Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-04-13
HOOVER, UNDER NEW
LAW, To Be RADIO
GEAR OF THE AIR"
Findings of Recent Radio
Conference to Be Made Ef-
fective Through LegisIa-
tion-WireIeSS Growth
The Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
623 Riggs Building.
BY THEODORE TILLER

623 RIGGS Building,
BY THEODORE TILLER
WASHINGTON, April 11.-Legis'
lation to make effective the findings
Of the national radio conference, re-
Gently held at the call of Secretary
of Commerce Herbert Hoover, has
been practically agreed upon by the
legislative committee of the confer
ence headed by Senator Kellogg, of
Minnesota, and Representative
White, of Maine.
1t is planned that within the next
few days bills shall be introduced ST.
simultaneously in the senate and
house that will make Secretary Hoo
yer a virtual Gear of the air.
The department of commerce in
it's radio licensing is now acting I'M
der a law of ten years ago. The act
of 1912 related primarily to use OF
the wireless by the navy and the
government, and it by no means
meets the present day needs. Thou
sands of receiving stations nave
come into existence, almost like
magic, within the past few months,
and every day the department is IL
censing under an old law broadcast
ing stations. One day last week 1t
was said that 131 broadcasting sta+
tions had been licensed. Within the
next forty eight hours the number
had grown to 15S-all because of the
fever Of the radio and nationwide
demand for wireless communications
1t is said that agreement on funda-
mental provisions of the proposed
legislation amending the act of 1872
has been reached by the legal COM
mittee named at the national radio
conference.
The congressional managers Of the
legislation, namely, Senator Kellogg
and Representative White, are hope
full that notwithstanding the legisla'
tive lam in congress, it will be found
possible to pass a radio regulatory
measure before the present session
expires.
Hoover Keenly Interested
Chairman White and Senator KEEL
Iogg have been in constant touch
with w. D. Terrell and A. j. Tyler,
the representatives of the depart
ment of commerce on the legal COM
IlllIlGS SNSI ol1lSO IlIS AOAoAN SOAAA~A
ence adjourned, and the legislation
proposed in is large measure the re-
flex Of the views of these radio ex-
perts of the department.
On his return from his western
trip, Secretary Hoover, who is TAX
ing a keen interest in the 1egisla-
ton, expressed the ardent hope that
something would be accomplished
in the near future to eliminate the
chaotic conditions which, he declar-
ed, now threaten the fullest use of
radio telephony in the public in
terest.
One more meeting Of the legal
committee will be held before the
legislation, which is already drafted,
is submitted to congress, it will be
necessary it is stated, for technical
committee of the conference to
gather here before the legislation is
brought in. The advice of the mem
bers of the committee will be avail
able when the hearings on the meas
ure get under way. In any case,
the amendments follow so closely
the recommendation made by the
technical experts that it is not
thought necessary for them to con-
vene prior to the introduction of the
legislation.
The outstanding feature of the
measure of regulation by the fed
eral government of radio telephony
is that it makes the secretary of
commerce to all fntents and pur-
poses car Of the air. He will
have what amounts to plenary pow
erS, such powers as will enable him
to go ahead with the work of regu.
lation with a free hand. The public
interest is given first consideration
in the bill. AS drafted by the legal
committee it is recommended that
the secretary of commerce should
be authorized to exercise the follow.
ing powers with regard to radio
transmission stations:
HOOver's Proposed Powers
1. To classify them into various
groups.
2. To designate the nature Of the
service which each class of trans
mission station is to give.
3. To assign the band of wave
length to each class.
4. To designate the location in
which each transmitting station
shall be.
These powers are to apply to all
stations with the exception of the
amateurs, government transmitting
stations and experimental stations
The plenary powers of the secretary
relate also to the kind of instru-
ments to be used, the intent being
to get into general use the best
available equipment from time to
time in order to increase the purity
of the sound. The area to be served
by any station and the times and
methods of operation all come with
in the powers of the secretary.
No limit whatever is attempted in
the use of receiving stations and the
principle of charging fees adopted
by some foreign government is en-
tirely disregarded.