Evening star., 1932-07-20
Some of 100 Employees Face
Dismissal as Duties Shift
to Commission.
ONLY 81 OF FORCES
ARE STATIONED HERE
Reorganization to Be Started at
0nce-$4s0,COo, Recently Al
lotted, Goes to Commission.

President Hoover today issued an
executive order abolishing the Radio
Division Of the Commerce Department
and transferring the duties of that
division to the Federal Radio Commits
sion.
There are 100 employees in the
abolished Commerce Department
branch and some of them are faced
with dismissal as a result Of the Presi-
dents order. Ofhcials, however, said
they could not estimate the number
lively to be thrown out Of work Only
81 OF the employees are stationed in
Washington.
President Hoover acted under the
authority Of the so-called economy act.
In ordering the transfer of the duties
and officers and employees Of the Radio
Division TO the Radio Commission, the
President authorized the commission to
dismiss officers and other employees not
considered indispensable to the service,
and to make such changes in the titles,
designations and duties OF the officers
and employees as may be deemed neces-
sary.
Return Balances Asked.
He also directed the commission to
return to the Treasury all appropria-
tions or unexpendei balances because
of this transfer not necessary to the
maintenance Of the commission itself.
Director w. D. Terrell of the Gem
merce radio division. said he could not
make any prediction as to the future
status of the 100 employees who have
been working under him.
The matter OF retaining these men
scattered throughout the United States
rests with the Radio Commission"
Terrell explained He intimated that
the commission would start at once on
the reorganization of the division and
that those whose positions are at stake
would know something definite within
short time.
The Commerce Department July I
allotted the division S490,000 for oper-
ating during the current fiscal year.
a reduction of sl56 900 under the 1882
fiscal year appropriation. This fund
Terrell said, would be turned over to
the Radio Commission.
The departments radio service was
organized in 1911 by Mr.. Terrell. who
was then connected with the depart
ment's Bureau Of Navigation In later
years. with the extension of the Use
Of radio to general communica ton pur-
poses. the shipping feature of the gov
ernment's control over radio became
relatively less important. and with the
passage of the radio act OF 1927 the
radio service was separated from the
Navigation Bureau and set up as a
separate branch of the department.
Established in 1927.
In 1927 Congress set up the Radio
Commission. At the same time au-
thority was given the radio division OF
the Commerce Department to supervise
all commercial and private radio sta
tionS. requiring them to observe the
time of the licenses issued by the Radio
Commission relating to wave lengths,
power and hours of operation
The division assigned call letters to
all stations and examined and licensed
radio operators, both commercial and
amateur
1t was responsible for the admins
tration of the laws requiring radio ap
paratus and operators on merchant
ships. 1t made Investigations and fur
nished information required by the
Radio Commission relating to operating
stations, interference between stations.
alleged violations of licenses and other
similar matters with which the commits
sion is concerned in the performance Of
its duties.
There was no indication at the White
House today that the President has any
one in mind for appointment to sue
ceed Mai. Gen. Charles NICK. Saltzman,
whose resignation as chairman of the
Radio Commission was accepted by Mr..
Hoover yesterday.