NOTE 1.-Farm market reports are supplied these stations in a variety of ways: Through'press associations direct from field offices of the Agricultural Marketing Service through remote control, and direct from the market place by messenger, mail, and telegraph. NOTE 2.-These local farm programs in some cases are directed by the stations' own farm programs directors, and in others the station merely turns over the time to be filled by one or more agencies of the Department or county and State agricultural extension services. NOTE 3. The Farm Credit Administration has turned out 10 series of 15-minute transcriptions since November 1, 1939, including: Story of Wool, 12 episodes, 423 stations. Homes on the Land, No. 1, 12 episodes, 609 stations. Homes on the Land, No. 2, 12 episodes, 540 stations. Life and the Land, No. 1, 12 episodes, 313 stations. In addition, single transcribed programs were distributed as follows: Two Billionth Dollar, 198 stations. Farm Round Table, 251 stations. Mr. TREADWAY. Just a moment, sir. You spoke of the Office of Facts and Figures. Is there any duplication between your department and Dr. MacLeish's department in connection with the Office of Facts and Figures? Mr. MELLETT. You mean in the radio field, sir? Mr. TREADWAY. I mean in general. Mr. MELLETT. Well, we do not believe so. Mr. TREADWAY. Of course, it is a separate office, but do you not tend toward the same general purpose? Facts and Figures issued a pamphlet here 2 or 3 weeks ago, a rather expensive-looking document, it seemed to me. It as a very elaborate publication giving facts and figures. You furnish material of the same general effect, do you not? Mr. MELLETT. No, sir. Mr. TREADWAY. There is no duplication? Mr. MELLETT. No, sir. Mr. TREADWAY. Very well. Senator NYE. Why should not the Division of Facts and Figures be a part of your general information service? Why should there be a division of responsibility there? Mr. MELLETT. Our Information Service, the one we are discussing in connection with this building, Senator Nye, is intended to deal primarily and almost exclusively with individuals. The work of the Office of Facts and Figures deals, broadly speaking, with the general public. I would not like to be the one to discuss the Office of Facts and Figures, though. I do not think it is fair to that Office. Senator NYE. It just seems to me that is a function that might properly be included in your organization. Mr. MELLETT. Well, we have got plenty to do. Senator NYE. I understand, but we are seeking to get rid of some of these divisions of responsibility. The CHAIRMAN. You are giving out facts and figures, too, are you not? You can answer all these questions; therefore, you must give out facts and figures. Mr. MELLETT. Every office of every kind, including every office in this building, I think, gives out some facts and figures. Senator MCKELLAR. How many employees have you in research work? Mr. HAMBLET. We are preparing it for Senator Tydings' committee. Mr. HAMBLET. I think we are reporting a total of three or four. Mr. HAMBLET. A total of three or four, with the exception that our information clerks, girls at the counter who answer the questions, have to do research to the extent of knowing where to look for the information that they are seeking. I mean if that can be considered research, then we have 30 people in all doing that sort of work. The CHAIRMAN. Go ahead, Mr. Mellett. Mr. MELLETT. In the Division of the Coordinator of Films, Arch A. Murphy, consultant, $7,500. Mr. TABER. That is the moving-picture business? Mr. MELLETT. Yes, sir. Edgar Dale, educational adviser, $5,600. Vincent A. Kleinfeld, consultant and legal adviser, $6,500; Alden B. Stevens, Chief of Film Research, Reports and Information Section, $4,600. The CHAIRMAN. Explain the function of this Moving Picture Division. Mr. MELLETT. The motion-picture industry some months ago organized itself in what it calls the War Activities Committee, covering all phases of the motion-picture industry. After that time they asked the President, by resolution, to provide some coordination of the relations between various Government agencies and the motionpicture industry. That includes the Army, Navy, Treasury, and all Government agencies that had any relationship with the motionpicture industry. The President, in a letter of December 18, which I can read if the committee would like to hear it, directed me to set up this office. The CHAIRMAN. You might just give an explanation of it. The American motion picture is one of our most effective media in informing and entertaining our citizens. The motion picture must remain free insofar as national security will permit. I want no censorship of the motion picture; I want no restrictions placed thereon which will impair the usefulness of the film other than those very necessary restrictions which the dictates of safety make imperative. The motion picture, especially as used by the Federal Government, has a very useful contribution to make during the war emergency. In order that the Federal Government's efforts in the field of motion-picture production and distribution may serve most effectively and efficiently, it is desirable that all activities of the Federal Government be coordinated under the direction of one central office. Therefore, as President of the United States and Commander in Chief of the armed forces, I direct that you, as Director of the Office of Government Reports, act as Coordinator of Government Films for the duration of the war. The functions you will discharge in this capacity are: 1. Act as the liaison officer of the Federal Government with theatrical, educational, and industrial producers and distributors in connection with the preparation, production, and distribution of films. 