Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-27

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Walter-Logan bill. National unity is
the cry of the hour, but it can come
only if arbitrariness is eliminated
from governmental agencies. While
the Walter-Logan bill is not perfect
and does not strike at all the evils
of bureaucracy, it is step in that
direction.
The testimony of those who COM
plain about tyranny in Government
departments does not come alto
gether from those who oppose the
present administration. This cor
respondent presents today, for ex-
ample. the text of letter written
by Mark Ethridge, general manager
of the Louisville Courier Journal,
newspaper which has supported Mr..
Roosevelt on all three occasions that
he has run for the presidency. Mr..
Ethridge happens to be vice chair
man of an organization known as tne
independent Radio Network Affill-
Ates, Inc, which embraces a large
number of independent radio sta
lions.
Quizzes Stations by Wire.
This organization has matter
pending before the Federal Com
munications Commission and hires
a LAWYER to present a written BRIEF.
The commission happens to dislike
the brief and sends out telegram
TO each of the 227 station owners as
follows:
Advise by telegram today II brle1
filed by attorney for Independent
Radio Network AfhliateS was author
lied by you, was submitted TO you
for approval, or whether the views
expressed therein reflect the posi-
kion taken by your station"
This unprecedented action resulted
in a letter on behalf of the Louis
vile Station WHAS from Mr.. Eth
ridge with copy to President
Roosevelt as follows:
James L. Fly, chairman Federal
Communications Commission: l
have sent the following wire to Mr..
Slowie, secretary, in response to his
wire: 'WHAS was represented at the
San Francisco convention which
Instructed the officers and directors
of I. r. N. A. to file brief setting
out the attitude of stations toward
the Monopoly Committees report.
The brief was submitted to us Tor
approval and we approve
Sees Intimidation Move.
ct do want to protest to you, how
ever, as chairman of the commission,
what I consider to be intimidation.
Whether the wire had that purpose,
its wording and its preemptory ma
ture will certainly have that effect.
do not know any reason why the
stations affiliated with the networks
should not make their position
known to the full commission, parti-
cularly when-a report of commit
tee of the commission charges, in
effect, that the stations are not full
filling their public duty.
THE full commission, you told me,
has not had the opportunity to study
the question and has set oral argu-
ments for the purpose of receiving
further information and views. 1t
seems to me that the commission
would welcome a statement of the
position of affiliates, no matter
whether it embraces that position or
not.
eff the commission was interested
In knowing who Mr.. Segal repre-
sented, it could have required from
him written authorization of sigma
lures to the brief; or when he ap-
peared to argue it, could have re-
quired him to make showing OF
representation; or could have denied
him the right to be heard if he could
not make showing. AS a lawyer
I know you will recognize that as
q fair and just and regular pro-
cedure
"a Form of Tyranny"
IT do not believe the commission
as whole would ever have author
lied such telegram as was sent
out. I must say that it strikes me
as violent departure from any pro.
cedure of democratic government.
Il cannot refrain from adding q
more personal word AS you NAV
know, I was New Dealer before
anybody In the present administra-
ton ever said he was, and all my
adult life I have fought the same
sort OF evils you have. Moreover, ]
have done all I could in the radio
industry to bring it to an acceptance
OF the necessity and desirability OF
regulation. But this sort of thing
seems to me irresponsible regula-
ton, and, worse than that, a form
OF tyranny which I do not like in
any form"
Examples of this sort of arbitrari.
ness can be multiplied. The enact
ment OF the Walter-Logan bill would
act as a restraining influence on
Government boards and agencies
even though its provisions might not