San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-30
HOOVER SAYS
A|R WILL De
OPEN To ALI.
Asserts Government Never
VIII Countenance Mo-
nopOly of Ether.
1T WILL OFFER AID
He Declines to Be Drawn
Into Censorship of Pro-
grams Argument.
By ROBERT T. SMALL

Copyright by The san Ani Light.
Washington. ID. C., March 30. -
Herbert Hoover has become the
Judge Lands. the viii Hays, the
Augustus Thomas of the air.
Judge Lands is the high commits
sioner of baseball. VIII Hays is the
ear of the movies, Augustus Thomas
is the high priest of the drama.
Secretary Hoover Is the new en-
peror of the ether. He announced
today. however, that he would be
benevolent emperor; that he would
not attempt to set up censorship
and would never consent TO any
scheme by which RADIO listeners shall
be charged a fee by law.
The government of the United
States will always control the ether
roads, but it will not be drawn into
saying what shall and what shall not
be fed 10 the radio audience.
There are enough complaints
now" says Mr.. Hoover, against the
individual programs sent out by the
various brOadcasting stations. If the
United States were to assume control
of these programs, the kicks would
be multiplied by the tens Of thousands
and the first thing we know We would
he having a senatorial investigation
on orr hands.
Means to Meet Expense.
Like others who have studied the
subject. Secretary Hoover believes that
the great problem which coDfrOnts
radio is the financing Of the broad
casting stations. The expense Of
maintaining these stations today Is ut
the rate of SJ.O0O.00O a year. Even
tually il will he necessary TO pay nj,
of the artists who are now contribut-
Jug their talents free. Eventually il
Will be necessary to pay royalties 70
composers and authors. Some means
will have to be found to meet this
necessary expense. Advertising an
nuuncements will not solve the prob
lem. in the view of Mr.. Hoover, for,
with too much advertising the radio
audience he says. will disappear in
disgust.
Radio is making great strides in
every other way except the financing
of broadcasting. but Mr.. Hoover is Of
the opinion that the air will never be
used for the purpose Of private CON
verSation of individuals. 1t is per-
fectly true that thousands Of wave
lengths may be given impulses with
out one wave interfering with tn"
other, but the receiving instruments
probably will never he perfected to
The extent Of taking care Of all these
minute graduationS. At present there
are only from seven to ten practical
wave lengths in a zone. Each wave
length must be surrounded by 4 neu-
trail band because Of the limitations Of
the refinements in a majority Of the
receiving sets used today.
The entire United States is divided
into five radio zones and while many
sets can pick IN signals and programs
from all five zones. there is ordiu-
arily no interference because Of dif-
ferences in time and arrangements for
division of time between stations
which have approximately the same
wave lengths. This arrangement, Mr.
Hoover says. i necesSitated by tht
fact that most of the receiving sets IN
use today have a capacity Of only 200
to 600 meters.
No Monopoly Of Air.
"If we were to attempt 10 license
private stations today" said Mr.
Hoover. "Only ten or twelve persons
could talk at any one time in any
one zone. And we run the risk Of a
discussion Of someone's bObbed-hail
shutting ont a speech by the PreSi
dent Of the United States. And
much as we love bobbcd hair. tha-
would be quite an impossible situa
ton"
Mr.. Hoover has reiterated his stand
that there shall be no monopoly Of thC
air.
There will be-" he explains. 50,
vested right in any one wave length
There will be no mOnOpoly of certain
roads in the ether. The government
= will see that the air is kept open 3,
all Corners. The government will 4,
everything it can to encourage cor
tinuity Of service from any one broad
casting station. Certain ccmpanin,
through patent rights. NAV attempt (,
exert a monopoly over the means %
Entrance into the ether aud exit frou
ii. hut the interest Of these companie
are so tied M in the development o
radio that there is reason Ia belev
they will show grcater vision IN hand
ling the subject. In any event. Will
they may control radio instruments
the government will never lose cOntro
of the air itself and will never permi
the air routes 10 be run counter n
the general public interest
"There has been no parallel 10 tn
development Of the air as n means .
communication since the invention q
printing. The radio * the handmade
Of the printer. The government wi
see that nothing happens in the eth
10 interfere with or hamper its IN
turc