The sun., 1918-11-25
GOVERNMENT SEEKS
WIRELESS CONTROL
Statement Says Monopoly Is
Needed in Interests of
Nation.
NOT FINANCIAL SUCCESS
Stations Would Handle Com.
mercial as Well as Of.
ficial Business.
NOT FINANCIAL SUCCESS

WASHINGTON, Nov 24.-Permanent
/ Government control Of all radio com.
rnunication through tho acquisition
and operation by the Navy DEPART.
ment Of all shore wireless stations in
the United States used for commercial
purposes, 10 planned by the Admins
tration under the bill now before Con.
gress.
Representative Alexander, chairman
OF the House Merchant Marine Com
mittee, who introduced the measure
in the House, announced to-day that
hearings on the bill would begin be-
fore this committee on December T.,
/ and continue until all interests had an
| opportunity to be heard 4 sim.
liar bill introduced in the Senate hy
Chairman Fletcher OF the Committee
on Commerce has been approved by
President Wilson.
Besides providing for the acquisition
and operation of the stations by the
navy, the bill directs that the Secre-
tary Of the Navy, SO far as may be
consistent with the transaction Of
Government business. shall open radio
stations to general public business IN
der regulations prescribed by him. and
shall fix the rates. He also shal. es-
tablish special rates for the handing
of press dispatches by transoceanic or
other special stations
Naval Control for -Four Years.
Commercial business has been ham
died through some naval wireless sta
tons for four years. Since the nation
entered the war all stations have been
operated by the navy. Stations taken
over after the declaration of war in
cluded the big plants at Sayvilie, L. +,
and Tuckerton. N. j.. which were SAID
to have been financed by Germany.
The navy only recently completed
the most powerful radio plant IN this
country at Annapolis, and messages
| from 1t have been sent direct to France
and other foreign countries. Another
new station is being built on the South
Atlantic coast On the Pacific coast it
operates stations at San Francisco and
San Diego.
For any stations acquired under the
proposed law or those which may be
closed permanently compensation is to
be paid.
Reasons for the Governments action
are given in a statement made public
| to-day which says in part:
Since the early days OF the use Of
radio telegraphy many companies have
tried to operate radio stations as
commercial enterprise. Except in ver'
special circumstances these have failed
to make an adequate return. The rea-
son for this is that a complete mo-
| nopoly Is necessary. The United
States Government is the only concern
able to obtain and maintain such
monopoly.
Does Not Compete With Cable.
The part played by high power sta
tons in this war and before rI-
United States became a party 10
shows very clearly the necessi-y tl-
Governmental operation of these sta
tons. TranSoceanic radio telegraph
is not serious competitor Of tr'
cables. High power stations are no.
yet able to receive from one another
all day in all seasons. Gable comm.
nication is secret, while signals tr7m
radio stations are transmitted equal.
in all directions and all nations ,4'
read the business OF all others.
Signals from high power stations
become international matter al u''+
Even the signals of an ordinary shor"
station transcend the three mile limit
and are capable of interfering With
the legitimate work of an installation
under a foreign flag. Only by the most
careful regulation of radio trait-
through international agreement, ear
the maximum good be obtained an.
only by each nation having the opera
ton OF radio stations under its dlre''
control can international agreements
be properly executed.
This bill is not to create com
plete Government monopoly tn"
scientist. manufacturer and shi"
owner are specially provided for In'
no change Is proposed in their stair
under existing law. Stations may 0n
licensed for special commune SOW
and these are exempted from Govern
ment operation.
THE business OF all companies h7v-
ing been suspended and their Oreg7
tors having made an instant show
patriotism by joining the navy in the
earliest days of the war, II is hel.aNa'
that most of the companies owning
radio stations would he glad at tna
time to sell to the Government