Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-28
BROADCAST CALLS
UNCHANGED IN 1928
Four-Letter Designations to
Remain Pending New
80,
Treaty Provision.

Retention of the four-letter calls
used by most broadcasting stations in
the United States is .ssured through
1925 at least, but it win require legal
Interpretation of the ..ternational
Eadiotelegraph Convention to deter
mine whether cham IS to three-letter
calls must not be effected when the
treaty goes into effect January |, 1929.
4 provision of the treaty recently
drawn up by delegates from most
countries in the world using radio dis
tinctly provides that all land stations
must use three call letters and all ship
stations four. When considered in
committee this provision was O. ',csed
by the American and Canadian experts
because OF the radical changes it
might require among North American
brcadcasting stations. They were
overruled. however, by majority
representing European and other
countries which generally employ
three-letter designations for their land
stations.
II is quite certain that the Senate
will ratify the treaty upon the recon-
rendation Of the Department of State
Then a decision will have 10 be rem
dered. probably by the Attorney Gen
eral of the United States. as to
whether this provision in international
law will make necessary changes to
three call letters instead of four for
American program stations.
Radio officials of the Government
are divided in their opinion on that
score. Some believe that inasmuch as
the broadcasts in the program band
are not intended for international COM
munications, but for domestic con
SUMPTION the three.letter provision
neSd not apply to broadcasting sta.
tons. Code stations are expected to
comply without difficulty
The opinion prevails in some quar-
tiers. too, that stations having &C.
quired an incalculable name value
from the ready recognition by listen
ers of their call letters will claim a
vested right TO their four-letter desig-
nations. especially if they are incor.
porated. The question then will be
whether international law can super
sede vested rights acquired under the
domestic Law.
The three-letter calls were assigned
to land stations and four-letter calls
to ship stations because the foreign
radio experts insisted that traffic is
greater in land than in ship radio
communications. Since the call let
tiers must be repeated three times. it
was proposed by means of this provi.
sion TO speed up the land traffic. The
hitch for American stations comes in
its application to broadcasting.
A tabloid version of "Hansel and
Gretel.' Engelbert Humperdinck's
fairy opera. viii lead the procession
of musical attractions to be broadcast
tonight by WRC. Among the other
features are the Ipana Troubadours.
the Goodrich Zippers and Silvertown
Quartet, the weekly Aeolian recital.
the w. B. & A. Hawaiians and the
Kilt Hour Of Music.
The Trouhadours have arranged a
program made UP OF the song hits of
the last II years, starting with Alex
ander's Ragtime Band" a product of
1910; The Trail OF the Lonesome
Pine" Peg O. My Heart" I'm
Forever Blowing Bubbles" "Margie,"
Love Nest" and Three O'Clock in
the Morning" are some Of the other
numbers
A New Year atmosphere will pre-.
dominate the program Of the Good
rich units. The Kilt Hour will pre-
sent Nine. Lillian Evanti. coloratura
soprano.
Besides the musical attractions.
WRC will broadcast In conjunction
with the blue network Of the National
Broadcasttng Co. Frederic William,
Wile's weekly resume Of the political
situation in Washington.
Follies and Revue of 1927" an
entertainment concoction by Jack
Mullane, which win introduce IL dis.
tinctiye vaudeville acts. liz the princi.
pal Offering tonight OF wMAL. This
feature will be broadcast from the
City Club. The chief participants
Will be the Pennsylvania Keystone
Quartet. the Silver String Revelers
and the City Club Trio.
The weekly Brunswick Panatrope
Hour is WMAL's only other musical
attraction.
The evening program Of WRHF In
made up Of its usual dinner concert
and the tri-weekly children's period
conducted by Miss Evelyn Reichard
and Miss Edna Burrows. The chill.
orens program will start at $40
o'clock and will be followed by the
dinner music.