Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-14
DECREASE IN RADIO
STATIONS SOUGHT
"FeWer the Better" May Be
/ Slogan for Solution of
Ether TangIe.

The old slogan, 1.-The Fewer the
Better" will presently be applied to
the 1888 broadcast stations now on the
air, for the verdict is almost unani-
nous by the jury of listeners that
a large reduction in numbers should
he effected by the Federal Radio
Commission. To be sure, this COM
mission is the judge of how many
and what stations shall carry on
: broadcasting in public interest, but
the fans remain in the jury, and
always will.
About a hundred high grade key
stations, most of them pioneers, de-
serve every consideration of the COM
missioners, in the opinion of many
critics of the reorganization plans
offered, and. if popularity. priority
and good behavior are to be re-
Warded, these old reliables deserve
permanent licenses, selected channels
and enough power to reach all their
listeners.
One of the schemes offered for con-
sideration by the commission is that
advanced by Edgar Felix, engineer
and technician of Radio Broadcast,
who bases his plan upon reliable
service from about 800 broadcasters.
brought about by consultations OF
neighboring good stations ana the
wedding out of the unreliable and
unnecessary stations.
Should BE But Six.
AS a concrete example Felix takes
the situation within a radius of %
miles of New York. wherein Il sta
tions out of some 40 now on the air
so occupy the whole broadcast band
that but q out town stations can
1a I'd NV II
on as many clear other channels.
Ideally there should be but six reli-
able broadcaSterS on as many wave
lengths in the New York district,
say the opponents of the plan, and
the six he selects by way of illustra-
ton, are: WEAF, WIZ, WOR, WIN,
WABC and WGBS combined, and
WPCH and WEBB combined. Some
such consolidation and limitation is
necessary, he insists, if the rest of
the country is to have its adequate
share of the SO broadcast channels
and New Workers are to have inter
ference-free reception. This scheme
would make it possible for the fans
In and around New York owning
good five-tube sets to pick up through
the locals and without interference
as many as Sc outside channels or
stations, instead of only the 27 now
available, except with a highly selec-
tive receiver.
1t. is held that each local station
prevents reception on its own and
the two channels above and below its
wave length; every local eliminated,
therefore, would make five outside
stations available for the broadcast
fan under good conditions. Distant
stations are rarely heard over a
broader band than their 10-kilocycle
channels.
Such a drastic plan of elimination
and consolidation would, of course,
bring on any number of complaints
from the stations eliminated and
might result in lawsuits, which,
however, must be expected before
the ether can be cleared so that an
adequate number of reliable broad
casters can be authorized to furnish
the fans good programs the year
round. The general plan advocated
by Felix is, of course, adaptable to
other congested districts if studies
are made.
Radio reception over the week end
was remarkably good considering the
warm weather. which usually brings
with it terrific barrage of static.
The ether, however, was almost free
of atmospherics Saturday night and
again last night, and signals came
Despite congestion on and around
the 400-meter wave PWX, Havana,
was heard last night. but its signals
developed fading habit, quite like
that of KDKA. Other stations picked
up last night were WABF, Kingston,
Pa: WAAT, Jersey City; WGCP.
Newark: WOAX, Trenton; WPCH-
WARS, New York: WCBD, Zion, ILL.,,
and WJAZ, Chicago.
Another program by "RoXy" and
''his gang" This is the piece de re-
sistance of WRC's bill tonight.
Roxy" has planned for his Sec
ond radio entertainment to present
to the radio audience his entire gang
of vocal and instrumental soloists,
together with complete symphony
orchestra of 10 musicians under the
alternate guidance of Maurice JAG
quet, Charles Previn, Frederick Stahl-
berg and Emo Rapee. One of the
outstanding features of tonights pro-
gram will be the work of mixed
vocal chorus of 100 voices.
The Roxy Theater is now in full
swing and the opening portion of the
program will be devoted to broadcast
Ing from the theater proper and the
later half will be given from the spe
cial radio studio in the theater
building.
me weekly program OF Hires
Harvesters will follow the Roxy" con-
cert. The Haryesters are making an
interesting tour of the world and
will make their entry into Africa to-
night via Egypt, the Sudan and the
Belgian Kongo
The A. & p. Gypses will give as
their feature number a musical in
depreciation of what might be called
An English viewpoint Of the American
South. John Barnes Wells also will
be heard in several solos
Ina honor of the observance of the
Beethoyen centennial. the WEAF
Grand Opera Co. tonight will sing
the opera ''Fidelio." Beethoven wrote
four 9yeEtures for this great work.
sWDLAIs will continue to broadcast
the events from the Chamber of Com
n1eroe Industrial Exposition at the
Washington Auditorium tonight. The
program includes a concert by the
National Guard Band and an organ
recital By Mcs. Nell Paxton
CAequot Minstrel Show Thursday.
The Clicquot Club Es>kimos are TO
enteptain their audience with an
irish Minstrel Show" Thursday
night. Radio fans are promised a
OrOayra m (which will he a vuida dapor