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July 3, 1934.
SURPRISE APPOINTMENTS DELAY NEW COMMISSION ORGANIZATION
Because so few members of the new Federal Communications Commission knew in advance that they were to be reappointed, a delay was occasioned in the organization of the Commission. Judge E. 0. Sykes, new Chairman, endeavored to get the members together Monday, July 2nd, inasmuch as the creation of the Commission was effective July 1st, but a quorum could not be assembled in Washington on that day. Accordingly Judge Sykes said that it might be a week later before they could organize. Only three members were in Washington at the time.
Although several had been spoken of as possibilities, among those finally chosen, dark horses predominated. These included former Governor Norman S. Case, Republican, of Rhode Island; Paul Walker, Chairman of the Oklahoma Utilities Commission, Democrat, of Oklahoma; Hampson Gary, former Minister to Switzerland, Democrat, of Texas; George Henry Payne, publicist, Republican, of New York, and Dr. Irvin Stewart, of the State Department, Democrat, who hails from Texas. The reappointment of Judge Sykes, Chairman of the Federal Radio Commission, Democrat, of Mississippi, and of Col. Thad Brown, Vice-Chairman of the Radio Commission, Republican, of Ohio, seemed to have been a foregone conclusion.
Judge Sykes was appointed for the seven year term;
Colonel Brown for six years; Mr. Walker, five years; former Governor Case, four years; Dr. Stewart, three years; Mr. Payne, two years; and Mr. Gary, one year. At the conclusion of their present terms, they are subject to appointment, if again approved, for a seven year term. All of the present appointments will have to be confirmed by the Senate when it meets January 1st. If any should not be con¬ firmed by the Senate, they will receive their pay from July 1st to January 1st. The present Radio Commission will function until the new Commission is organized.
An idea of the uncertainty as to who would be appointed, which apparently prevailed until the last minute, and the speed with which President Roosevelt moved when he finally made up his mind, is illustrated in the appointment of Mr. Walker. The names of the Commissioners were given to the newspapermen Saturday night for Sunday morning's release but late Saturday afternoon, President Roosevelt was still trying to reach Mr. Walker by long-distance telephone in Oklahoma. The White House was told that Mr. Walker was in Washington sitting with the Interstate Commerce Commission.
An hour or so later the President succeeded in reaching Mr. Walker at the Cosmos Club, which is only about a block from the White House. The President asked him if he would accept the position and when the latter assented, President Roosevelt, at the telephone, is reported to have said, "You are appointed. "
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