Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-22
INQUIRY LOOMING
ON RADIO POLICIES
Senate Opposition to Con-
firmation of Three Members
May Bring Investigation.

Opposition which has cropped out
in the United States Senate against
confirmation of three members of the
Federal Radio Commission may re-
solve itself into an inquiry into the
policies pursued by the commission
since its creation last March.
Commissioners o. H. Caldwell OF
New York. Sam Pickard of Kansas
and Harold A. Lafount of titan nave
been summoned to appear before the
Senate committee on interstate com
merce January to answer questiohs
propounded by certain Senators. These
questions, 1t has been indicated. VIII
relate not only to their respective
qualifications for their posts but I"
reasons for some of the actions of the
commission in the past. At least TOUR
senators have indicated desire TO ask
such questions before passing on Tres
ident Coolidge's appointments. IheN
are Senators Edge. New Jersey ;
Wheeler. Montana; Howell, Nebraska,
and Dill Washington.
Senator Howell it is known, Is IN
terested in allegations to the eHect
that a radio broadcasting monopoly Is
being stimulated by the granting OF
ers to certain stations. Senator Dill
saws he wants to know why point-to-
point licenses for used of short waves
have been granted to some concerns,
while others. whom he describes as
"the little fellows must come to
Washington January IL to attend
hearing in order TO show cause why
they, too. should be licensed to oper-
ate on short.wave channels.
Senator Dill. who was one of the
authors of the radio act of 1927, has
said he does not believe any of the
three men will be rejected IL their per-
sonal cases are laid before the Senate
committee satisfactorily. The uues-
ton raised against Commissioners
Caldwell and Lafount relates to their
identification with the radio industry.
in which. under the law, they must
have no direct financial interest while
serving on the compc ission. The point
in Commissioner Pickard's case is
whether he is properly resident of
Kansas and a Democrat.
Commissioner Caldwell an electrical
engineer. resigned a position as editor
of a radio magazine upon appointment
to the radio commisSionership. He
failed of confirmation during the Sen
ate filibuster of last Spring. Commits
SlUlISI l1d1OQ1ll mas Ildu HuhIiSldi III
terests in severa, Salt Lake City loud
speaker factories, which he said he
surrendered upon coming to Washing
ton recently. Commissioner Pickard
is a graduate of Kansas State Agricul.
ture College and his parents reside in
Kansas City, where he is now visiting
He came to Washington at the in
stance OF Secretary Jardine, who was
former president of his alma mater, to
head the radio services of the Depart
ment OF Agriculture. He was an avi-
stor during the World War and claims
Democratic affiliations. Under the ra-
do act there must be at least two
members OF the minority party on the
board.
Former Commissioner Bellows will
not come up for confirmatio on &C.
count Of his resignation before his
term expired. His back salary will be
paid him through the. medium of
private bill introduced by Senator
Shipstead of Minnesota.
The United States Army Band Or .
chestras which heads the parade of
musicaf attractions scheduled tonight
by WRC, will dedicate it's concert TO
bert's Babes In Toyland' and. 1.-THE
Holy City, are included in the pro.
gram. The latter will be played as a
trumpet solo.
The Clicquot Club Eskimos. the
Hoover Sentinels and the second of
the series OF weekly Dodge presenfa.
tons are among WRC's other fea.
lures. The Eskimos will present a
popular novelty program, while the
Hoover Sentinels have listed as their
specialties two Indian songs, Waters
OF Minnetonka" and Indian Dawn"
The Dodge broadcast will bring be.
fore the microphone an orchestra.
vocal chorus, soprano soloist and
male quartet. together with an "air
comedian"
A Christmas cantata, THE Star of
bethlehem" by the choir of the Nc.
kendrec NJ. e. Church, is the princinaI
attraction tonight of WMAL. The
SOLO numbers will be sung by Mrs.
Marshall NJ. Ayers, soprano: Miss Nell
!. Erwin. soprano: Mrs George 2.
Sechlie, contralto; H. II. Rureles
tenor, and Stanley William Bell bari.
tone. va.
Joe sBombrest and his Milo Orches.
ira VIII open WMAL'S program with
dinner dance program. The subse.
Quent musical attractions include
recital by Mabel L. LOTUS, contralto
ana the weekly concert of the Town
Club HaMaiians.
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