The Holly chieftain., 1910-02-11
Commission May Be Named for
the Purpose Of Devising
Proper Regulations.
AMATEURS CAUSE TROUBLES
Wealth Seems Indispensable Requisite
for American dor-stats
Patronage Disputes Are An
noying the President.

Washfnston.-Representatiye Rob
erts OF Massachusetts, is trying to fx
upon a method by which the present
troubles OF the wireless telegraph op-
orators may be prevented. Mr.. Rob.
erts suggests that the president be
empowered to name a board which
shall include men of the government
service and representatives Of the
commercial companies. and that this
board shall proceed to make regula.
tions for control of wireless telegraph
operators and submit the regulations
to the house to be enacted into law.
Trouble Caused by Amateurs.
great part Of the trouble In the
Transmission of wireless telegraph
messages, even the messages of the
most vital importance, is said In re.
pent word on the subject. ITO be due
to unscrupulous amateurs who insist
on working their private stations at
all hours, regardless Of the needs or
the interests Of endangered humanity.
Az . case In point. the Bremen, car.
rying the usual large passenger list.
was approaching the New England
coast during the short time last year
that the Nantucket Shoals lightship
was out Of commission. The steamer
was calling to the hghtship for infor-
nation ~ to weather conditions and
location. and her captain was much
shocked and surprised to find that the
reckoning as computed by the ships
navigator was apparently in error.
Information that was untrue also
was given regarding the weather con-
dttions. On reaching New York the
matter was looked into and It was
discovered that the lightship had been
sunk week prior to the time that
the messages were sent, and that tho
answer made to the Bremen was sent
BY irresponsible and experimenting
amateurs. Had not the captain of the
steamship been over-conhdent Of his
location he might have changed his
course as . result Of the messages
and wrecked his ship and lost its hu.
nan freight"
Ocean Steamers Also Blamed.
Sometimes 1t Is an ocean steamer
that IL to be blamed for interference
with wireless telegraph messages. Not
long ago schooner was ashore some
miles out of New York harbor and the
crew was In dire danger An effort
was made BY wireless to locate the
revenue cutters in New York, but be-
cause Of the attitude of the wireless
operator on the ocean steamer Ber-
mudian. It was not possible to reach
the revenue cutters direct. and the
messages had to be relayed causing a
delay Of several hours. Afterward 1t
developed that the Bermudian merely
wished to report her location and the
operator could have waited . short
time Just as we'll as not.
The great trouble ordinarily is
caused by the use of high powered
stations by amateurs and 1t seems
that there 10 no means Of preventing
the indiscriminate use of the wireless
even II It interferes with necessitous
messages and sometimes puts human
lie In jeopardy. In every large city
there are many of these stations and
It IL said that In the city Of Boston
alone there are $50 in operation.
Ambassador Must BE Rich.
President Taft probably puts in
about one hour out Of every "a tryins
to determine on some man who has
the qualifications to make good am.
bassador to Great Britain and who
ALSO has money enough to allow him
TO keep up" the position of the chief
American representative to the great
foreign power.
1t IL known to the president, OF
course, that there are many men In
United States who would make ad-
mirable ones have little or no money.
The president said in a speech recent.
ly that he thought 1t was little less
than q shame that 1t was impossible
for any Americans except millionaires
to occupy the most important diplo.
matte posts
Salary Ridlcuiousiy inadequate.
The pay OF the ambassador to Great
Britain is $17.500 year, not quite
enough money to pay his house rent
In case he attempts to do as his pre-
decessors have done In the way Of en-
tertaining socially, and in the way of
giving America proper building
representation" in the British capital.
There are all sorts OF social affairs
In which the American ambassador to
any foreign country must take part.
More than this, he is compelled by The
actual circumstances Of the case to do
great deal OF entertaining. Other