Evening star., 1927-07-28
CHANGE IS SOUGHT
IN RADIO LAWS
Amendments to Lengthen
Life of Commission Are
Being Planned.

The question of amending the radio
law OF 1927 is being taken up by varl-
Gus organizations, and many lnteresteu
In making 1t more specific assert tndl'
earlv in the next session oil congress
several bills will be submitted 10 liiiS
end. ,
The National Association of Broad
casters according to Paul Klugh, IN
tends to cooperate in any amend
ments offered, Just as it did when the
hin was being framed last year. "A
recent letter to the federal ltauio
Commission from this organization
seeks to learn what. If any, suggeS-
tions the commissioners care TO oner.
This communication has not peen
answered, and may not De' ~ - pc
lieved however, that most OF the co!ii-
missioners are of the OPINION, oesPl,s
predictions that a years work woulo
clear up the broadcasting situation.
that a continuing clause should eXtend
the activities of this body. None OF
them will make such a statement, as
il might be considered in bad taste. OF
be construed as an effort TO fetali,
their Jobs indefinitely with annual
salaries of $4,000, instead OF only $So
a day, authorized after April rs, iS@o'
when actually working or travellng'
and their expenses.
Amendments Contemplated.
Several members of Congress are
said to be contemplating the lntroduc-
ton of amendments in different lorliis'
One would make the Radio CoilliiilS'
sion permanent, and not let the author-
ity revert back to the Department OF
Commerce; another desires TO see an
governmental radio matters placed III
the hands of the present COMMISSION
ox.fn
of work to include telephone ana tele
graph operation, as well as faolo' useu
I'm Interstate commerce.
If any of the commissioners resign
after their firSt-year term expires
II will be difficult for the President 10
secure the services of adequately
posted and experienced men to MI
their places with no more remunera-
ton than $50 a day when they meet
as provided for in the present law
Two of the present incumbents nave
never received the approval or the
Senate and are serving on executive
appointments.
Hearings Are Sought.
One of the proposed amendments.
held of grave Importance to the us
teners, is to require public hearings
prior to the issuance of construction
permits for new broadcaStlng stations.
Decisions to issue such permits rest
with the commissioners, who exercise
their powers in the interest of the
public. but once committed by con-
struction permit, they are required 10
issue an operation license. 1t Is felt-
that in many instances residents near
the site selected would object If they
could do so legally, and that, there
fore, a hearing should be held, just
as before the issuance Of public utll-
ity franchises by cities.
There are cases on record where
residents in a location sought by
broadcast station have already filed
protests. A case in point is the pro-
posal of a station in Bridgeport, Conn,
to move it's transmitter to EaSton,
which has brought a flood of mail
and complaints to the commissioners
in Washington. Some even advocate
the revocation of its operating license.
This station had already become un-
popular in Bridgeport on account of
interference with the reception of
WIZ there. Other communications
also point out that the public should
have a voice in the designation of
new stations or the relocation Of estab-
: liehed ones, without relying solely on
the ability of the commissioners to
ascertain whether new station or
site would be in the public interest.
Lovely Galatea," a NEUROLOGICAL
comic opera by Franz Won Suppe and
the weekly concert by the Cliquot
Club Eskimos, are the principal musi-
cal attractions scheduled tonight by
WRC. The midweek light opera will
be sung in tabloid form as usual by
the National Light Opera Co. The
Eskimos. however, have planned
and Harry RnSar the
director. has announced that he will
introduce a new instrument, which
he calls the tri-octachord.
The Kit Hour of Music, featuring
Gertrude Smallwood Mockbee, pianist
organist, which will be broadcast from
6:15 to o'clock, is WRC's only attrac-
ton of local origin, the remaining
features coming from New York.
These include a musical discourse by
Randall Hargreaves, baritone, and
talk on Our Government" by David
Lawrence, newspaper editor and
author.
A diversified program featuring the
outdoor concert of the Army Band on
the east plaza of the Capitol, and a
one-act play, 1.-THE Prince of Court
Painters" will be broadcast tonight
by WMAL. The cast for the play,
which was written by Constance
DARCY Mackay, includes May JAM
eson Bryant and William f. Bryant
of the Washington Readers Club.
A talk on scientific subject, and
recitals by Nanny King, boy soprano;
Mabel C.. Latimer, soprano, and Mae
Clement, concert pianist, are WMAL's
other attractions.
The wave lengths were more re-