Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-25
Radio World Awaits Decision
Of Courts ON New ALLEGATIONS

1t is taken for granted by most OBJ
servers that there can be no settling
down to a real trial of new Federal
radio regulations until the courts have
passed upon the orders of the Radio
Commission under the existing law
las the commission points out some
what plaintively," says the Chicago
Daily News, the responsibility for the
hardships and losses likely to result
from its reallocations rests with Con-
gresS, which enacted, despite much OPP
position, the Davis-Dill law providing
for equality among the radio zones
Under that arbitrary law, any plan, as
the commission says. would fail to give
anything like universal satisfaction
In due time the courts will determine
first, the constitutionality of the orders
OF the Radio Commission, and, in the
second place, perhaps inferentially, the
validity of the offensive procrustean
feature of the new radio law. The
question of immediate interest and i'm
portance is whether the commissions
reallocations will benefit the great radio
public by doing away with interference
and by improving the radio programs"
The Buffalo Evening News agrees that
1.-The law as it stands, with its geo.
graphical lines that largely disregard
tAiC OAoII1OullUIi VI pUpuldtlOIl, CdllIlOl
be made to work satisfactorily, in spite
Of the best efforts of the Radio Com
mission"
The commissions task is not pleas
ant one" observes the Ann Arbor Daily
News. 1T is bound to be criticized
whatever 1t may do. When 1t seeks to
improve radio reception by eliminating
stations that have contributed to the
congestion it cannot avoid stepping on
somebody's toes"
Placing reliance upon the Importance
of the legal test by Chicago station
the Fort Worth Telegram makes
the comment: THE suit is obviously
to be welcomed by the Radio Commits
sion and by all broadcasting and radio
industry interests, as we'll as by the
public-the radio listeners. The sooner
the question of validity of regulation
and authority of the commission are
settled the sooner will be inaugurated a
condition of order where there has been
chaos. If the present legislation is
faulty, 1t is best to know it as soon as
possible, in Orcer that other legislation
may be formulated. Radio regulation is
demanded by the public interest, and it
must be carried through"
"Charlotte's radio station WIT,
seems to have been the special target
of discrimination ever since its estab-
lishment," charges the Charlotte News,
which presents a situation typical OF
many others. According to the Char
| lotte paper, from the very beginning of
| radio broadcasting this station has gwen
the radio fans of this section the very
best at it's command" and yet mot
only does the Radio Commission insist
| that WHIT, with the finest transmitter
obtainable, divide time with Raleigh,
| which has only 1000 watts, one-tenth
the power of WET, but it says also that
WHIT can handle only one New York
program per night, unless the closest
station handling the same program is
located at least 300 miles away. The
| station Is in hands that intend to go
| the limit for the proper consideration
of the fans in this territory"
ut was to be expected that the Radio
Commissions ALLEGATION of wave lengths
would stir up some of the 60-odd broad
casters whose powers are affected.
states the Providence Bulletin, with the
thought that 1.-The wonder is that there
has not been greater cutlery" but that
paper states that manufacturers, al
most without exception" hold to the
view that though the law is imperfect
it is the BEST that could be devised I'M
| der present conditions, and at least
opens the way for necessary improve
ments later"
J The new regulations are described by
the Ashland Daily Independent as "ot