The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-12
SIDE Of
RADIO AIRED
At HEARING
Alleged MonopoIies Existent
in Industry Severely De-
1nounced by Those Present.
BY LISTENER.TN.


cussion, were heard by the commit
tee yesterday. The testimony will
be continued today.
Except for minor changes all Of
those witnesses supported the bill as
1t is now written and urged its
adoption as a means to prevent the
alleged radio monopoly" from gain
ing control Of the air.
Radio was discussed in the hear
ing from every angle, from that of
the inventor to that Of the song
writer. A summing up of their tes-
timony, in the order that It was
given follows:
Caldwell Hits Monopoly.
The Radio Broadcasters' Society
Of America, represented by former
Congressman Caldwell Of New York
Congressman Caldwell vigorously
protested against the monopoly OF
broadcasting stations which he de
clared is being exercised by the
American Telegraph and Telephone
Company and its subsidiary organi
cations.
IF the monopoly is not stopped
now, it might we'll result that some
day the highest official Of that com
pany might sit in the seclusion OF
his private office and issue a fiat
that only one kind Of religion and
one kind Of politics could be broad
cast through its stations: that only
| one candidate for office might be
allowed to speak and only one kind
Of soap be advertised through its
microphone."
Mr.. Caldwell charged that he had
been advised that one religious de
nomination had made application to
broadcast its service every Sunday
afternoon and that this request had
been denied at any price.
Prices made to the Y. M. C. A..
he said, were prohibitive.
He charged also that permission
had been given one Of the most
prominent men in, the country by
station WEAF to use its microphone
on the night Of February 81, but
that when it was learned that the
subject Of the address was to be
The Campaign Of 1894" this per.
mission was cancelled.
Association FavOrs Bill.
The radio Trade Association, rep
resented by G. B. Cooper.
Mr.. Cooper declared his associa.
ton favored adoption Of the bill.
The American Railway Associa.
ton, represented by A. r. Belmont,
vice chairman of committee Of radio
and wire carrier systems.
Mr.. Belmont asked that a pro.
vision be made in the bill which
would not require railroads to OBJ
tain licenses for construction OF
transmitting stations on railroad
trains.
The association expected in the
future to augment its present line
communications with continuous
radio communication, he said. Radio
will be used also to keep the en-.
gineer in communication with the
conductor on long freight trains. He
declared that radio is not being used
to any great extent by the railroads
at present.
The City Of New York, repre-
scented by Raymond Asserson, broad
casting supervisor Of New York.
Mr.. Assessor declared that the at
tempts Of the American Telephone
and Telegraph Company to control
the air should be brought to the at
tention Of Congress, the Federal
Trade Commission and the public.
N. Y. Station Prevented.
The City Of New York, he said
had been prevented from erecting
broadcasting station by this
monopoly.
He declared that the Telephone
Company had received specia
privileges from the Department OF
Commerce which had enabled II tt
exercise this monopoly.
| Among the provisions of the
contract the city would have beer
compelled to sign in order to pur
chase broadcasting station, hC
said, were that the station should
not be hired, should not be used
Tor any form Of advertising. should
not be leased or disposed of except
under written agreement with the
western Electric Company and
should not use more than 500 waits
or power for transmission.
| 10 buy under such restriction
ne said, would not be to buy al
Mr.. Assessor charged Station
WEAF with having obtained 8
Glass D" license which allowed
1t to use 1000 watts for its broad
casting. This was one of the
special privileges, he said,
Inc city Of New York was repre-
sented also by Joseph A. Devery
assistant corporation counsel.
Would Include Amateurs.
The National Association of Broad
casters, represented by Paul B.
Mr.. Klugh asked that the adj
visory body, which under the biI]
would regulate radio, include repre-
sentatives of the amateur operators
radio manufacturers, ana broad
casters.
Mr.. Klugh also protested to the
committee against another iniuui
tous monopoly, that Of the Society
OF Authors Composers and Pub
ilshers," which he said charged
exorbltant fees for the use of its
music at broadcasting stations.
The American Society of Authors
composers and Publishers, repre-
scented by Silvio Helm.
Mr.. Helm replied to the charges
made by Klugh and declared that
the broadcasting Of the music OF
Its members had killed the sales OF
their sheet music and records.
our Zee IL not exorbitant, beins
not more than 50 a day." he said
He declared that AL the leadinu
song-writers Of the country. includ
ing Victor Herbert, George NJ
Conan. Al Jolson. Sousa and Others
were members OF the society and