NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1939)

Neville Miller, President Edwin M. Spence, Secretary-Treasurer Andrew Bennett, Counsel: Edward M. Kirby, Director of Public Relations ; Joseph L. Miller, Director of Labor Relations; Paul F, Peter, Director of Research WAGE AND HOUR ACT (Continued from page 3347) exigencies of his work require him to remain on the job more than the allotted 44 hours in a single week. On the contrary, he should expect to have to work overtime sometime.” Mrs. Norton does not intend to open up the Act for a barrage of amendments, however. When she presents the committee amendments, she intends to ask for a rule to prevent amendment from the floor. FREE SPEECH The U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago made some interesting remarks recently about an employer’s right to discuss labor unions with his employees, but did not take a definite stand. The Labor Relations Board consistently has held that an employer who advises his employees not to join a union is guilty of Wagner Act violation even if the employer definitely states that his employees are free to join if they desire. Such was one of the counts against the Falk Corporation of Milwaukee in a case that was appealed to the circuit court, which said: “We can see nothing to criticize in Mr. Falk’s action expressing a preference for a local over an outside union. Especially , is this true where the employee asks the employer for advice. There is much evidence in this record which is indicative of a very wholesome cooperative spirit existing between management and employees. Surely, it is desirable and bespeaks the confidence of employees in the management to have the old employees ask the executive officer of the employer to express his views and his labor union preference. “On the other hand, the position of the employer is a most delicate one. Surely, he has the right to his views. And the right to entertain views is rather valueless if it be not accompanied by the right to express them. And this right to express his views is clearer when they are expressed in response to an interrogatory by one of his employees. And yet, the voice of authority may, by tone inflection, as well as by the substance of the words uttered, provoke fear and awe quite as readily as it may bespeak fatherly advice. The position of the employer, where, as here, there is present, genuine and sincere respect and regard, carries such weight and influence that his words may be coercive when they would not be so if the relation of master and servant did not exist.” FREE OFFERS Bobby Jones, former golf champion, and the Parker Pen Company led this week’s list of those trying to get a little free radio advertising. .'\s Director of the Amer¬ ican Golf Institute, Air. Jones is offering a “service” to provide stations with material designed to increase in¬ terest in golf. A. G. Spalding and Brothers, manufac¬ turers of golf equipment, are back of the American Golf Institute. The Parker Pen Company is offering what it calls “legitimate news” about a college scholarship contest it is going to conduct. The NAB has notified both that the use of their offers would constitute a violation of the NAB Code ban on free time for commercial purposes. The Anker-Holth Alanufacturing Company is follow¬ ing up its contingent offer. Acceptance would constitute violation of the NAB Code, and the NAB has so notified the Company. Domestic Science Department: The Fruit Dispatch Company, an affiliate of United Fruit, has sent out a script aiming to convince ladies that they should feed their husbands practically nothing but bananas. The American Spice Trade Association has sent out a script suggesting a number of delicious dishes, all highly spiced. The Glass Container Association of America is a little more subtle in its recipes, but nevertheless it seems the best food comes out of glass jars, not cans. The Dennison Paper Company has sent out a script which tells the kiddies what fun they can have at Easter if they decorate their eggs with colored paper stickers. The NAB has suggested to all these people that they undertake a regular paid radio advertising campaign and promised the cooperation of any station, network or agency in working it out. Legal NORTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR SIGNS COPYRIGHT MONOPOLY LAW North Dakota’s new law curbing the activities of pools controlling performance of copyrighted music was signed by the Governor Thursday, March 16. The new statute goes into effect immediately. Details of the statute were printed in NAB Reports for March 10, pp. 3335-3336. . MUSIC MONOPOLY BILLS Bills seeking to curb the activities of pools controlling public performance of copyrighted music have been in¬ troduced in the states of Oklahoma and Minnesota. H. 1147, introduced in Minnesota, is the second bill of this nature to be presented to that legislature for con¬ sideration. Details of the two bills are not available, but the information received indicates that both bills follow the principles of the one passed by the legislature of North Dakota last week (N.AB Reports, Alarch 10, pp. 3348