Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-03-03
LONG TURNS FIRE
ON FARLEY FRIEND
Secretary Pettey of Com
munications Body Accused
of Press Deal.

Senator Huey p Long of Louisiana,
In pursuing his campaign against
Postmaster General Farley, the ao-
ministration's patronage chief, 1t was
learned day, is aiming one OF his
shafts at Herbert L. Pettey, secretary
of the Federal Communications Com
mission.
Pettey's closeness to Farley has
been brought out on various occasions.
He was in charge of the radio division
of the Democratic National Committee
Under Chairman Farley during the
1882 campaign, it was recalled, and
subsequently displaced James w, Bald
win as secretary of the old Radio
Commission when that job was re-
moved from civil service status by
executive order at the beginning OF
the administration. Baldwin was a
Republican with civil service rating.
Change to New Board.
When the Communications Com
mission absorbed the old Radio
Commission. Pettey became secretary
of the new board Moreover in the
Fall of 1898. Farley designated Pettey
his representative in radio matters
arising through the Democratic Ma
tional Committee.
o. Senator Longs new line of attack
on Farley, with Pettey as the direct
target, took the form of letter to
the Communications Commission de-
handing that it investigate charges
that Pettey sold series OF radio
articles to a newspaper While the
paper was pressing an application Tor
q radio station license.
Tomorrow official action will be
taken behind closed doors to dig into
the charges Long has flung at Farley
from the floor of the Senate.
Senator Mcclellan. Democrat OF
Tennessee, chairman of the Post Office
Committee. announced yesterday that
Longs resolution demanding an inves-
tigation of Farley will be taken up in
executive session. Neither the Louis
lana Senator nor the Postmaster Gen
eral has been asked to attend.
Before going to Baton Rouge to put
the State Legislature through its
had Mcclellan agree to take no action
on the resolution until his return.
Long was expected to arrive here
some time tomorrow from his Louis
lana domain.
Letter Cause of Rift.
Meanwhile, it was learned, Longs
letter to the Communications Com
mittee regarding Pettey has caused
something of rift among the men,
bers of that body 1t was reported
that the only reply the Kingfish has
received so far has been an acknowl-
edgement of his letter.
Chairman Eugene o. Sykes yester-
day admitted receipt of the letter,
but declined to discuss the Pettey in
cident or to indicate what the COM
mission would do. It was reported
that Pettey had received Chairman
Sykes approval before the newspaper
articles were written.
Since Longs break with the Roose-
welt administration, Farley, as the
dispenser of patronage, has been cold
toward the Louisiana Senator and his
friends. Longs resolution charged
that through Farley's influence GER
tain public works contracts went to
companies with which Long said Far
ley was connected. The resolution
asked that P. w A data on the con-
tracts be turned over to the Senate
Secretary Ickes. public works chief
tain, denied that his department had
investigated Farley, but said data rel
alive to certain New York public
works projects were ready for de-
livery to the Mcclellan committee.