Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-26
KWKH PROSECUTION
CREATES TEMPEST.
Fans Accuse Commissioners
of Sighting Stations
Through South.

A tempest in teapot has been
stirred by the action of the Federal
Radio Commission in citing Station
]<WkH. Shreveport. La, for prosecu-
.on for the alleged use of 5000 watts
az power instead Of its license assign
rnent of ! 900. Advices received in
Washington are to the effect that sta,
ton kWKH has been presenting its
case 10 it's listeners. alleging unfair
ness in the commissions order reduc-
ing it TO half-time operation and re-
curing it to share its wave with
hMA. Shenandoah, Iowa.
As consequence letters have been
received by the commission in which
i is claimed not only that the sta
lion is not receiving proper treatment
because of the legal proceedings be-
ing taken against it in the Federal
court but that the South generally
Is being Disseminated against in the
matter of broadcasting stations. The
prosecution Of Station kWKH is I'M
der section 80 of the radio act Of 1921.
which specifies a $500 fine for viola
tion of an order of the commission. 1t
* said that this may be interpreted as
meaning each and every day of viola
ton, in which case the Shreveport
station may he liable to a fine mount
ing beyond $4,000.
The chairman of the commission,
Admiral Billiard. aroused by the
charges, denies both of them, In
reply to a protest from Southern
correspondent. he makes public the
position of the commission, Refer
ring to the action against KWkH. he
states:
The owner Of this station, w. X.
Henderson, at a public hearing before
he commission, admitted on the wit
ness stand that his station was OPP
Grating on power at least three
lines that authorized. and naturally
he commission had to take official
notice Of such disregard of its rule.
In accordance with the radio act OF
1927 this fact may be reported to the
Department Of Justice, with the re-
quest that the proper legal steps be
taken.
1.-THE commission as commission
can take no legal proceedings against
any broadcasting operator. but in ac-
cordance with the radio act must re-
fer such matters to the Department
of Justice. with the proper recon-
lnendation. In this case the recon-
mendation was that the owner Of this
station should be properly disciplined
as laid down in the act mentioned.
Denying discrimination against the
South. Admiral Billiard admits that
Southern States are not particularly
well represented in the broadcasting
field, but he places the blame on the
South itself.
at must be apparent" he states.
that the number of stations exist
Ing when the commission came into
being was a matter which could not
be controlled in any manner what
soaver
THE commission is not in any man.
ner acting against the interests of
any Southern States in their desire
to have broadcasting stations, and the
commission cannot accept the state
ment that the South is being badly
treated. / assure you that such is
rot the case. when only last week
permits were granted to at least eight
new broadcasting stations in South.
ern States. and not a single one in
the North.
The commission is quite aware of
the section Of the radio act which in.
Inmates that stations should be al!ot-
ted on on equitable basis among the
States. That is one of the dominating
features of the action of the commits
sion at this time. Surely station
ought not to be deprived Of its license
simply because ii does not happen to
be in Southern State.
ut is a fact that Southern States
are not particularly well represented
in the broadcasting field, but it is also
fact that this commission cannot be
held responsible for that State of af-
fairs. If the people of the South do
not want broadcasting stations and do
not make application for them. the
commission cannot take any action
whatsoever"
Peterboro, the Summer home of the
late Edward Mcdowell, in the roll.
ing woodlands of New Hampshire,
will be the theme of Musical Nina
lures" which WRC will broadcast to-
night in conjunction with other sta
tons Of the National Broadcasting
Co.'S red" network.
MacDowell, one of the foremost of
American composers, created some of
his greatest compositions at his Sum-
mer home. The estate now houses a
colony Of musicians. artists and
writer's.
The Cities Service Concert Orches.
ira. which will be heard at z o'clock,
has arranged a varied program rang
ing from Bizet's 'L'Arlesienne Suite
TO four rural airs. Preceding this fea-
ture there will be special program
by The Three Cheers" vocal trio
WIN recently leIt the stage in favor
OF radio and photograph recording.
Other attractions on WRCs SEIZED
ule include Stardom of Broadway. the
w. B. e A. Quartet, the Lord Calvert
Hour of Music and the PENNSYLVANIA
and Greenwich Village Inn Orches-
tras. offering dance music.
A wo-and-one half hour program
Is scheduled tonight by WMAL.
Opening at o'clock with the usual
news flashes and vocal recital by
Phil Hayden. the program includes
recitals by Elizabeth Gardner Coombs,
pianist; Fannie Shreve Heartsill. so.
prano, and Francis Heartsill. bass,
and dance music by the Lido Or
chestra.
lMPOSTER Is S0uGHI.