Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-01-02
~ the Associated Press,

Congress may be asked to rewrite
the Communications Act to require
that opponents of President Roose-
welt be given equal time on the
radio to answer any political state
ments he may broadcast.
Senator White, Republican, OF
Maine said yesterday he favors
broadening a section of the act re-
curing equal time for opponents of
qualified political candidates to ap-
ply the same rule to other public
figures who broadcast on contro-
versial political questions.
While Senator White did not
mention Mr. Roosevelt in this con-
nection, Senator Wheeler, Demo-
crat, Of Montana said the contem-
plated revision would apply to polit-
ical statements by Mr.. Roosevelt
adding that he believed it should
Senators White and Wheeler are in
the process of rewriting compre-
hensive radio regulation bill on
which extensive hearings were held
by Senate Interstate Commerce
Subcommittee.
White Not Satisfied.
Conceding that there will be diff
Guilty in fixing definition, Senator
White told a reporter he was not
satisfied with the law as it stands
since many persons who are not
qualified political candidates broad
cast on highly controversial sub
jects.
Senator White said that while it
might be difficult to draw line. he
felt the general objective of getting
both sides of controversial questions
before the public could be attained.
Il want to expand the section so
that there won't be just the voice of
the Government heard over the
radio" said the Maine Senator, who
is acting Republican leader.
Although he is not yet down to
final details, Senator White said he
was confident the final draft of the
bill would contain sections denying
to the Federal Communications
Commission the right of censorship
over radio broadcasts. specifically
stating that the FEC shall not die
tate the contents of program and
denying it control over the business
interests of stations.
Wants Fees Position.
I'VE are waiting to see also" he
said, what the commission will de-
eide about newspaper ownership of
radio stations. For one, l don't
believe the commission has any right
to deny radio station licenses to
newspapers just because they are
newspapers any more than it would
have the right to deny license to
a mercantile establishment.
The radio legislation, scheduled
to reach the Senate floor sometime
this month, is likely to arouse con-
troversy there. 1t generally is ex-
pected to limit and define more def
nitely the Fees control.
The FEC, it was learned, has de-
cided to leave alone, for the time be-
Ing at least, suggestion that the
question of news monopoly" be
considered when a newspaper ap-
plies for license to operate a radio
station; also that it does not intend
to disturb present relationships be-
tween newspapers and associated
radio stations.
Ar,;pSt DrosS d do Exoo,s;on
The proposal advanced within the
commission and made known
through congressional sources was
aimed only at new redo station &C
QUESTION by newspapers, it was said
FEC has been, discussing this
phase of news dissemination for
three years. FEC Chairman James
L. Fly has told congressional COM
mitteeS repeatedly that an early de-
cision would be reached, but now, it
was reported, the question has been
put on ice
The present situation. on the basis
of information from congressional
sources, stood as follows:
A three member subcommittee of
the FEC Norman S. Case, Ray C.
Wakefield and Clifford j. Durr)
drafted proposed report" saying
newspaper ownership should be
considered as "one factor, among
Others in passing on radio APP
plications, but that no agreement
had been reached because of the
militant OppoSition of Commissioner
T. A. NJ Craven.
Mr.. Craven repeatedly commended
that the Communications Act re-
quires no more of an applicant for
a radio license than proof of citizen
ship, character and financial and
technical qualifications to operate
in the public interest
Report Carefully Weighed.
The commission met several times
last week to consider the Case
Wakefield-Durr proposed report"