Evening star., 1922-02-12
BY WILLP. KENNEDY.

federal government policy
regarding radio communica-
tion is expected soon as
result of the cabinet meeting during
the week. at which President Harding
directed Secretary Hoover to call a
conference of experts in the various
government departments with others
from commercial life and scientific
authorities to consider how far the
government should go in the control
of wave lengths in wireless teieg-
raphy and telephony.
AS a matter of fact departmental.
congressional and presidential consid-
Grafton of a national radio policy has
been held up by the international con-
ference on Limitation of armament
definite recommendations regarding
radio, cables, telegraph and tele-
phones by an 1nterdepartmental con-
ference being practically ready Tor
submission to the President when the
arms parley convened here.
Bills are pending in both the Senate
and the House. fathered by Senator
Kellogg of Minnesota and Represent
atiye White Of Maine. which have
been sidetracked for the same reason
and which will probably be further
DELAYED until the President and his
cabinet have definitely determined
upon the federal policy which the ad-
ministration will recommend.
*
Briefly, it may be said that the gen.
eral policy. already pretty well agreed
upon. is that the proposed nev depart
ment of national defense shall have
right Of way in radio communication
at all times for national Safety and
defense purposes.
The development of radio communi-
cation by private initiative and cap
ital is to be encouraged. but under
strict governmental regulations.
In the government program sharp
line will be drawn between the civil
and military radio service.
1t is felt that operation and regu-
lat!on ought to be divorced. otherwise
claims of discrimination would arise.
1t is believed that the Department of
Commerce will continue to exercise
regulation through licensing the
wave lengths. with the walls strong
enough so that it will absolutely con-
troll the situation.
There is essentially an agreement
that the Post Office Department
should operate radio in the interior
of the United States that deals with
all governments, matters with the
exception of purely Army subjects.
1t is intended to give the Navy De-
partment operation of the govern
ment radio on the high seas, as here
tofore.
That the future developments and
utilization of radio comm nunication
are almost unlimited is the opinion
expressed by the experts within and
without the government service.
While opinions differ it is the general
view that the big future for radio
lies:
In communication with ships at sea.
In communication with airplanes in
flight.
In communications with isolated
sections.
For transoceanic communication.
One important field will be found in
the formation of national network
available in case of national emer-
gency, in time of a great flood. con-
fiagration. hurricane. strik, or riots.
when the ordinary means of commu-
nication have been cut of or broken
down.
Those interested in the future Of
radio communication have been en-
0lused that the official action Of
President Harding at the cabinet ses-
sion makes the study of federal
policy one that will receive imme-
diate attention. This new conference
is expected to absorb all that the in
formal interdepartmental conference
on the general subject of communi-
cations has already done respecting
radio.
This informal conference was ar
ranged for in a cabinet meeting some
time ago. 1t started out with the
undersecretary Of state, Henry F.
Fletcher, as chairman. Official repre-
Sent6tlVeS were opPoihtSN Aoh SNA-
department by the various secre-
taries, representing the Army, Navy.
Post Office. Agriculture and Com
merce departments. Rear Admiral
Bullard, then chief Of the communica-
tions division. represented the Navy;
Mai. Gen. George o. Squier. chief sig
nal officer. represented the Army: DIR.
Charles F. Marvin. chief of the
weather bureau, represented the De-
partment of Agriculture; DR.. s. W..
stratton, director of the bureau of
standards, represented the Commerce
Department. and J. c. Edgerton, from
the Office of the second assistant post
,naster general, represented the Post
Office Department.
This committee held good many
meetings and made considerable prog
ress, to such an extent it was about
ready to report a program of federal
legislation and correlated activity. 1t
Sad threshed out most of the prob
lems, but was forced to suspend at a
very inopportune time on account OF
the arms parley. Nothing that hap
pened during the conference, however.
would have changed materially its
recommendations. All that 1t would
have recommended in the Pacific sit
uation would have been good cable
landings in the Pacific and far east
ern waters, which was obviously