Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-06
STATIONS ABUSES
MAY BRING ACTION
Commission May Recognize
Acts in Considering
"PubIiC Service"

Alleging wrongs done by radio sta
tions in the matter of permitting or
refusing to permit the broadcasting OF
certain speeches present a feature OF
the radio censorship problem with
which the Federal Radio Commission
apparently is unable to cope unless il
takes up such abuses in considering
the public service" record and need
of station which seeks to be
licensed
Although under the radio act the
commission has no power to censor or
to require the broadcasting of certain
programs. except for the provision
giving equal opportunity to broadcast
to political candidates. II has been
urged to extend its regulatory powers
to meet evils seen in the present
status of broadcasting and free
speech.
Some stir was created recently whes.
a New York station broadcast pre-
grams that were of distinctly anti
Catholic and anti-Jewish nature 1t
was claimed that replies to the re
ligious charges were not permitted
over the same station Liberal ele-
ments have repeatedly complained
that they seldom, if ever. are per
united to broadcast their views. II
has been pointed out to the commits
sion that a group like the Foreign
Policy Association of New York has
been refused broadcasting privileges
because its speakers sometimes be-
come critical. The Socialists in New
York maintain that their candidates
for office have almost always been re
fused the right to broadcast.
Representative Celler of New York
is one of those particularly averse to
Of "A n
vited recently to deliver a radio ad-
dress on the life and character Of
George Washington, Mr.. Celler de
clares manuscript of his speech was
censored where he wanted to show
that the Father of His Country pos
sessed many of the faults and foibles
OF an ordinary human.
Mr.. Celler wanted to say that Wash
ington liked his teddy often gambled,
and in an election to the Virginia
House of Burgesses served rum, wine
and beer to voters. He insists IT IS an
historical fact that Washington once
was defeated for election because he
'essayed to close up many drinking
places. +" thus accounting for later
'change of tactics.
Now. Mr.. Celler is a pronounced
wet, and this may explain his UNI
brace when the station manager
struck out all bibulous illusions. al
lowing him to say simply that Wash
fngton liked his wine" and sometimes
"wagered'' But Mr.. Celler sees
deep-rooted principle involved in ms
experience, particularly respecting the
suppression of free speech, and has
announced he win introduce. no
censorship amendment to the radio
act in the next Congress.
A tabloid version of Eichberg's
comic opera, 1.-THE Doctor of Alcan-
tara" sung by the National Light
Opera Co the Ipana Troubadours,
the Balkite Hour and Jan Munkacsy,
eminent Hungarian violinist, are the
principal attractions on the program
tonight of WRC. All will come from
New York in addition to new feature
10 be known as This and That.
Attractions of local origin include n
concert by the Army Band, another
story of historic gems by the Perfect
Diamond Entertainers" and sclen-
tfffc talk by l.. r. Aldrich Of the
Smithsonian Institution on "Studyln6
the Sun"
Static bombarded the wave lengths
again last night, in more violent FORM
however. than on the preceding night.
vet II did not interfere seriously with
the reception of out-of-town stations.
Signals had unusual strength and
seemed to penetrate the noise barrier
with exceptional ease.
Rest results We're obtainable from
4he North and Middle West, although
stations in the Chicago sector were
slow to respond. Two stations which
could not escape the dialers were
WICK, Detroit, and WDAF, Kansas
City.