Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-05
RADIO COMMISSION
WILL FACE CRITICS
Organized Opposition to Poll.
CieS of Board Looms for
Senate Hearings.

Facing n fire of criticism, the Fed.
eral Radio Commission has reconvened
in Washington and is proceeding with
its task of unwinding the broadcast
tangle. Three of its members have
returned from tours of their respective
zones and from their holiday visits
home and are prepared to appear for
QuiZZinS by the Senate committee on
interstate commerce next Friday.
The militant criticism against the
commission is headed by Norman Z.
Baker, operator Of l<TNT. