Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

Reduction of Radio Districts To Five Under Consideration 15 Employes Dropped in Washington, Field Force Faces Cut; Commission Moves Cautiously REALIGNMENT of the radio field force with a view to reducing the number of radio districts from nine to possibly five — one in each radio zone — is being considered by the Radio Commission as the next step in the general reorganization plan prompted by its recent acquisition of the Radio Division of the Department of Commerce and the sharply reduced appropriations for radio regulation. About a score of field employees, it is expected, will be released to slash approximately $40,000 from the annual payroll. The Commission's reorganization program was launched July 20, immediately after it was instructed by President Hoover's executive order to take over the Radio Division. It immediately created the Division of Field Operations, which absorbed the entire Radio Division, and placed William D. Terrell, director of the old division, in charge. William E. Downey, assistant director, was named assistant chief on Aug. 2, when the Commission announced the second phase of its reorganization. Commissioner Brown, delegated supervisory authority over the division, is working out the reorganization plans, subject to Commission approval. Forced to reduce salary expenditures in Washington by $35,000 a year, aside from the $40,000 reduction necessary in the field, the Commission Aug. 2 released 15 employees and abolished its Investigation Division. Wilfred G. Clearman, chief investigator, whose salary was $4,800, and G. Lyle Hughes, attorney, whose salary was $3,800, were released, as an economy measure, and the functions of the division were transferred mainly to the Division of Field Operations. Ralph L. Walker, examiner, was transferred to the Legal Division as senior attorney. Other employees dismissed were stenographers and clerks, five of whom were in the Radio Division. In redistricting the field force, the Commission is moving cautiously. The most necessary function of the field force is the inspection of radio apparatus on outgoing vessels as a safety of life factor. For that reason, most of the district headquarters are at large seaports, with about a score of suboffices at other seaports. Broadcast measurements are made from the district offices by means of secondary frequency monitoring equipment and from the new primary freauency monitor at Grand Island, Neb. In addition, the "Black Marias" of radio— the field service cars — cruise about for additional inspections. Districts Inspected PREPARATORY to its final consideration of consolidations and removals of district headquarters, several commission officials made inspections in the fiel.!. Commissioner Brown visited the Boston and New York district headquarters, accompanied by Dr. C. B. Jol liffe, chief engineer, and James W. Baldwin, secretary, on Aug. 3 and 4. Meanwhile V. Ford Greaves, assistant chief engineer in charge of the broadcast section, inspected the Grand Island station, and was joined on Aug. 8 by Mr. Baldwin in Chicago, where they inspected that district headquarters. Other districts also are to be inspected. Preliminary plans are understood to provide for consolidation of the New York, Baltimore and Boston districts into a New York district, and the reduction of other supervisors' offices to subdistricts. Because of the importance of Boston as a seaport, however, there was some doubt about this move following the inspection. In Zone 2 the present headquarters are at Detroit. Consideration is being given to its removal to Cleveland, but some difficulty is being encountered in connection with the leasehold on the quarters in the former city. In Zone 3 it is considered likely that the Districts at New Orleans and Atlanta will be merged, with the main office at New Orleans. Zone 4 headquarters are expected to remain in Chicago. In Zone 5 a consolidation of the San Francisco and Seattle offices is contemplated, with new headquarters at San Francisco. Duties of New Division WHETHER any of the nine supervisors will be released under the reorganization, or whether only junior employees will be affected, has not yet been decided. Under the executive order the Commission cannot reduce the salaries of employees retained and therefore is required to release outright those employees "not indispensable to the service." In connection with its reorganization, the Commission Aug. 2 prescribed the functions of the newly created Division of Field Operations as follows: "To inspect all transmitting apparatus to ascertain whether in construction and operation it conforms to the requirements of the Radio Act of 1927, as amended, the rules and regulations of the licensing authority, and the license under which it is constructed or operated; to make measurements of frequencies and to make field intensity measurements when required; to maintain records incident to the monitoring of radio stations; to conduct examinations for applicants for operators' licenses; to investigate and report to the Commission facts concerning alleged violations by station operators of such laws, treaties and regulations as might result in the suspension of their licenses; to report to the Commission from time to time any violations of the Radio Act of 1927, the rules and regulations or orders of the Commission, or, of the terms and conditions of any license; and to perform such other duties as may hereinafter be assigned." Representative Davis RADIO NEWS STAFF KQV Discloses Ambitious Plans at Commission Hearing ORGANIZATION of its own news reporting staff, to develop and cover local news for the radio audience in the same manner that newspapers handle such articles, is planned by KQV, Pittsburgh. Alexander L. Sherwood, general manager of the station and formerly of the Westinghouse stations, disclosed his plans at a hearing before Chief Examiner Yost of the Radio Commission on August 2 in connection with the KQV application for full time. Mr. Sherwood said a staff of two or three reporters would be formed and assigned "beats" as well as special assignments. Local newspapers will not be depended upon for news or "leads," he said. He added that other stations present only brief digests of national, international and local news, whereas it is the purpose of KQV to specialize on full coverage of local news exclusivelv for its listeners. $100,000 Demand Bars Broadcast of Olympics LISTENERS not only in the Los Angeles area but in the country at large were deprived of broadcast reports of the Olympic Games direct from the Olympic stadium because of the demand of the Olympiad committee for $100,000 for the radio rights. Stations and networks had recourse to special reports and summaries obtained through their newspaper affiliations or from their own special correspondents. NBC has carried nightly resumes by Grantland Rice from KFI, Los Angeles, and CBS carried summaries obtained by wire from its own correspondent and made the basis of nightly comments by Ted Husing. In Los Angeles the failure to obtain a cooperative arrangement with the Olympic committee caused some of the announcers to wax bitter during the course of their broadcast reviews. Move to Salt Lake REMOVAL of KLO from Ogden to Salt Lake City, Utah, was authorized Aug. 9 by the Radio Commission. It is understood that KDYL will protest. Ewin Davis Loses Reelection Contest Bland May Head House Radio Committee After March 4 A VICTIM of reapportionment of the House, Rep. Ewin L. Davis, chairman of the House Merchant Marine, Radio & Fisheries Committee and author of the controverted Davis equalization amendment to the Radio Act, apparently has been defeated in the Democratic primaries in Tennessee. The legislator, also co-author of the Radio Act of 1927 and an outspoken opponent of commercial broadcasting, high power and clear channels, was defeated by Rep. Ridley Mitchell, on the basis of unofficial returns. The fourth Tennessee district, represented by Mitchell, and the fifth district, which Davis has represented since 1919, were combined under the redistricting required by reapportionment. Rep. Mitchell's unofficial majority was 1500 votes. Possible Successors DIRECTLY in line for the chairmanship of the important Merchant Marine and Radio Committee is Rep. Schuyler Otis Bland, of Virginia, ranking Democratic member. He is the logical successor should the Democrats retain control of the House. Should Rep. Bland decline the post, Rep. Clay Stone Briggs, of Texas, would be next in line. In the event the Republicans regain House control, Rep. Frederick R. Lehlbach, of New Jersey, would receive the chairmanship. With the legislative passing of Rep. Davis, which will occur next March 4, if Rep. Mitchell's lead is sustained, the House will have no member outstanding in general radio legislation. However, Rep. Davis, according to Tennessee reports, is contesting the election returns. In the present Congressional campaigns over the country a number of radio figures are in the runnine. Henry Field, operator of KFNF, Shenandoah, la., is the Republican nominee to succeed Senator Brookhart, but he faces a stiff election battle against his Democratic opponent in November. In California the Rev. Robert P. Schuler, deposed pastor-broadcaster, whose station, KGEF, Los Angeles, was deleted by the Commission a year ago, is running for the seat now occupied by Senator Shortridge, and has registered for both the Republican and Democratic primaries. Dr. Frank Elliott, former manager of WH0WOC. Des Moines-Davenport, la., is the Republican nominee for Congress from that district, and his chance of election is considered Brinkley's Hat in Ring IN KANSAS Dr. John R. Brinkle; former operator of KFKB, Milfon and later the operator of XE1 Villa Acuna, Mexico, is running p an independent ticket for the goi ernorship. Two years ago he polle more than 180,000 votes when h name had to be written on the bar lot. He conducted his entire cai paign over the air. His license operate KFKB was revoked in 19 by the Commission. Page 6 BROADCASTING • August 15, 1932 tp