Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-08-18
M'N|NCH TO HEAD i
RADIO COMMISSION
Federal Power Board Head
Will Try to Straighten
Out Situation,
By the Associated Press.

BY tne Associated Press.
President Roosevelt has asked Frank
r. McNlnch, chairman of the Federal
Power Commission, to leave his post
long enough to straighten out the az
fairs of the Federal Communica tons
Commission.
Two vacancies existed on the latter
commission. Mr.. Roosevelt asked Nc
Ninch, North Carolina Democrat, to
serve as chairman. He nominated T.
A. M Craven of Washington, chief
engineer for the communications
agency, to the other post.
Craven, retired naval officer, will
succeed Irwin Stewart of Texas. re-
signed. The late Aiming S. Prau OF
New York was chairman.
Republican Congressman have been
particularly critical of the commiss-
ions handling of radio cases. They
charged favoritism was rampant and
that monopoly was encouraged.
McNinch, lawyer and former may
or Of Charlotte, has been a member of
the Federal Power Commission since
1890.
McNinch Still With Power Board.
White House aides emphasized that
McNinch, who is reported to have
had hand in shaping the noted
power ''yardstick" policy of Mr.. Roose-
welt, would not resign from the Power
Commission.
Following the Republican charges
that the Communications Commits
sion's rule over radio has tended
toward monopoly and favoritsm, Rep
resentative Fish, Republican, Of New
York yesterday urged a congressional
investigation of the commission TO
see what is behind" the employment
of Charles Nicholson, the Democratic
National Committees publicity chief.
by the Crosley Radio Corp. of Gin
cinnati. Fish said Nicholson is draw
ing $4,000 salary.
Last Sunday a Republican member
Of the commission, George Henry
Payne, called on Powell Crosley, ir,
president Of the Crosley Radio Corp.
to produce data relating to charges
that the corpora ton had been given
unusual concessions"
Payne, said the Crosley station,
WLW at, Cincinnati, had received
monopoly" of 100000 watts under the
guise of an experimental license"
and that the monopoly was used to
earn unusual commercial profits"
Payne's Curiosity Aroused.
There is something strange in Den-
mark Payne said. There was sur
reputiously inserted into our annual
report to Congress-a report that was
never seen by any commissioners
gratuitious and valuable advertise
ment" of the Crosley station.
Crosley wrote Payne from Cincin-
natl Monday defending the use of
800, 900 watts power and accusing
Payne Of 'unWillingness" to meet rep
resentatlves Of the company.
Crosley said that an application for
100000 watts power on a regular basis
had been on file with the commission
since January, 1885, and that "the
experiment had already demonstrated
the benefit of the increased capacity
for remote and rural service"
Besides the proposed inquiry into
the commission. Fish also suggested
Congress investigate the activities of
Elliott Roosevelt, son of the President.
He said young Roosevelt had sold sew
eral radio stations in Texas to William
Randolph Hearst, the publisher, and
had succeeded in having the owner
ship transferred without the formality
OF hearing before the Federal Com
munications Commission"