The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-24


 This was not a bad idea. Hith- erto, the telegraph and telephone companies had been regulator by the Interstate Commerce Commis- sion, which regarded them as step children, while the rapidly expanding radio industry was regulated by a lethargic Radio Commission created by Secretary of Commerce Hoover.
 So to regulate radio, telegraph and telephone there was created the Federal Communications Corn- mission. Conceived of good in- tentions, spawned in haste and fed on incompeteney, this agency has turned into polygot monstros- ity, neither man, fowl nor beast.
 With the possible exception of the Bituminous Coal COmmis- sion, it is the most inefficient and intellectual institution in Washington.
 Chief reason EGG has become such hybrid is that into its seven commiSSionerships went men of every political hue, every business background, with no regard for cohesion, efficiency, or knowledge of communications.
 Seven men holding equal power on any commission have a hard time agreeing, but when into the hopper are dumped an ex-governor of Rhode Island, a retired naval officer, an ex-tax commissioner of New York, a college professor from Oklahoma, and a Hoover cam- paign manager in Ohio, the re- Sultant chaos is understandable. New Chairman
 To Frank R. McNinch in 1897 fell the lot of straightening out the kinks in the tangled skein of federal communications. It was a tough job, and he was picked for it because he had done some what the same job for the Fed eral Power Commission.
 Appointed to that body by Herbert Hoover in 1880, when the Federal Power Commission was the subject of 2 congress sional investigation, McNinch revitalized it, made it one of the most effective in Washing ton.
 Hoover had rewarded McNinch because, although a Democrat, he had helped defeat Al Smith in North Carolina in 1928. But Mo- Ninch turned out to be more of a New Dealer than a Hooverite, and Roosevelt continued the policy of putting him in responsible places.
 The Federal Communications Commission, however, has been 2 tough nut for him to crack. He has swept out the COmmis- sion's red-tape laden law de- pertinent, and is now in in the process of house cleaning the examining Department. He has other plans in prospect.
 But even if he succeeds in oust- ing all incompetent subordinates, McNinch still is confronted with the chaos-breeding board of seven members. And until there is a wholesale decapitation the EGG will continue to be one of the fes- tering sores of the New Deal.
 Commander Craven
 Chief obstacles to any internal deodorizing are Commissioners George Henry Payne and Tunis Augustus MacDonough Craven. These two make an intriguing pair. In fact, they carry on more intrigue than all the rest of the commission.
 T. A. M. CRAVEN is a 46-year old naval officer who made an ex- cellent record as chief engineer of the EGG and was elevated to the post of commissioner. As engineer, he had been a thorn in the side of Commissioner Payne and once gesteured to thrash him. It was this emnity which caused Craven's promotion to the com- mission. He was considered a good man to checkmate Payne.
 And what particularly gripes those responsible for Craven's promotion, is that he has now turned around and welcomed Payne to his bosom. These two are the Amos 'n' Andy of the the EGG.
 Craven is encumbered with two vital handicaps = the brass hat ideas of his Navy days and an inner antipathy to anything sav- bring of real regulation. As a subordinate technician, Craven was excellent, but as a policy making executive he is beyond Ebullient MT. Payne
 GEORGE HENRY PAYNE is a charming and irnpish little gentle man who never is happy unless