The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-03-04
WIRELESS MUST
Be CONTROLLED
Commission May Be Named for
the Purpose o.. Devising
Proper Regulations.
AMATEURS CAUSE TROUBLES

Wealth Seems indispensable Requisite
for American Ambassad
Patronage Disputes Arc An
noying the President.
Washington.-Representative Rob.
erts of Massachusetts, is trying to fix
upon 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 board which
shall include men of the government
service and representatives OF the
commercial companies. and that this
board shall proceed to make regula-
tons for control of wireless telegraph
operators and submit the regulations
to the house to be enacted into law.
Trouble Caused by Amateurs.
A great part of the trouble in the
transmission of wireless telegraph
messages, even the messages of the
most vital importance. is said in re-
cent word on the subject. Ito be due
to INSCRIPTIONS amateurs who insist
on working their private stations at
all hours. regardless Of the needs or
the interests of endangered humanity,
AS case In point, the Bremen. car.
rying the usual large passenger list.
was approaching the New England
coast during the short time last year
shat the Nantucket Shoals lightship
was out of commission. The steamer
was calling to the lightship for infor-
nation as 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-
dihons. 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 the
answer made to the Bremen was sent
by irresponsible and experimenting
amateurs. Had not the captain of the
steamship been over-confident of his
location he might have changed his
course as result of the messages
and wrecked his ship and lost its hui.
man freight"
Ambassador Must Be Rich.
President Taft probably puts in
about one hour out of every "a trying
to determine on some man who has
the qualifications to make a 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 Is 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 it was little less
than shame that 1t was impossible
for any Americans except millionares
to occupy the most important diplo.
matte posts.
Some months ago Mr.. Taft offered
the American embassy in Great Brit
ain to DR.. Charles w. Elliott, former
president of Harvard college, a man
OF great learning and transcendant
ability. DR.. Elliott had to decline the
post. He did not have money enough
to live up to the social station in life
which 1t seems necessary that our
chief representative at the Court of
st. James ought to occupy. There are
other reasons, however. in addition to
that of the lack of wealth which pre-
vented the Harvard scholar from ac-
cepting the presidents offer.
Salary RidiculousIy 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-.
Pertaining 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
a great deal of entertaining. Other.
wise, so narrow is the view of the for.
eigners. his country would be held in
contempt and would be relegated by
che populace to a position below that
of some half dozen picayune countries,
not one of which is as big or powerful
as many of the states in this great
union.
The American ambassadors and the
ministers to countries other than
Great Britain are in the same position
that the ambassador to the English.
speaking court finds himself. A great
deal is expected Of them and the Unit.
ed States pays such small salaries
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