Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-21
D. c. BENCH IS SEEM
FOR JUDGE SYKES
Chairman of Communica.
tons Commission May Get
Appeals Court Post.
~ ossIBLE appointment Of Judge

~ OSSIBLE appointment Of Judge
u E. o. Sykes, chairman Of the
Federal Communications Com
L mission, to the Court Of APP
peals OF the District, Is the
subject of speculation in radio circles.
This talk has developed with the
introduction in the House of Repre-
sentatives of a bill to create a sixth
judgeship on the court, which has the
same status as q circuit court of ap-
peals. and which Is a sort Of SUPER
radio commission, handling all appeals
involving radio. If proffered, it is
believed that Judge Sykes, a veteran
of eight years as q Federal radio
official. would accept this post.
Name Previously Linked.
Last year when a similar measure
was introduced in Congress, Judge
Sykes name was linked with 1t. He is
a former member Of the Supreme
Court of Mississippi, and is highly re-
garded as jurist. He was appointed
to the original Radio Commission in
1927 by President Coolidge and has
served continuously since then. having
been named chairman of the Federal
Communications Commission by Pres
ident Roosevelt last July. He was
confirmed for that post by tie Senate
only after a battle wGged almost
ingle-handedly by Senator Bilbo,
Democrat, Mississippi, a political an
tagoniSt.
The bill for the additional judge
ship was introduced by Chairman
Summers, Democrat, Texas, of the
House Judiciary Committee, and has
been favorably reported to the House.
A routine objection to the measure
was made by Representative Blanton,
Democrat. Texas, when 1t was called
on the unanimous consent calendar
Monday. 1t will come up again within
few days with chances of passage
considered bright.
Under the measure. an additional
justice would be appointed to the
five-man court in the nature of an
alternate. The court would only sit
with five members, to be named by
the chief justice. In the event of the
retirement or death of one of the
members, the sixth man would be-
come regular member and the new
vacancy would not be filed Several
members OF the court are understood
to be eligible for retirement, with at
least one failing in health. These
factors prompted the legislation, par
ticularly In view Of the large volume
OF litigation handled by the court.
PraII Likely Successor.
Should Judge Sykes be given the
appointment, his successor as chair
man Of the F. c. c., more than
likely. will be Commissioner Aiming
S. Prall, newest member of the
agency, and New York Democrat
closely allied with the administration.
Mr.. Prall, for dozen years a member
OF Congress, is now chairman of the
Broadcast Division.
More than likely some prominent
Western Democrat would be named to
fill the vacancy Of the F. c. c. If
Judge Sykes moves to the court. West
ern Senators and Representatives.
notably. Senator Wheeler, Democrat of
Montana. who conducted the recent
exhaustive inquiry into the r. c. c.,
have lamented the fact that there is
not solitary member of the seven
man agency who halls from the
Middle or Far West. This situation
almost blocked confirmation Of two of
the F. c. c. members last month.
TWO dramatic presentations, based
l on episodes in the life of the first
President, will be part Of the net
work celebration of George Washing
tons birthday.
One, on the combined N. B. C. in
the morning in place of the music
appreciation hour. will include descrip-
tive pick-ups of present-day scenes in
the localities associated with Wash
ington.
The c. B. s. hour will come in the
afternoon.