Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-14
PUBLISHERS INSIST
ON LOTTERY CURB
Plan Fight to Finish for Ad
Censorship on
Br0adcaSterS.

Out Of the recent discussions Of the
relationship of radio and the press came
at least one proposition on which
practically all newspaper publishers,
whether or not they are themselves
engaged in broadcasting, are deter
mined to unite to accomplish. In fact
most of the better class of broadcasters
are also understood to be willing to see
1t go through.
It is the proposal to place broad
casting stations under the same legal
restraints as newspapers with respect to
the advertising of lotteries or schemes
of chance
Not only are newspapers forbidden
under the Federal criminal code to
print any lottery or scheme OF chance
advertising, but State laws are in effect
in nearly every State to the same pur-
pose. There is no such restraint upon
radio. however, in the radio law and
in the absence Of any formal descrip-
| ton Of broadceSt4ng as audible jour
naliSm"-though It functions in many
respects as Such-radio has thus far
been exempt from both Federal and
State laws restraining the type of ad-
vertising they can broadcast.
Unfair Advantage Claimed.
The result has been, according to
Elisha Hanson. counsel for the Ameri-
can Newspaper Publishers Association
who has petiticned the Federal Radio
Commission to promulgate an order for
bidding lottery and scheme Of chance
broadcasting, that many radio stations
have taken advantage of the situation
to broadcast advertising material that
should be forbidden Moreover, says
Mr.. Hanson, 1t is giving radio an unfair
M NJ od IN
papers.
A typical example Of the abuse
cited by Mr.. Hanson, who Is preparing
q complete survey Of examples to sub
NIT to the commission, Is the case of q
laundry in q Southern community
During the program 1t sponsors on the
radio. it announces that five lucky
numbers" have been placed In the
weeks laundry deliveries and that the
holders of those numbers will get re-
fund Of that weeks laundry bill. -
Such advertising, according to Mr.
Hanson, Is entirely forbidden in news
papers or printed matter going through
the mails. Coupons for samples and
for special offers are permissible, but
prizes dependent in whole or in part
upon lot or chance" cannot be adver-
tised. If they are forbidden in print
he contends, they should be forbidden
OiA VIC Oil "A ACSOAuSlOli " bAAdL C1lCNl
was recently passed by the A. N. p. A
Publishers Intend to Fight.
1t Is Mr. Hanson's position that the
Federal Radio Commission, with its
broad powers to determine what Is in
the public interest, convenience or
necessity" and in spite of the fact that
it cannot censor radio programs. has
ample authority to place similar re-
straints upon radio, even penalizing
stations violating its order TO the extent
of revoking their broadcasting licenses
Commission counsel doubt whether
In the absence of specific authority in
the radio act, the commission can
promulgate rule similar in effect to a
specific existing statute Some lawyers
and several radio commissioners are
Of the opinion that specific legislation
Is needed from Congress, rather than
an order of a commission. The COM
missions formal position will be made
known shortly
Whether the consent OF the COM
mission or Congress is needed, the pub
fishers intend fighting this proposition
through to a finish, according to Mr.
Hanson. During the last session OF
Congress, Senator McNary. Republican
Of Oregon, introduced q bill prohibiting
lotteries and schemes of chance On the
radio. The bill was offered toward the
end Of the session and failed of en-
actment.