CONTENTS Testimony of— Doerfer, John V., Commissioner, Federal Communications Commis- Gaguine, Benito, attorney at law, Fly, Shuebruck, Blume & Gaguine, Lamb, Edward, Toledo, Ohio.. Statement of Kefauver, Hon. Estes, a United States Senator from the State of McGrath, Hon. J. Howard, executive vice president and general Letters from Lamb, Edward, dated November 6, 1945 McCarthy, Hon. Joseph, a United States Senator from the State of Rhyne, Charles S., general counsel, National Institute of Municipal Wiley, Hon. Alexander, a United States Senator from the State of Page 63, 90 78 4 110 2 110 2 2 1,2 Appendix: Answer of Dispatch, Inc., and Edward Lamb.. 33 61, 105 Minutes of FCC, dated June 4, 1954, adopting FCC Order 54-696. III NOMINATION OF JOHN C. DOERFER TO FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1954 UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE, Washington, D. C. The committee met at 10: 10 a. m., pursuant to call, in room G-16 of the Capitol, Senator John W. Bricker (chairman) presiding. Present: Senators Bricker, Schoeppel, Butler of Maryland, Potter, Duff, Purtell, Payne, Bowring, Johnson of Colorado, Pastore, Monroney, and Smathers. Also present: Senator Estes Kefauver; Bertram O. Wissman, chief clerk; Edward Jarrett, assistant chief clerk; Nick Zapple, counsel for Subcommittee on Communications. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order. The first matter on the agenda this morning is the consideration of the nomination of John C. Doerfer of Wisconsin to the Federal Communications Commission. I have letters here from two senators from Wisconsin, Senator Wiley and Senator McCarthy, endorsing this nomination. Senator Wiley especially says he is sorry he can't be here this morning because of the fact that he is at the White House for a consideration of the report of the Geneva Conference, and said: I would be most appreciative if you would be so kind as to incorporate this brief message of commendation in the official record. Senator MONRONEY. Could we have Senator McCarthy's letter read, too? The CHAIRMAN. We will have them all read, if you want. Senator MONRONEY. No, I just think it would be appropriate to have Senator McCarthy's letter read since he is from Wisconsin. The CHAIRMAN. Senator Wiley's letter to me, dated June 23, 1954, reads: The purpose of this letter is to convey my warmest endorsement of the reappointment of John C. Doerfer to the Federal Communications Commission. I had hoped to be able to appear in person in order to reconvey to the committee my strong feelings regarding John's very excellent qualifications to continue on this vital commission. However, as you know, a White House meeting on the Geneva Conference is occurring at the very time of your committee hearing and so, regrettably, I cannot appear in person. Suffice it to say, therefore, that I feel that John's splendid record of devotion to the public interest in the course of his fine career in Wisconsin has been paralleled by his high caliber on the FCC. He is a hard-working, conscientious, intelligent public servant and I feel sure that your committee will once more resoundingly confirm him. I would be most appreciative if you would be so kind as to incorporate this brief message of commendation in the official record. Thanking you, I am, Sincerely, ALEXANDER WILEY. Senator McCarthy on June 8, 1954, wrote me as follows: Thanks very much for your letter of June 4, in regard to Mr. John C. Doerfer's nomination as a member of the Federal Communications Commission. Mr. Doerfer is a well-known Republican in the State of Wisconsin and I would be very pleased to see his nomination confirmed. Another letter from Mr. Wiley, dated June 5, 1954: I have your letter on June 4th relative to the reappointment of John C. Doerfer as a member of the Federal Communications Commission, and I hearily recommend favorable action on his nomination. I have a letter from Charles S. Rhyne, who is general counsel of the National Institute of Municipal Law Officers, 726 Jackson Place, NW., Washington, D. C. That letter is dated June 8, 1954 and reads: We understand that you have pending before your committee the nomination of John C. Doerfer of Wisconsin as a member of the Federal Communications Commission. Pursuant to instructions from the Executive Committee of the National Institute of Municipal Law Officers, I write to urge your committee to report this nomination favorably to the Senate. Mr. Doerfer was nationally known as one of the outstanding_municipal attorneys of the Nation prior to his service as chairman of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, and he is held in high esteem by municipal attorneys throughout the Nation. His familiarity with State and local government problems has already resulted in tremendous benefits to municipal governments during his service on the Federal Communications Commission in such fields as emergency police, and other city uses of radio and TV, and in the field of reception interference where Federal-city cooperation is imperative. He also understand the telephone rate problems of cities and that field is growing more important all the time. Your favorable action upon Mr. Doerfer's nomination will certainly be most gratifying to his hundreds of friends in municipal government. Without objection, those letters will be made a part of the record. The CHAIRMAN. We have requests here to hear from Mr. Edward Lamb and Mr. J. Howard McGrath. Whichever one wants to come first may do so. Mr. McGRATH. Good morning. The CHAIRMAN. Good morning, Mr. Lamb. Mr. LAMB. Good morning. The CHAIRMAN. Which one wants to be first? Are you together or Mr. McGRATH. We would like to be together, if the committee doesn't mind. The CHAIRMAN. All right. Go ahead. STATEMENT OF J. HOWARD MCGRATH, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL OF LAMB ENTERPRISES AND LAMB INDUSTRIES Mr. McGRATH. I simply want to make an introductory statement. My name is J. Howard McGrath. I am the executive vice president and the general counsel of Lamb Enterprises and Lamb Industries. These companies own and control a number of radio and television properties. They have been in business of radio and television upward of 10 years. In addition to these properties, the companies own various manufacturing plants, newspaper, recreational facilities, office buildings, advertising agencies, and many other business enterprises. |