Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-28
END WIRELESS
INTERFERENCE
WILL REGULATE SENDING OF
TROUBLESOME MESSAGES
LOS ANGELES WILL BE FIRST TO
TAKE ACTION
Present Flashes by independent OPP
orators Are Serious Danger to
Shipping and Cause of
Much Confusion

The city council and the board of SUI
pervisors will be asked to regulate in
reference with wireless telegraphy by
amateurs if present plans of leading
wireless experts of Los Angeles are
carried out. The statements in The
Herald showing the possible loss OF
ships at sea because of this interior
ence, has aroused the pride of wireless
operators. and they intend to make a
showing to the authorities which will
result in the first legislation of the kind
in America. They believe. however
that it will prove the forerunner of
similar regulation in all parts of the
country
The proposed plan contemplates per-
sons engaged in wireless operation
either commercial or otherwise, with a
nominal fee. By revoking the license
of any holder who persiStently inter-
feres with commercial business for his
own amusement it is believed the
trouble may be minimized enough to
clear the atmosphere before the win
ter storms begin.
Interferes with Shipping
The commercial side is regarded as
more important than last year because
OI TIE increasing VI SHIPS COlll-
ing into the harbor having wireless
equipment. All the larger ships now
entering San Pedro harbor carry wire
less, and their operators complain fire.
quently about trouble in getting the
land stations because of the amateur
work. The average amateur has no
comprehension of the Importance of
commercial wireless work, and engages
in his practice merely as a pastime,
which, however. compels the delaying
of many commercial and government
messages
The wireless operators who are urg-
ing the attention of the council and the
supervisors to this believe that the
question of saving life alone is enough
in itself to justify the action which
will be suggested. They are gathering
data which will prove that a vessel
might sink without help purely through
the drowning out of it's operators
danger signal, &C. @. d." by boys play
ing with their wireless sets.
Will Be First Action
If the action proposed is taken TO
govern wireless Sending it probably
will attract wide attention, as nothing
of the sort has so far been established,
although the government has frequent
ly sought to find means of prosecu-
ton of offenders.
The first local steamship plying be-
tween Pacific coast points equipped
with wireless, the Hanalei of the indie
pendent Steamship company, is at San
Pedro, and its operator, George W.
Broaddus of the United Wireless COM
pany, reports satisfactory service.
I'VE picked the Hanalei up while 300
miles away by the wireless service"
said Manager c. ]. Lehman of the In
dependent Steamship line yesterday.
This is good enough for the first trip
but we hope to see the wireless do bet
ter when it is in full working order.
look for a message farther away after
the Hanalei leaves tomorrow, as some
defects occurring with the installation
have been remedied since reaching San
Pedro. We feel well satisfied with the
wireless equipment"
In connection with the story of trans
mission of aerograms to the Hanalei an
expert wireless telegrapher said yes
terday: II noticed some difficulty in
the exchange signals with the ship
owing to some of the amateur wireless
experimenters persisting in breaking
in These children know few of the
'calls'-signals of stations and steam
ship and they are INSCRIPTIONS
enough to use those private signals.
This interferes with commerce and is
menace to life and shipping One pre-
cocious youth used the signal TIM the
other day. This is the cali for the
station at Point Iona. The young
ster's apparatus would not enable him
to either reach or read Point Loma but
he could and did seriously interfere
with local traffic.
II am much in favor of regulation
proposed by The Herald. 1t would be
simple and the license system would
enable the commercial companies and
the government stations to transact
business without interference. Receiv-
ing stations would not need licenses, as
the receiving apparatus does not dis
turb or interfere with Hertzian waves.
It's the kid with the spark who makes
the trouble. He should be made TO
keep quiet during the transaction Of
business. A wireless commission could
be quickly organized and put into the
service of the city and county. L know
dozens of experts would gladly serve
the city and county in this capacity
without remuneration. By all means
let us adopt The Herald's plan for a
commission and license"