Evening star., 1945-09-22

sion with one another.
Three decisions of the commission
In recent weeks found Mr.. Durr in
opposition. The first, early in Au-
gust, announced change in the
commissions rules concerning the
extent to which the financial affairs
of broadcasting stations may be
made public. In effect it was agreed
that data with regard to ownership
should be open for public inspection,
but that the financial statements
should not be.
Mr.. Durr dissented. THE amended
rules" he said, "are a move in the
right direction, but they stop far
short of making available informa-
ton to which the public is entitled" I"
And, I'm the interests of public
confidence in the commissions op-
erations =" no cloak of secrecy
should keep from the public the in
formation upon which the commits
sion relies, whether in deciding in
dividual cases or in determining
matters CT broad policy" Further,
he said, since the commission relies
on the public, rather than the Gov
eminent, to regulate radio, the pub
lie needs the financial facts in order
to do its job.
Dissents to Crosley Sale.
The commission approved the sale
of the Crosley Corp radio interests,
including powerful WLW of Cincin-
natl and five international Broad
casting stations, to Aviation Corp.
of America. Mr.. Durr dissented.
So also, in this instance, did Com
missioners Walker and Wakefield.
Indicating it was not too happy
about the circumstances and condi-
tions of the sale, the commission
ma aiority held it could not Gisap-
prove without violating the prece-
dents of the past II years. 1t pro-
posed a new plan for the future,
under which in case. of any sale OF
radio station the terms and con-
ditions would be published and
other possible bidders given an op-
porIunity to bid on the same terms,
The commission then would con-
slider applications on their merits,
with a view to granting the trans
fer on the basis of public interest" p"
Before adopting the plan a public
hearing will be held.
The dissenters contended the
commission Should not be bound
by it's precedents when such prece-
dents conflict with public interest
and statutory responsibilities. They
declared the Aviation Corp. had not
demonstrated even minimum quail
fications" for the operation of a
radio station. The Aviation Corp,
they said, is "a large holding COM
pany of a type which has been
traditionally a matter of concern. u
Aviation Corp. Case.
Aviation Corp. presentation of its
own case before the commission was
anything but impressive. Victor
Emanuel, chairman of the board
and Irving B. Babcock, president,
admitted they had been principally
interested in acquiringf the "entire
package" of Crosley interests, chief
ly the manufacture of household
appliances, and were very vague in
their attempts to put value on
the broadcasting facilities. The
"entire package" price was s22 2,000,-
000 Asked to estimate the cost of
certain FIN and television equip
ment, Mr.. Emanuel guessed S250,000
but said he wasn't surprised when
told it was $2,135,Oo0. On another
item he guessed s250,O00, but said
he was willing to pay sl500,0O0 if
that was the price.
The third dissent by Mr.. Durr
came in the matter of applications
by newcomers, including men in
the armed services, for FIN facil-
tiles. The commission ruled appli-
cations must be in by October OF
applicants will have to take their
chances, thereby abandoning its own
previous recommendation that at
least 20 channels be withheld for
future assignment. Mr.. Durr OBJ
jected to this as being unfair to
the men overseas and as granting
in effect, monopoly of FIN broad
casting to stations now engaged in
standard broadcasting.
Mr.. Durr, by the way, had learned
the art of dissent before joining
the commission. Defense Plant