2. Establishment of a clearance office through which all of the Government's civilian films must clear whether they are to be distributed through theaters or through nontheatrical organizations. 3. Plan, so far as necessary, such Government motion-picture production and distribution as is deemed necessary to inform and instruct the public during the wartime crisis. 4. Consult with all Government departments in connection with film production and distribution programs and consult with and advise motion-picture producers of ways and means in which they can most usefully serve in the national effort. I further direct that you transmit a copy of this letter to the heads of all Federal agencies. The CHAIRMAN. Do you prepare the films of your agency? Mr. MELLETT. No; we act as liaison with and coordinator of other agencies that do prepare films. Mr. TABER. Are they Government agencies? Mr. MELLETT. In some cases, yes; they are Government agencies. Mr. TABER. This fellow, what is his background, the one who is supposed to be the head of this? Mr. MELLETT. Mr. Mercey? Mr. TABER. Yes. Mr. MELLETT. He has been in Government service for a good many years. He has had this present job since July 1; also serving as production consultant to the National Defense Advisory Commission and the Office for Emergency Management. The CHAIRMAN. Are all these films related to national defense, 1 mean in the prosecution of the war? Are they all related to that? Mr. MELLETT. Practically all at this time, Senator. We are in the position to see that none are made that do not relate to national defense. We are in a position to veto the proposal for films. We are in a position, we think, to save considerable money, and I believe we do, in preventing the production of films that would not be considered proper at this time, or useful at this time. Mr. TABER. Is this the fellow that engineered that picture that the Agricultural Department wasted so much money on, known as The Plow That Broke the Plains? Mr. MELLETT. I would not say that he was the person that engineered it. I think he was working with the Department at that time. Mr. TABER. He was mixed up in that deal; that is correct, is it not? Mr. MELLETT. Mr. Taber, if "mixed up in that deal" is your conception of it, he was employed in that department and aided in the production of the picture you speak of, which some people regard as the greatest documentary film ever made in any country. was given the international award the year following its production. Mr. TABER. Most of the people that I have talked with think it was a gross abuse of the trust that was placed in the executive branch It. of the Government to spend the people's money that way. That puts him on the roll of honor, does it not? Mr. MELLETT. Well, I have a high regard for him, sir. He is a very able man. Senator MCKELLAR. Mr. Mellett, could you get the figures as to how much the Government pays to the radio concerns all told in a year, and how much they paid, for instance, last year, the last fiscal year, and how much they paid to the moving pictures, all told? Mr. MELLETT. Yes, sir. (See information below.) Senator MCKELLAR. Are those figures available? Mr. MELLETT. I think we can get those. I have to get them from the War Department, the Navy Department, and various depart-ments that had them made. Senator MCKELLAR. Yes. Mr. MELLETT. I think far and away, the largest expenditure, if I am not mistaken, has been by the War Department for which themotion-picture industry has made a tremendous number of technical training films at cost. I think that is the largest expenditure that there has been, but I can get you all that information. (The information referred to is as follows:) Information on motion-picture expenditures. The latest over-all tabulation of motion picture costs for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1941, was made by the Bureau of the Budget and transmitted to the House Committee on appropriation in a document entitled "Report-Motion Pictures Departments and AgenciesU. S. Government." This tabulation included motion-picture costs for the period' ending May 1, 1941. I would like for Senator MCKELLER. I am quite sure you can. you to answer another question. You had a good many witnesses. before the Appropriations Committee. Could you give me the entire amount of travel pay and subsistence pay in each and every department of the Government? Mr. MELLETT. Yes; I think I can. Senator MCKELLAR. I would be very much obliged for it. |