Evening star., 1934-12-02
US. CONTROL UNIT
F|CHTSFORF FUNDS.
Changes in Personnel OF
Board Seen After First
of Year.
BY SOL TAISHOFF.

THOUGH engrossed in half
~ dozen different Investigations
~ into all phases of communica-
4 \ tionS, all eyes at the Federal
Communications Commission,
one Of the youngest OF the New Deal
agencies, are turning toward the new
Congress that will shortly convene.
One of the first acts of Congress,
when it meets January 3, will be that
of considering confirmation of the
members of the F. c. c. who received
recess appointments last Summer from
President Roosevelt. But another
congressional verdict of equal impor-
tance is that of appropriations for the
agency, which has been battling be-
hind closed doors for several weeks
with officials of the Budget Bureau.
Asked for an appropriation of $2000,-
600 for the next year, the Budget Bu-
reau first cut it in half and then split
the difference so that now the tenta-
tive figure is set at ST 100000, which
F. c. c. officials feel is inadequate to
care for the work outlined and for the
tripled personnel planned.
1t is too early to determine whether
there will be any concerted efforts in
the Senate to thwart the confirmation
of any of the seven members of the
F. C. C. There have been sporadic
reports of opposition to the conflrma-
ton of one or two, but these have
not been confirmed. Several Western
Senators have voiced displeasure over
the fact that the Western States are
not represented, while the South and
Southeast have four posts, and Ohio,
Rhode Island and New York the other
three.
Pran to Get Post.
At least one new face is expected
on the F. c. c. next January Rep
lesentative Prall, New York Democrat,
who did not run for reelection in
November, is definitely assured of a
place on the F. c. C.-probably as
chairman of the broadcast division
Prall is now confined to his home re-
covering from leg fracture suffered
in an automobile accident last Au-
gust with his friend and sponsor,
Senator Wagner of New York
Prall had been appointed by Presi-
dent Roosevelt to place on the for
mer Federal Radio Commission last
February, but he elected to conclude
his term in Congress. Meanwhile,
Congress enacted the law which set
up the Communications Commission
and abolished the former agency Prall
was precluded from accepting appoint
ment on the F. c. c. because of the
constitutional provision that no men,
Der of Congress may serve on an
agency created by Congress of which
he was a member during that term
CT the Congress.
AS a consequence, Prall was given
assurances that he would be named to
the F. c. c. as soon as he becomes
eligible, or on January 3. While his
actually assuming that post next
month, those close to the Congress
man indicate that he expects to re-
celve the appointment at that time.
Gary Now Has Job.
Now sitting in the post slated for
Prall is Chairman HampSon Gary of
the broadcast division. Texas Demo-
Crat and former Minister to Switzer-
land. 1t is presumed that he will
leave the agency in January unless
other personnel changes are made.
Other Democratic members are Chair
man E. o. Sykes of Mississippi, ap-
pointed for the seven-year term; Paul
A. Walker of Oklahoma, chairman of
the telephone division, named for
flve-year term, and Dr. Irwin Stewart
Of Texas. chairman of the telegraph
division. named for three years. Un-
less a vacancy occurs in one of these
three posts, or unless Prall is not
nominated, Garys tenure will end
January 3.
One possibility talked about in ra-
dio circles is the appointment of
Chairman Sykes, himself former chief
justice of the Mississippi Supreme
Court. to Federal judgeship There
are no vacancies at present for which
he has been mentioned This talk
has centered around appointment to
the United States Court of Appeals
for the District of Columbia FIVE
man court which SltS in vpvjpw An an.