Oppose. In his informal testimony. Judge Miller told the Committee that the industry is now ready to oppose Petrillo’s dem.ands. He revealed also that his own efforts to reach agreement with the AFM leader broke down when he refused to attempt to persuade President Truman to veto the Lea Act. The NAB president prefaced his informal responses to questions with a positive statement that neither he nor the NAB is opposed to labor unions. “I am in favor of unions and collective bargaining,” he said. “Many of our broadcasters have had happy relations with local unions, when they have been per¬ mitted to bargain without outside interference of a tyrannical nature.” The reference to industry determination to oppose the newest Petrillo demands came in an exchange with Rep. Samuel K. McConnell, Jr., (R-Pa.), when the com¬ mittee member asked whether the industry had ever made any effort to oppose Petrillo. “It is making such an effort now,” Judge Miller said. He proceeded to describe the Music Committee, formed by broadcasters, recording and transcription com( Continued on page UU) Four national winners of $500 university or college scholarships in the “Voice of Democracy” contest for high school students were named Thui’sday ( 15 ) by the three sponsors of the competition, the NAB, the RMA, and the U. S. Junior Chamber of Commerce. The winners, selected by a panel of distinguished judges as having written and voiced the best fiveminute broadcasts on the subject, “I Speak for De¬ mocracy,” are: MISS JANET GEISTER, Cuyahoga Falls High School, Cuyahoga Falls, 0. MISS LAURA SHATTO, Hagei’stown High School, Hagerstown, Md. MISS ALICE WADE TYREE, Lawton High School, Lawton, Okla. MISS ROSE ELLEN MUDD, Sacred Heart Academy, Missoula, Mont. The four successful contestants will be awarded their prizes at a national awards luncheon to be held Jan. 28 at 12:30 p. m., in the South American Room of the Hotel Statler, in Washington, D. C. (Continued on next page) Ofi> the OnAdde Liaison members representing four networks have been named to six standing NAB committees, by invitation, to coordinate all segments of the in¬ dustry. (p. 47) Year end figures on production of radio sets have shown that 1947 manufacturing totals have broken all industry records, (p. 48) Winners of the NRDGA contest for retail radio programs, and honorable mentions, have been an¬ nounced on completion of major judging, (p. 49) The Engineering Executive Committee has met and discussed plans for the conference to be held in connection with the NAB convention in May. (p. 50) Red Cross materials for radio, as aids in pro¬ gramming during the 1948 fund campaign, have been sent to stations, and local chapters will supply discs, (p. 50) JANUARY 19, 1948-43