Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-06

Information of
a reliable source SEN SHEPPARD
comes from New
York that the National Broadcasting
Company. In Carrying out plans TO
extend its facilities to stations in the
southern portion of the United States
will add WSB. Atlanta, and WHAS,
Louisville. to the extensive chain for
the broadc sting vi the -AtSater kent
Hour WSM, Nashville, also viii
subscribe to this sunday night attrac-
ton iust as soon as its newly in
stalled transnitter functions properly.
Incidentally. the forthcoming At
water Kent hour will be furnished by
Edward Johnson, Metropolitan Opera
tenor, and Edith F'leischer. soprano.
>. Another bit of news from New
York announces the return to the
microphone of Phil Gilman and Victor
Arden. the popui2r- two-piano team
formerly of "RoHy's" gang. These
artists will play at WIZ, the key sta
ton of the National Broadca sting
Company blue" network tomorrow
night at sis O'Clock. The blue" net
work is composed of WBZ, Spring
field KDKA. Pittsburgh. aad KYN.
Chicago,
II is hard to measure the force and
effect upon the congre ssional mind of
the stream of advice, recommendation
and petition respecting radio that is
pouring in upon Capitol Hill. A mul!
titude of interests outside Congress
/, seems bent on getting radio control
legislation enacted for reasons that
are obvious. But the how Of the
matter persists as tbs sumblinsl Jock
that has thwarted the conference com
rnittee of both hou*es.
Important inf1uz noes have been
brought to bear on Congress, but
apparently they have not shaken the
divided committeeman from their
respective views on whether control
shall be in the hands of an indie
pendent commission or the Secretary
of Commerce. The former plan is
proposed in the Senate did bill and
the latter in the House (White) bill,
both of which We're passed in the
respective chambers last spring.
The American Bar Association, for
example, has recommended, through
it's air committee, legislation -
ducing the number Of broadcasting
stations holding that anti-monopoly
features are not necessary in the law
because this angle viii in any event
he settled in the courts un Jel the
Sherman and Clayton acts. 1t favors
the Secretary of Commerce to regulate
broadcasting, or eventually Secre-
tary of Communications.
The national radio co-ordinating
Committee headed by Walter A.
Strong, the Chicago publisher who is
also representative of the radio COM
1nittee of the American Newspaper
publishers Association. urges the
placing of control in the Department
of Commerce and Federal radio
commission. the latter with appeilat.a
powers over the jurisdiction of the
former but authorized to hear and
decide cases arising both in and out
side the department. Final appeai
IRON. the commissions decisions
would be taken TO the Federal Courts.
The coordinating committee pro
fesses to represent virtually all
branches of the radio industry as well
rs the radio public. Then there is
the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States. which has urged
against an invasion of private
rights. declaring that station owners,
like newspapers and magazines. must
he free to select and edit their pro.
gram material. 1t sees the White
bill as being in harmony with its
views and simpler to effect in that
ii utilizes an existing governmental
agency instead of setting up a new
and independent commission.
Add to these yiews--all of which
have been laid before members OF
Congress collectively and singly--the
opposition of President Coolidge to
the creation of Il new Independent
agency Of government, in principle
and organization sentiment apparently
is overwhelmingly in favor OF Mr.
HooYer's control.
Moreover, almost every person il,
the radio field, from Gen. J. q
Hartford. president of the Radio Cor
Doration of America, down TO the
smallest retail dealer, seems TO have
expressed his views This is not tc
mention Mr.. Lstenern, whose opin
ion on the need for clearing the ether
of interference is perhaps the mos
important and is being received II
the form of petitions sent to the Con
gressemen and Senators from his
state.
Yet a group in Congress appear:
1lnconyinced that the Secretary Of
Commerce should be vested with the
admittedly large discretionary powers
that will go with radio control, anC
the radio conferees must continue
their discussions this week in an effor
10 find compromise between depart
mental or commission control.
The fact of the matter is that radio
Is not uppermost in the minds of thu
men on Capitol Hin because of TIT
shortness Of the present session am
the press Of other important business
Moreover, II is undoubtedly true tina
the newness and bigness of the prob
lem have SHE'D many of them ava,
from it's consideration and real under
standing, although there is evident /;
growing realization of the importance
and necessity Of form of radio
control.
Political lines lare not drawn, unles
u be q game of personal politics. Blu
the men who represent the divergen
ylews on control Ms only have carries