Evening star., 1942-02-12
Newspapers More Fair
On News Than Radio,
Publisher Claims
StuhImun Gives F. &C.
His Views on Operation
Of Broadcast Stations
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
James G. Stahlman, publisher Of
the Nashville CTenn) Banner, told
the Federal Communications Com
mission today he believed that news
papers Gin 800 cases out Of 1000"
gave a fairer presentation Of the
news than radio broadcasts.
Mr.. Stahlman, former president
Of the American Newspaper Pub
fishers Association, testified briefly
In connection with the commissions
study of newspaper operation Of
radio stations.
On the advice Of Elisha Hanson,
counsel for the A. N. P. A., Mr..
Stahlman several months ago failed
to answer q commission subpoena.
The United States Circuit Court OF
Appeals for the District Of Colum-
bia recently upheld the commits
sion's right to subpoena him but
said the commission had no power
under the Communications Act to
bar newspapers from owning or op-
Grating radio stations.
Before Mr.. Stahlman took the
stand today, Mr.. Hanson, who has
contended the investigation is un-
lawful, called the commissions at
tention to the Appeals Court deci-
sion and asked that 1t be made
part of the record.
Fly Rejects Request.
Chairman James Lawrence Fly
did not allow it to 60 into the record,
remarking that members of the
commission already had read it.
'T am glad that they did and I
hope they understood it and en-
1oyed it as much as I did," Mr..
Hanson commented.
Marcus Cohn Of the F. G. G. legal
staff explained that Mr.. Stahlman
originally had been requested to ap-
pear to identify various exhibits.
other witnesses have identified most
Of them 50 Mr.. Cohn asked few
questions.
Mr.. Fly asked Mr.. Stahlman
whether he had any connection with
any radio station, and he replied
chat he did not.
Mr.. COINS questions concerned
the early stages Of news broadcast
Ing. Mr.. Stahlman said that in the
early days there was rather gen.
eral system of the theft of news"
and for this reason he became in
terested in the problem of news
broadcasting.
Opposes Commercial Sponsors.
Mr.. Stahlman remarked that he
always had opposed commercially
sponsored news broadcasts and that
he had not changed his opinion.
The publisher told Of offering a
resolution at the April, 1888, meet
ing of the Associated Press to per-
NIT newspaper members Of the CO.
operative, non-profit organization to
make available news reports to local
stations, but not for chain broadcast.
He said his motive In Offering the
resolution, which was adopted, YVES
to make Legitimate news" available
10 radio stations.
Commissioner T. A. M. Craven,
who voted against the investigation,
asked Mr.. Stahlman whether local
stations affiliated with chains could
get the reports. The witness said
they could for local broadcast.
Mr.. Stahlman said the Banner
had co-operated regularly with
Nashville stations, but that an "un-
pleasant relationship" in one in
stance developed over the handling
of controversial matter.
Calls Papers News Fairer.
MIR. Henson then asked Mr.. Stahl-
man whether he thought newspapers
gave "fairer presentation" of news
than radio stations.
I'm 999 out of 1000 cases." he re-
Piled.
Mr.. Stahlman now is on active
duty with the Navy as lieutenant
commander. He appeared in uniform
today, Mr.. Hanson explaining that
regulations required this. Mr.. Han
son added, however, that Mr.. Stahl-
man was testifying as an individual
and mot as an officer of the Gov
ernment."
After hearing Mr.. Stahlman, the
hearings recessed to an indefinite
date. F. C. G. attorneys predicted
the hearings would be completed
shortly.