Evening star., 1941-06-14
Wheeler Warns Radio
To Avoid MeIodramas
Or Face Legislation
Ethridge Asks Congress
Make Communications
Act More Specific
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

BY J. A. OLEARY.
Chairman Wheeler of the Senate
Interstate Commerce Committee
warned the radio industry late yes
terday to cut down on gangster
plays and dripping dramas" or
face the possibility of legislation on
the subject.
His statement came just before
the committee recessed until Mon
day its inquiry into the new chain
broadcasting rules of the Federal
Communications Commission. which
seek to prohibit exclusive time ar
rangements between networks and
their affiliates. and would require
N. B. c. to dispose of one of its two
networks.
High lights of the afternoon ses-
sion were:
Mark Ethridge of Louisville, KY,
former president Of the National
Association of Broadcasters, joined
with Commissioner T. A. M. Craven
In opposing the scope of the new
rules and in urging Congress to re-
write the Communications Act in
more specific terms.
Corruption Not Implied.
Senator Tobey, Republican. OF
New Hampshire sought to draw
from Mr.. Ethridge the basis for
statement the latter had made re-
Gently that he knew of three in
stances in which the commission
had certain principles of regulation
under consideration, "and then vio-
lated them in instances of people
not unfriendly to the administra-
ton"
Mr.. Ethridge told Senator Tobey
he had in mind one application
from Houston, Tex, where Secretary
of Commerce Jones has radio in
terests; a case in Boston, involving
a clear channel, and a case in VIM
eton- Salem. N. c. In discussing
the Houston case, Mr.. Ethridge told
the committee he had never said
or meant to imply any corruption
was involved. He explained he was
referring only to the granting OF
applications that seemed to conflict
with certain principles of regula-
tions the commission had before II
for consideration, relating to mo-
nopoly in chain broadcasting and
newspaper ownership of radio sta
tions.
When Senator Tobey pressed Mr..
Ethridge for further details on the
uyitnnCC
thought the Senate should pass one
of the pending resolutions for
radio investigation, which would
enable the committee to subpoena
witnesses and get the information.
Demoralizing to Children.
Earlier in the hearings Senator
Tobey had asked Chairman James
L. Fly of the commission if an ap-
plication IN which Mr.. Jones was
interested had gone through in 48
hours, Mr.. Fly at that time testified
1t was an application for an in
crease in station power and had
been before the commission for six
months.
In voicing his disapproval of
eangster plays and melodramas on
the air. Senator Wheeler said they
have a "demoralizing influence" on
children. and predicted that if the
radio industry does not curb them,
there will be an agitation in Con-
eress to give the F. c. c. power to
supervise programs" The Senator |
said he did not want to see that !
step taken, and urged the industry
to consider it.
Comdr. Craven, who was one of |
the minority members in the five
to-two decision by which the COM
mission recently adopted the re-
strictions on chain broa adcasting, |
testified the rules 60 beyond the
commissions power under existing
law. He declared Congress should |
be given the opportunity to clarity |
the basic law, both as to chain |
broadcasting, and the question Of |
newspaper ownership of radio sta
tions, soon to- be taken up for COM
mission hearings.
Industry Welcomes Inquiry.
Mr.. Ethridge told the committee
he believed the radio industry Is
virtually unanimous in wanting
Congress to inquire into the present
status of broadcasting and to write
a new law.
Throughout the day Chairman
Wheeler agreed the law probably
needs revision but indicated he
thought any review of the Com
missions new rules should be made
through the courts. He said also
he thought the Commission should
grant stays on the operation of
its orders where litigation is insti-
tuted in good faith.
Senator White, Republican, of
Maine, author of the pending reso-
luton for an investigation of the
hew rules, said he would agree that
Congress should not review a Com
mission decision in an individual
ease, but contended the new rules
lay down fundamental policy for
ill chain broadcasting.
Mr.. Ethridge argued that the new
rules will result only in shufflling
of broadcast facilities on an ex-
perimental basis, "and if that doesn't
work they will be reshuff1ed again."