Evening star., 1938-11-13
MtNinth Denies
&c. T.. Merit Abuses;
Censorship Ruled Out
Purge or White House
Influence Disuvowed
In Defense on Air

Chairman Frank r. McNinch last
night defended his administration
as head of the Federal Communica-
tions Commission in a radio speech
In which he discussed the contro-
versial reorganization he has under
taken, and denied either that there
had been purge" or "ravishment
of civil service" The speech was
broadcast over the three major
chains.
On censorship of radio programs,
Mr.. McNinch said that in his opinion
this was impracticable and definitely
Objectionable. The chairman eX-
planned the conditions facing the
commission, and in detailing the
purposes he hoped to accomplish by
the changes, denied that President
Roosevelt or any members of his
family or secretariat had ever at
tempted to influence the commission
in administering its regulatory
duties.
On the other hand, Mr.. McNinch
asserted that one of the changes
abolition of the examiners division
was made to obviate discussion that
influence was used in deciding some
cases.
The chairman also discussed
briefly the investigation of monopoly
charges in the broadcasting industry,
public hearings on which will begin
tomorrow at 10 am. in the audi
torium of the Labor Department.
Job Not Done.
In declaring that his action was
not an attack on civil service, he
added that only three Of the seven
positions which have been elimi-
mated since he became head of the
commission were under civil service
Mr.. McNinch said the departments
in which these were located were
abolished by the reorganization plan
and that the employees did not fit in
elsewhere. Neither did politics play
any part in the changes, he said,
adding that of the seven persons
dropped. six were Democrats.
But Chairman McNinch indicated
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there remains the task of reassigning
some members of the staff to posi-
tions where they may render better
service, and dismissal of any who
are definitely inefficient.
Mr.. McNinch spiked the report
that he was soon to return to the
Federal Power Commission, from
which he came to carry out his cur
rent task.
Thirteen months ago." he said,
President Roosevelt presented me
with the opportunity-and the chal-
lenge-to help guide the develop
ment and the use of radio, as chair
man of this commission =. I
am still working, with my associate
commissioners on that task. I am
going to stay with it until it is done,
to the satisfaction of the President,
and hope of the Congress and Of
others who are most concerned.
1T is, of course, true that after
the job is done, I hope to return to
the Federal Power Commission. Be-
fore leave, hope and firmly believe
that my associates and I will have
gone long way toward solving the
immediate problems that confront
US
The chairman said that when he
came to the commission he found a
staff that was not co-ordinated,
particularly since responsibility was
divided.
He added that the arrangement
for conduct of hearings on license
applications was such as to keep the
hearings removed from the commits
sioners on whom responsibility for
final decisions rested. An applicant
for license, or his attorney, usually
would know in advance what mem
ber of the staff would hear the
application, and was in a position
to approach this staff member, or
have others approach him, and at
tempt to bring influence to bear, Mr.
McNinch asserted.
Congressman Intervened.
He charged that some members
Of Congress interviewed privately
members OF the commission or staff
members, submitting information or
recommendations without putting
any supporting evidence into the
records. Under this system, he
went on, when cases at last came
before the commission, the COM
missioners were not always certain
whether the commission had all the
pertinent information and it was
not certain whether the proper
weight had been given to such in
formation as was presented.
While he said he did not know of
any attempt deliberately to mislead
the commission, Chairman Nc
Ninch added that he did know that
many of the cases which came up
were not in form satisfactory to
conscientious commissioner. There
were many rurnors afloat that COM
mission action was being influenced
through persuasive approaches to
some members of the staff, he
pointed out.