Evening star., 1934-06-24
BY MARTIN CODEL.

Ol The newspaper, 10 SuDInlJ IdcCS ana
material to support its editorial
statement.
This is precisely what Reid's
newspaper. in series of articles pub
lished this week, sets out to do. Reid
dispatched letter to the Radio Com
mission in which he declined to
render you an account" concerning
the editorial. But the fact remains
that his letter, referring the commits
sioners to the constitutional pro-
vision of freedom Of speech and of
the press. taken together with the
articles, Is definitely an accounting
despite his rhetorical declination.
Life and Death Power.
Standing by its assertion that radio
has become the mouthpiece of the
new deal, the newspaper also sets
forth how the commission, with its
broad licensing authority, wields the
power of life and death, sound and
silence" over radio stations; how the
commissions secretary also acts as
radio liaison officer for the DEM
ocratic National Committee; how one
commissioner issued a press statement
asserting it is the bounden and
patriotic duty of radio to support
N. r. A; how, generally, the COM
mission bows to dictation from its
political masters and holds the threat
OF repriSal df 1t does not actually
exercise it, over, radio unless it plays
ball" with the party in power.
Whatever the merits of these al
legged disclosures. and those in the
Chicago Tribune'S recent series Of
articles purporting to reveal the
political maneuverings of the Radio
Commission in specific cases, the fact
remains President Roosevelt, sending
a message to the Radio Manufacturers
Association ar its Chicago convention
last week, included several remarks
that the RADIO people are now seizing
upon as a veritable bill of rights.
Said the President:
You have had many evidences of
my interest in radio. In co-opera-
ton with the Government. radio has
been conducted as a public agency.
1t has met the requirements of the
letter and spirit of the law that it
function for public convenience and
necessity To permit radio to be-
come O medium for selfish propa-
ganda Of any character would be
shamefully and swrongfully to abuse
a great agent Of public service. Radio
broadcasting should be maintained on
an equality Of freedom similar to that
freedom which has been and Is the
-
Dill for "Free Radio"
Several years ago, speaking over
the radio, the remark that radio
must be kept as free as the press"
was also made by Senator Dill, Demo-
crat, of Washington, co-author of
the old radio law and also of the
new Dill-Rayburn bill creating the
new Communications Commission.
That the expiring commission, and
the new commission. which takes over
all its radio jurisdiction as well as
the regulation of the interstate tele-
phones and telegraphs, have tre-
mendous authority over radio goes
without saying. The authority is in
herent in any system of licensing
and the licensing Of wave lengths
and power rests alone with the Fed
eral Government, with the admins
trstion in power given q right in
the law to q majority on the regulat-
ing body.
Political dureSs upon the commits
sion has been terrific, especially in
recent months and weeks when it
became evident that new regulatory
body was to be created and all the
sitting radio commissioners became
candidates for the new jobs. But
the politics has been played mostly
by Congressman seeking favors for
constituent stations. Members of
Congress of both parties have freely
called upon the commission, visiting
the individual commissioners Offices
and even appearing at public hear
ings, to support this or that grant
to their radio friends. In recent
weeks the rate of grants, especially
those made without hearings, has
been going at an unusually high pace.
That the commission has yielded to
pressure Is also well known. The
members want appointments and re-
appointments. This, too, is inherent
in the system. although many of the
lawyers practicing before the COM
mission would welcome more
judicial attitude on its part and a
judging Of its cases on their legal
and factual merits. The fear Is now
expressed that the mere fact that
the Communications Commission OF
seven men will hold recess appoint
ments will further subject it to
political domination.
Political Charges Few.
On the other hand, the prestige of
the Interstate Commerce Commission
and other Federal boards Is so high
that it is seldom impugned for politi-
cal motives and almost never ap-
preached by members Of Congress
during its judicial functioning. Such
pressure, it is eagerly hoped, will soon
attach to the new Communications
Commission, depending upon the
caliber and stature of the men ap-
pointed to 1t. Few believe that Presi-
dent Roosevelt has any desire to die
tate the commissions specific judg-
ments after he has made his ap-
pointments.
As far as freedom of speech is
concerned, the new law Incorporates
the political equality and nom
censorship provisions of the old radio
law. There have been few recrimi-
nations even from politicians on the
score of being denied equal use Of
the microphone during campaigns.
The censorship the commission can
exercise is not over utterances on the
air, except where they may be OBJ
scene or profane. but over the right
of station to secure its regular six
month renewal of license. So far, the
Radio Commission has been upheld by
the courts when it has refused license