The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-10
BETTER RADIO
PROGRAMS
URGED
QUESTIONABLE Reveals Demand
For Fewer Broadcasting
Stations.

NEW YORK, Feb. TO- Fewer
stations win go a long way toward
wiping out the evils of radio, ac-
cording to opinion gathered in all
parts of the country by the Ma
tional Radio Chamber Of Com
merce. The chamber, as a part Of
it's plan to find a solution Of the
problem of broadcasting. called the
one outstanding difficulty, of the
radio industry, sent a question
naire to persons representing all
phases of the art.
The results were made known to-
day in statement by Ralph G.
Watrous, a member Of the special
committee appointed to make ma
tion-wide study of the broadcasting
situation, And former lieutenant
governor of Rhode Island. The in
quiry revealed an insistent public
demand for better programs
Station Ranges Change.
1.-THE response" said Watrous,
pointed the way in several direc-
tons very clearly. Most prominent
of all was the idea Of fewer broad
CdSLAlL6 6IdbIOuS Will OCbCCA PAOe
grams No exact number Of sta
tons was generally recommended;
and this could not well be, as the
range Of stations is so rapidly
changing, both as to their eff
cheney and also as to the steadily
increasing receiving range of more
efficient receiving sets. But that
progress would be more rapid when
we realize the necessity for fewer
stations seems a perfectly safe de-
duction from the answers to the
QUESTIONABLE.
1.-THE more people who can be
served by q single station the less,
of course, the expense per lis
tener! This economic question
must be dealt with very carefully.
However. of course, the people as
a whole interested in radio must
finally in some way pay the bill.
More Regulations Needed.
Another matter clearly brought
out of the QUESTIONABLE was that
proper legislation should be enact
ed in Congress that would not only
safeguard our Federal departments,
but give to Secretary Hoover's de-
partment the power to so regulate
radio. and broadcaSting in particu-
lar, that the greatest service shall
be realized by the greatest number.
''It would seem that the ques-
tionnaire also clearly indicates a
separation between public broad
casting stations from the stations
operated largely in experimental
work by our amateurs. They must
have a place, but their power and
range must not be allowed to inter-
fere with the public's use Of this. new
means Of communication.
Radio Council Important. aG
The White bill now pending in
Congress provides for a radio coun-
Gil and the selection Of this council
made in a way to really represent
the whole radio public is about as
important a matter as confronts us.
We frequently hear the idea ex-
pressed that the more broadcasting
stations the better.
This is absolutely WRONG and the
National Radio Chamber Of Com
merce believes that all that Is need
ed Is to call attention to the neces-
sity Of reduction and the American
public will respond and make it's
wants known in no uncertain way"
The statement asserts that the
National Radio Chamber of Com
merce is trying to keep broadcast
ing in the hands OF the public, to
which this new means OF communi-
cation belongs and Ito see that it
is not used by selfish interest for
profit, with the public simply pay
Ing tribute"