NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1941)

under discussion in the various sections of the Office of Production Management. Last week at a press conference the President is reported to have said that national daylight saving time is a matter for Congress to decide. It is generally felt in Washington that when, as and if the 0PM indicates its approval, a national daylight saving bill will promptly be passed by Congress. We print below the exchange of correspondence; “April 8, 1941. Honorable William S. Knudsen, National Defense Commission, Washington, D. C. My dear Mr. Knudsen: There have been introduced in Congress two bills to provide for daylight saving time on a nation-wide basis, — one H. R. 3789 by Representative McLean (R.-N. J.) and the other H. R. 4206 by Representative Keogh (D.-N. Y.) Our Board of Directors has voted unanimously to support national daylight saving time for the reason that it will solve the broadcasting industry’s semi¬ annual programming problems arising out of the fact that some states operate on daylight saving time and others do not. The Association of American Railroads fhrough its Board of Direc¬ tors has also, I am informed, voted to support national daylight saving time. I do not know what consideration, if any, the Defense Commis¬ sion has given fo the question of the desirability of national day¬ light saving time as a defense measure. Our Association, and others, deem it of transcendent importance. If you concur in our view, we urge that you make a public statement to that effect. Very truly yours, NM/hml Neville Miller.” “May 1, 1941. Mr. Neville Miller, National Association of Broadcasters, Normandy Building, 1626 K Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. Dear Mr. Miller: This will acknowledge your letter of April 8 with reference to H. R. 3789 and H. R. 4206, bills to provide for daylight saving time on a nationwide basis. I appreciate your thoughtfulness in bringing this matter to my attention, and it is now under discussion in the various sections of the Office of Production Management. Yours very truly, William S. Knudsen.” The NAB Research Department mailed today to the NAB Board of Directors the report of the survey of broadcast stations and its study of the daylight saving time problem. The report clearly indicates that 72% of the reporting stations favor universal daylight saving as the means to end the twice yearly programming problems which arise due to partial observance of daylight saving time. COPYRIGHT AND LIBEL INSURANCE The NAB Insurance Committee met in New York May 1 to review forms of insurance policies recently submitted by several insurance companies to cover broadcasters against libel, slander and copyright infringement suits. The committee passed a resolution that the Insurance Committee itself should draft a form of such an insurance policy for submission to underwriters so that they may consider writing the type of coverage recommended by the Insurance Committee, and thereby make this type of insurance, — which the committee feels is sorely needed, — available to all broadcasting stations. The committee in¬ structed Charles A. Wall, NBC, a member of the com¬ mittee, to begin preparation of a form of policy which will meet the needs of the broadcasters, and to negotiate with those insurance companies which are interested in writing this type of insurance. SELECTIVE SERVICE Responsive to numerous inquiries concerning deferment of radio technicians under the selective Service Act and Regulations, NAB today mailed questionnaires to the en¬ tire broadcasting industry to elicit the facts for submission to National Selective Service Headquarters for appropri¬ ate action. Blanket deferment is illegal under the Act, but there is the possibility that if the survey shows broad¬ casting to be unduly harmed by induction of technicians, the National Selective Service Headquarters may decide to instruct the 48 State Occupational Advisors to investi¬ gate all radio technicians before induction. In that event, stations should advise their State Selective Service Head¬ quarters of the names of their technicians subject to draft, and request deferment for six months. Results of the sur¬ vey, and further developments, will be released when known. FEDERAL LEGISLATION HOUSE H. R. 4619 (Sacks, D-Penna.) COMMUNICATIONS .4CT — To amend the Communications .^ct of 1934 so as to prohibit and penalize the unauthorized recording or mechanical reproduction of music and other program material transmitted by wire or radio. Referred to Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. STATE LEGISLATION Florida: H. 666 (Overstreet) BROADCASTING STATIONS— Amend Sec. 1, Chapt. 19616. Acts of 1939, relating to civil liabilities of lessee operators of broadcasting stations and their agents and employees. Referred to Committee on Judiciary “A”. Illinois: S. 45S (Flagg) LIBEL & SLANDER — Provides no action for libel or slander shall be started against any person, firm or cor¬ poration which publishes actionable matter through an honest mistake as to the truth thereof if, upon being appraised of the truth, such person, firm or corporation publishes a prominently displayed retraction of original erroneous matter. Referred to Committee on Judiciary. S. 456 (Flagg) LIBEL — Provides no prosecution for libel where person publishes prominently displayed retraction of same. Re¬ ferred to Committee on Judiciary. Michigan: S. 382 (Baldwin) FOOD, DRUG, COSMETIC ACT— A bill to safeguard the purchasing public from injury by merchandising deceit, flowing from interstate commerce in food, drugs, devices, and cosmetics. Referred to Committee on Public Health. S. 431 (Blondy) group LIBEL — A bill to prohibit group libel, and to provide a penalty therefor. Referred to Committee on Judiciary. May 9, 1941 — 427