Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-06-10

ton of this new agency has been
ConfereeS of the two legiSlati'
differences between the two mt
man commission.
Because of the magnitude of the
task imposed upon this new COM
mission, all eyes in the radio and
communications world are turned
toward the White House for word
from the President as to who will
win appointments as communications
commissioners. Whether there will be
Ave or seven members Is still I'M
determined, since the Senate measure
provides for the lesser number and
the House bill for seven members.
Since the new commission will as
sumo the functions, records and en-
ployes of the Federal Radio Commits
sion, as we'll as the regulatory powers
over telephones telegraph and cables
formerly vested in the Interstate Com
merce Commission and several other
governmental agencies, it is antici-
pated that one or more of the men,
bers Of the present commission will be
named to the new agency by President
Roosevelt.
Sykes May Be Named.
While no official word has been
forthcoming, it is generally believed
that the President will name Chair
man Eugene o. Sykes of the Radio
Commission to membership and pos
sibly the Craftsmanship of the new
agency. Judge Sykes, a charter mem
Der of the Radio Commission. is a
Mississippi Democrat, and is held in
high esteem by administration leaders.
Since the new commission will be
composed of seven men, the chances of
the three other incumbent members
OF the present Radio Commission will
be enhanced materially. They are
Vice Chairman Thad H. Brown, Ohio
Republican,; Commissioner Harold A.
Lafount, Utah Republican, and Com
missioner James H. Hanley, Nebraska
Democrat The fifth Radio Commits
sion post has been vacant since last
February, when the term of William
D. L. Starbuck, Connecticut Demo.
crat, expired.
Representative Prall, influential
New York Democrat, was named by
President Roosevelt to succeed Mr..
Starbuck, but he elected to remain in
Congress for the remainder of the cur
rent session. A close personal friend
OF the President it Is understood he
mas been assured an appointment on
the new commission, despite the fact
That ne cannot assume office under
the law until January. There is
statutory provision specifying that
no member of Congress may serve on
an agency created during a session
Of Congress Of which he is a member.
Next January the new Congress will
convene and Mr.. Prall consequently
will be eligible for appointment.
Among others known to be con-
sidered for commission posts Is Capt.
S. c. Hooper, director of naval COM
munications and one of the outstand-
ing figures ir the field of wire and
wireless communications. Now eligible
for retirement by virtue Of more than
80 years Of continuous service in the
Navy, Capt. Hooper is a candidate for
one of the posts He was associated
with the President while the latter
was Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
He is a legal resident of California
His politics are unknown.
DIR. Stewart In Running.
Also believed to be in the running
is DR.. Irwin D. Stewart. radio expert
of the State Department A former
University of Texas instructor and a
lawyer. DR.. Stewart assisted ,both
Senate and House committees in the
drafting Of the communications bill.
He is believed to have the Endorsement
of Representative Rayburn of Texas,
chairman of the House Interstate and
Foreign Commerce Committee, which
drafted the House bill.
All of the incumbent members of.
the Radio Commission are candidates
for reappointment. Since the new
commission will be bipartisan agency,
the Republican members of the COM
mission - Lafount and Brown are
definitely in the running. Mr.. La
fount has served on the commission
virtually since its creation in 1928.
and is recognized as the practical
bAphiSco uidu ulCluUNI. wi. oIUWH
was formerly the commissions general
counsel, and was elevated to the COM
missionership two years ago. Com
missioner Hanley was named Just a
year ago and is protege of Arthur
Mullen, former Democratic national
committeeman.
Whether President Roosevelt will
hold of the appointments until after
Congress adjourns is problematical.
Should he choose that course, the
appointments of necessity would be in
the nature of recess appointments"
subject to confirmation by the Senate
next January. As a consequence. all
of the appointees in effect would be
on probation until the 1885 Congress
convenes.
Under the legislation, the Com
munications Commission would be re-
quired to report to Congress by
February /, 1885, following q thorough
investigation Of the entire COMMUNE
cations sphere. and make recon-