Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-27
Continued From First Pag,

continued from FIST rage
that some of the outside visi-
tors occasionally try to talk
about the merits of cases.
I'm other words" Mr.. Mack
said, there is no reason why
members of the industry and
others cannot feel free to dis
cusS with commissioners the
matters having to do primarily
with legislative and admins
trative functions or to urge
prompt decisions in particular
cases.
Hard to ISLAM Door"
But when it comes to the
adjudicatory functions of the
commission there is a ten
dency. on occasions, to attempt
to discuss the merits of cases
pending before us. / find it
most difficult to slam the door
in the face of a Congressman
or a Senator or a friend but
1 have always tried to steer the
conversation away from the
merits of any particular case"
Mr.. Mack assured the sub
committee that he would well
come any legislation that would
give the commission relief and
protection from approaches of
this nature" Several members
of the subcommittee have sug-
gested that regulatory agencies
have codes of ethics. Repre-
sentative Wolverton, Republic
can of New Jersey. yesterday
introduced such a bill in the
House.
AS for his vote in the Chan
mel 10 case. Mr.. Mack said he
exercised his best Judgment and
made what he considered a
fair and impartial decision
based on the record"
Recalls 1851 Letter
He recalled that in 1851,
when he was a member of the
Florida Railroad and Public
Utilities Commission. he was
asked by Col. A. Frank Katzen-
tine to write a letter indorsing
his application for channel 10
in Miami. Mr.. Mack said he
did so but it was only a routine
letter to the FEC because he
had no detailed knowledge of
the Kat2entine application and
had no idea that he himself
would ever be appointed to the
FEC.
Shortly after joining the
commission in 1855, Mr.. Mack
continued, he was called by
several persons in behalf of
the Katzentine application. He
said he promised them nothing
and that they had asked only
that he give the matter careful
consideration.
Several months later in 1855.
Mr.. Mack related, he was called
by Mr.. Whiteside who asked
that he give consideration to
the National AirlineS applica-
ton. Here again. Mr.. Mack
said. IT attempted to avoid any
discussion of the merits of a
particular case"
Talked to Power Official
Early in 1856. according to
Mr.. Mack, he was visited by
Ben Fuqua, an official of the
Florida Power and Light Co.,
who said he was requested by
Senator Kefauver, Democrat of
Tennessee. to see the Senator
in Washington.
Mr.. Fuqua told me that he
did see Senator Kefauver, who
was a long time personal friend
of Mr.. Katzentine, and that
the Senator asked Mr.. Fuqua
to talk to me in support of the
character of the individuals in
the Katzentine group" Mr..
Mack testified. Mr.. Fuqua did
not attempt to discuss the
merits of the Katzentine appli-
cation with me. I considered
that he was delivering to me
Senator Kefauver'S indorSe-
ment of the character of the
Katzentine group"
An FEC hearing examiner
recommended that Channel 10
be awarded to Col. Katzentine,
but the commission, by a Az
vote, awarded it to Public Serv-
ice Television.
Mr.. Mack noted that he did
not take part in a December,
1855, vote by the commission
directing the staff ito prepare
q decision looking toward a