Evening star., 1927-06-08
CELLER EXPLAINS
CONTROL PROGRAM
New Yorker Outlines Plan for
Hating Private Radio
Censorship.

The fright to hear both sides of a
question" as we'll as "the right to hear
the truth, no matter whom it hurts
are declared by Representative Eman-
uel Celler of New York to he the
basis for his proposals TO remedy the
radio censorship situation, which. he
says, is becoming so acute that sta
tion managers are virtually counting
Federal supervision of their programs.
This is the way Mr.. Celler says he
would have the broadcasters con.
trolled:
al. Every station should keen
log or record of all matters of impor-
tance that happen at the station, in
Cluding ell protests, and wherever
possible there should be deposited in
the station copies of all speeches de-
livered
"2 A radio station which contracts
to broadcast a certain dinner, func-
tion or occasion, either free or for
profit should be compelled to broad
cast the entire program, even though
the station objects to the views of one
or more of the speakers, provided, of
course. that the matter broadcast is
not unlawful, obscene or slanderous.
"3. In applications for renewal of
licenses the Radio Commission and the
Department Of Commerce should take
into consideration the liberal or illib-
eral attitude of the station. anent
broadcasting both sides of a contro-
versy and the fairness with which pro-
grams are selected.
a. Each station should permit two
or three, or even more, hours per week
for discussion of controversial, politi-
cal and social issues
'5. Our laws of libel and SANDER
may have to be modified to suit pecul-
lar radio conditions. In the case of a
newspaper publishing a libel there is
strict accounta bility. That arises
from an uncontrolled right to reject
or accept the matter to be put into
the Ssper. If you give the broad
caster less control over his program,
you must to that extent limit his liza
bility for damages for SANDER.
"6. There should be set up a sort
of advisory council or committee in
every broadcasting station. The mem
bership thereof should be drawn from
men of recognized ability and of stand
ing in their respective communities.
All sects, creeds and shades of politi-
cal and civic opinion should have rep
resentation. This advisory board or
council could advise with the station
owner as to the nature of his pro-
grams. This is the method adopted in
France"
The session of the public policy COM
mittee of the National Electric Light
Association on the Million Dollar Pier
in Atlantic City tonight will be broad |
cast by WRC. The program includes |
an address by David F. Houston, a |
recital by Mario Chamlee, tenor of |
the Metropolitan Opera Co., and con- |
cert by George Olsen and his orches |
ira.
A tabloid version of the dramatic |
cantata, Trial by Jury" by the Ma |
tional Light Opera Co.; concerts by |
the Hi-Lo Hawaiians, the Mayf1ower |
Orchestra and the Ipana Troubadours |
are other WRC features. There also |
will be two talks, one by Ogden l.. |
Mills. Undersecretary of the Treasury, |
on What Are You Going to Do With |
Your Liberty Bonds?" and the other |
by DIR. Glenn Leach of the Smithso-
nfan Institution on ''Goldfishes and I
Other Aquarium Creatures"
Static returned in more violent form
last night and created a noisy uproar
on the wave lengths. Moreover, the |
signals of most of the out-of-town sta
tions were unresponsive, and those |
which came through were either weak |
or chopped by the atmospheric dis |
turbance. In other words, reception /
conditions were decidedly unfavorable |
for long-range dialing.
Among the few stations heard de- /
spite the adverse conditions were /
WSAI, Cincinnati, which was broad
casting it's fourth birthday anniver-
sary program; KDKA, Pittsburgh, and |
WOR, Newark.