Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

Shake-Up Follows Resignation of Saltzman Many Candidates for Radio Commission Post as Election !)f Chairman is Delayed; Radio Division Merged Maj. Gen. Saltzman vHILE AWAITING the appointment by President Hoover of a accessor to Maj. Gen. Charles IcK. Saltzman as commissioner • or the fourth zone, the Radio E ommission is planning sweeping changes in its administrative oranization, occasioned by its abruption of the Radio Division of le Department of Commerce and |y provisions of the economy act ecessitating rigid economies in operation. Election of a chairman lso confronts it, but that action mst await the naming of the new Dmmissioner. Appointment of the new comtiissioner has been made difficult fly the large field of candidates for iie post. At the White House it as said officially that the qualications of the various aspirants re being studied but that whether ; would be days or weeks before le post is filled could not be foreDid. "Then again," it was said, iJJthe appointment might be made 1 jjivernight." Since Congress is not ifd session, the appointment will be i i recess assignment for the un1 Expired term of General Saltzman, riding Feb. 23, 1936, and will be ubject to confirmation by the -J-enate next December. Saltzman Move Expected ENERAL SALTZMAN'S resignation, which became effective ulv 19 — the day it was announced ot the White House — did not come s a surprise. At the White House : was said the resignation was rompted by ill health and on adice of General Saltzman's phy] ;ician. It was evident, however, mat the provisions of the economy let, which would have reduced feneral Saltzman's income from 16,000 to about $9,000 annually, ctually forced his retirement. As retired major general, he will Dntinue to draw approximately $6,000 annually. Those mentioned for the fourth zone successorship, all of them Republicans, i n alphabetical order are : James W. Baldwin, secretary of the Commission for the last two years. A native of Indiana, Mr. Baldwin is believed to bear the endorsement o f General Saltzman himself. He came to the Commission from the Department of Justice, where he was chief clerk, and is favorable regarded by the Commission for his excellent organization and administrative work. Mr. Baldwin is not actively seeking the post, but he stands an excellent chance unless the appointment is awarded as a political plum in this campaign year. Edgar H. Bill, president and owner of WMBD, Peoria, 111. The former manager of WLS, Chicago, Mr. Bill is a pioneer broadcaster who ranks high in the industry. He is a director of NAB and is in charge of its local station activities. Dr. Frank W. Elliott, Davenport, la. Dr. Elliott is former manager of WHO-WOC, Davenport Des Moines, and former president of the NAB. He has been active in the industry from the beginnings of broadcasting. He now is the Republican nominee for Congress from Davenport. Candidates From Chicago HAROLD D. HAYES, federal radio supervisor at Chicago. Mr. Hayes was considered for the fourth zone post following the resignation of Sam Pickard, now vice president of CBS, three years ago. A host of fourth zone broadcasters are actively supporting him, but opposition is known to exist in certain political quarters. William S. Hedges, director of WMAQ, Chicago. One of the industry leaders and a practical broadcaster, Mr. Hedges is regarded as a strong candidate. Known throughout the industry for his constructive work, he is a former president of the NAB and at present is a member of its executive committee. For manv years Mr. Hedges was radio editor of the Chicago Daily News, as well as director of WMAQ. Robert D. Heinl. Washington correspondent specializing in radio. Mr. Heinl is a native of Indiana and is the dean of Washington radio newspapermen. His friends are urging his appointment. He is a close personal friend of Everett Saunders, President Hoover's campaign manager, also an Indianan. Counsel of Commission EARL MAY, owner of KMA, Shenandoah, la. Beyond the known fact that Mr. May, whose station is used largely for mail order merchandising, is a candidate, little is known of his status. Duke M. Patrick, general counsel of the Commission. Mr. Patrick, an Indianan, was elevated to his present post following Col. Thad H. Brown's confirmation as a Commissioner several months ago. Mr. Patrick is not an active candidate, but is being considered by virtue of his present position. Harry Shaw, owner of WMT, Waterloo, la. Mr. Shaw is president of the NAB. He is not actively campaigning for the post, but is being put forward by friends. O. S. Spillman, former attorney general of Nebraska. Mr. Spillman is not experienced in radio, so far as is known. He is understood to be well-acquainted with President Hoover. Virtually up to the time the announcement was made at the White House, General Saltzman had brushed aside, half-jocularly, inquiries as to whether he intended to resign. That his resignation was expected, however, was evidenced by the activity of aspirants for the post even before his resignation was announced. At the White House it was said that the President would "regretfully accept" the resignation. While he was intermittently troubled with ailments of the teeth and gums, General Saltzman did not appear to be in actual ill health. About a year and a half ago General Saltzman was also reported to have proffered his resignation to President Hoover on account of illness, then apparently more serious. He was prevailed upon by the President, however, to remain after taking a rest at his summer home on Lake George. He is believed to be there now. Faced Big Pay Cut THE RESIGNATION came just as he would have been forced to forfeit his retirement pay of $6,000 annually, as well as an 8 1-3 per cent, reduction in his $10,000 commissioner's salary, had he elected to continue with the Commission. In other words, as a retired officer he receives $6,000 a year for life, whereas he would have received only about $9,000 annually had he remained with the Commission. General Saltzman, who was 60 years old last October, was appointed to the Commission on May 2, 1929, from Iowa, succeeding Sam Pickard. He was elected chairman on February 28, 1930. He came to the Commission after a distinguished Army career, which terminated while he was Chief Signal \lugust 1, 1932 • BROADCASTING Officer. He has been a delegate or technical advisor at practically all national and international conferences on radio in the last decade. It had been expected that he would go to the International Radio Conference at Madrid in September as a delegate or as head of the American delegation. That assignment, however, now remains in doubt. New Chairman Soon WITH General Saltzman's resignation, Vice Chairman E. O. Sykes became acting chairman. At a Commission meeting July 20, Judge Sykes announced that he did not desire to be considered for the chairmanship because he is a Democrat and because he feels the post logically should go to an administration man. Commissioners Laf ount and Brown are the Republican members. At the White House it was said the matter of election of a new chairman properly should await the appointment of the fifth commissioner. It was pointed out also that the new commissioner might be the new chairman. The cases of both former Commissioner Ira E. Robinson and General Saltzman were cited, each of whom was elected chairman shortly after his appointment. Commissioner Lafount is the senior Republican member. Radio Division Fusion THE FIRST major change in the Commission's administrative organization was effected on the very day it received official notice of the abolition of the Radio Division and of the transfer of its functions to the Commission. Immediately after President Hoover issued an executive order to this end, July 20, a meeting was called. The Commission then created a new division to be known as the Division of Field Operations, which for the present embodies the entire Radio Division organization. William D. Terrell, director of the old division was named chief of the new. Col. Brown was assigned as commissioner in charge, to whom Mr. Terrell will be directly responsible. Col. Brown said he would await recommendations from Mr. Terrell relative to reorganization of the new field force, and, in turn, will make his recommendations to the Commission. These are not expected for several days. Rather drastic changes are expected in the interest of both economy and efficiency. It is likely that the Commission's Investigation Division will be abolished and its functions assigned to the field force. Deletions and changes of personnel, both in the Commission staff and in the field, also are under consideration, along with the consolidation of certain field offices and transfers in the locations of others. 190 Employees Added THE SIZE of the Commission's personnel roster is more than doubled by the merger. There are (Continued on page 20) Page 7