Evening star., 1949-05-22
Two Radio Newsmen,
2CoIumnists Reported
Getting Florida Pay
IlltnoiS Payroll Story on
Page C-1.J
By fhe Associossd Press

= TAMPA. Fla, May 21.-A radio
station manager and two free
lance radio commentators are on
the Florida State payroll and two
newspaper columnists recently
have drawn State money for spe-
cial services, James A. Clendinen,
State news editor for the Tampa
Morning Tribune. said Capital
records showed today.
= Mr.. Clendinen also named the
publisher of a weekly newspaper
and a newsman listed as the cor
respondent for two Florida dailies
as being on the State payroll.
-Four Of those named in a story
for the Sunday Tribune issued
statements. One described his
work as a public service, and an
other said he was doing public
relations" and tag inspection on
q part-time basis. One said he
was not on the State payroll and
was not employed full time with
any newspaper. Two said they
had mo comment" and one could
not be reached.
No Large Scale Handouts"
Mr.. Clendinen wrote that there
may be others in radio or news
paper work also collecting State
paychecks whose payroll connec-
.tion has not been discovered, but
careful inquiry in the Capitol has
Tailed to uncover any large scale
handouts of tax money to news
paper and radio men. like those
recently exposed in Illinois"
Mr.. Clendinen said State con-
,troller's records show the follow
'tng on State payrolls:
Frank Pepper. general mana
ger of radio station WRHP in
Tallahassee - employed in Feb
ruary as part-time deputy motor
vehicle commissioner, at $3.50
month plus travelling expenses
averaging about $50 a month, to
''help with public relations" He
Is brother of Senator Pepper,
Democrat, of Florida.
Frank Pepper said:
MY work with Mr.. Livingston
(Arch Livingston, motor vehicle
commissioner has consisted of
public relations and tag inspec-
ton on part time basis and ad-
vice and help in preparing news
releases and bulletins to officials
who cooperate in enforcing the
motor vehicle license law"
Sought to Improve Unit.
Allen Morris, political columnist
for II Florida newspapers, princi-
pally the Jacksonville Journal and
others in the John H. Perry chain
vice chairman of the State ad-
vertising commission, a non SAL
aried job. with maximum expense
allowance of $3.50 a day. He re-
Gently received $700 as compen-
sation and $1,945 as expenses for
drafting new set of rules for
the Florida House of Representa-
stives.
: AT Tallahassee. Mr.. Morris made
the following comment on Mr..
Clendinin's story.
Gov. Warren, as I understand
1t, invited me to join Secretary of
State Gray, Commissioner of Agri-
culture Mayo, and five other lay
men and himself on the unpaid
State advertising commission be-
cause had been so openly critical
of the commission in its first
years.
Since I had criticized, it would
have come with i'll grace for me
to have refused to attempt to i'm
prove its operations. I thought
that as a working newspaperman
I could make real contribution
to the policy supervision of the
public's own service for telling
the States story outside the State.
Cites Jaycee Award.
IT accepted the Governors in
vitation after advising each of the
publishers of Cracker Politics"
(the title of Morris weekly COL
umn) that I regarded this as pub
lie service in the purest sense and
should at any time I find it to be
otherwise I would quit. AS to the
writing of the rules, I am quite
proud of having made what others
have acclaimed as real contribu-
tion to all the people through i'm
proved lawmaking.
The Florida State Junior
Chamber of Commerce, for exam
pie. just has presented its good
government award to me for this
service"
John Kilgore. political columnist
for the Tallahassee Democrat and
Orlando Sentinel-Paid $500 in
March and April for services toI
State budget commission Ito help
explain the State financial picture
by preparing radio scripts. charts
and statements.
Not Full Time Newsman.
Mr.. Kilgore said: II was not on
the payroll. The job was finished
sometime ago. The budget COM
mission asked for help getting the
story of the States financial con-
dition over. I was not on a full
fina ha SiS uifh any yoourspo Nor