Evening star., 1934-04-01
DILL IS SPEEDING
RADIO MEASURE
Names Committee of Five to
Revamp Communications
Bill.

"HE Herculean task of rewriting
the 100-page Dill communica-
tions bill to create a Federal
L communications commission
with full control over radio.
wire and telephones has been UNDER
taken by subcommittee Of the SEN
ate Interstate Commerce Committee,
which has been meeting in executive
session almost daily for the last week.
Determined to write bill which
will meet major objections, yet retain
its teeth" Chairman Dill, its author,
has appointed a small committee Of
flve to revamp the measure in its
entirety, If necessary. He is still hope
ful OF having the legislation passed at
the current session of Congress, but
its chances are diminishing daily, due
to strong opposition from communi-
cations and radio enterprises. More
over, the measure must battle against
time, for Congress may adjourn by
May IS, and the bill has not yet
even negotiated its initial stage Of
the usual flve-stage legislative CANT
let.
Attacked at Hearing.
The Dill measure, which would set
up commission to succeed the Fed
eral Radio Commission and vest in
the new agency broad powers far be-
yond those now on the statute books,
was attacked by witnesses at hear
ings early this month before his COM
mittee. Not only we're broadcasting
11fnracfc -
cause Of the drastic changes it would
invoke in the regulation of radio. but
communications companies, including
the American Telephone g. Telegraph
Co., International Telephone & Tele-
graph Co.. r. c. A. Western Union
and Postal Telegraph assailed it be-
cause of its far-reaching scope
On one major point only did all
opponents of the measure agree. They
said it did not conform With Presi-
dent Roosevelt's special message to
Congress, which asked that the COM
mission be created simply by consoli-
dation of existing laws and agencies
and that controversial phases be
averted
Meanwhile, Chairman Rayburn of
tAiC 4AONoC 44AJClctdlC
Commerce Committee has scheduled
hearings en- his bill, companion of
the Dill measure, beginning Tuesday.
The Reyburn measure, however, does
not embrace any amendments to ex-
isttng radio Law, but does include pro-
posals to change laws governing wires,
telephones and cables. The measure
probably will not be opposed by broad.
casters but is expected to draw the
fire of communications companies, as
did the Dill bill.
White Has Substitute.
Stepping into the forefront Of the
legislative affray is Senator Wallace
White, jr., Maine Republican, CO.
author Of the radio act of 1927 and
one of the best informed men in
Congress on communications. Op-
posing the Dill measure, he has intro
duced a substitute bill which he saws
conforms with the Presidents ex-
pressed wishes. The measure simply
would consolidate existing laws and
create the new commission. which
would be instructed to recommend to
Congress by next February the
changes 1t considers necessary in eX-
isting laws to improve the regllla-
ton of all communications.
Senator White is a member of
Senator Dills subcommittee. now en-
gagged in the task of rewriting the
bill. In addition to the chairman,
other members are Senators Hatch
of New Mexico and Thompson Of Ne
braska, Democrats, and Hatfield Of
West Virginia. Republican
Since the Senate subcommittee be-
gan its deliberations a few days ago,
it is learned authoritatively that it
has decided to cut down the size Of
the proposed new commission from
seven to five members-the same as
the present Radio Commission. In
stead of three divisions of the COM
mission, presided over BY two COM
mlssioners each, there would only be
two divisions, one governing radio
and the other the telephones, tele-
graphs and cables. The White SUBJ
stitute suggests a seven-man commits
slon but would eliminate the divisions
altogether and have the full commits
sion preside over every character of
business. The committee hopes to
finish its work by April is.