Evening star., 1939-01-25
Wheeler 10 Ask New
1hree-Man F. CT T.. .
To End Strife
Board Reorganization
Would End Terms of
Present Members

6oAAA0eACAoAA VI CllC XCOCl Oh
Communications Commission to
cut the membership from seven to
three will be one of the first legis-
lative moves to combat the internal
strife which has brought general
criticism Of that commission, Sena-
tor Wheeler, Democrat, of Montana,
chairman of the Senate Interstate
Commerce Committee, said today.
Such move automatically would
end the terms of the present men,
bers.
Senator Wheeler had a long con-
ference shortly before noon with
Frank r. McNinch, chairman of the
F. G. c., at the suggestion of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, who disclosed yester-
day that he was greatly dissatisfied
with the present setup.
Senator Wheeler said that, gen.
orally, he was in accord with the
recommendations of Chairman Nc
Ninch, who favors a smaller COM
mission. At this mornings confer
ence the Communications Act was
discussed only in a general way, as
both men agreed that the primary
move to bring order out of chaos
was revision of the administra-
ton.
Senator Wheeler said he would
sponsor legislation at this time
which would deal only with the set
up of the commission itself. He
added it was his belief that any
OF the commissions which have more
than three members are unwieldy,
and the greater the number of the
commissioners the larger amount of
trouble they have because of the
diversity of minds which must con-
slider various matters. He said he
believed that the real trouble in
the Communications Commission
was due entirely to the diversity of
opinions.
Asked to Prepare Draft.
Senator Wheeler said he asked
Chairman McNinch to prepare a
draft of proposed statute to carry
into effect the reorganization. Sen
ator Wheeler said that while the
entire act, in his opinion, needed
revision, it was not his purpose to
undertake it at the same time. He
asked Chairman McNinch to give
him the proposed draft by the first
OF next week, when he would de-
eide if it fully conceded with his
ideas of what should be done.
Chairman McNinch would not
discuss his conference with Senator
Wheeler, adding that the legislative
problem was matter for the latter.
He did disclose. however, that he
intended to have conference also
with Representative Lea, chairman
OF the House Interstate Commerce
Committee, with a view to getting
support for the legislation which
the President has indicated he de-
sires to have passed.
Advocates Smaller Bodies.
Senator Wheeler said that if he
had his way, he would advocate
reduction in the size of all the COM
missions to not more than three
members each. He said in this con-
nection that the Interstate Com
merce Commission, which now con-
sists of II members, is entirely too
large.
The committee chairman was of
the opinion that much of the de-
tailed work of the Communications
Commission should be divided among
competent officials, who would be
directly responsible to the commits
sion itself. He said that the COM
mission should be left free to act on
the bigger problems and should have
the advice of responsible experts.
At the time Chairman McNinch
was sent from the Federal Power
Commission to the Communications
Commission by President Roosevelt,
one of the first things he did was to
abolish such an organization as Sem
ator Wheeler outlined. This organ
ization included the telephone, tele-
graph and radio broadcast division.
Subsequently he abolished the ex-
aminers and information sections
and put them directly under the
chairman. Senator Wheeler said
that no private organization could
be run with as many directors as is
found in the seven-man Federal
communications Commission.
Inaction on Policy.
Senator Wheeler said he would not
take up at this time the provision
OF the Communications Act which
would lay down in statutory form
any policies which might guide the
commission in its functions AS
matter of fact, some of the commits
sioners are of the opinion that in so
Tar as radio communication is con-
cerned neither the commission nor
any one else has at this time suffl-
clent information which could be
used IN the formulation of a statu-
tory guide. The art is held to be so
new and its ramifications so great
that it would be folly to attempt
this yet.
The plan to reorganize the COM
mission today brought a promise of
full cooperation from Neville Mil
Ter, president Of the National Asso-
citation of Broadcasters.
1T Is gratifying that the Presi-
dent has recommended to both Sen
ator Wheeler and Representative
Lea that Congress lay down radio
policies in new legislation so clear
that the new administrative body
will have no difficulty in interpret
ing them or administering Them" "
He said THE President has put his
finger on the core of the radio
problem"
While Mr.. McNinch was brought
over from the Federal Power Com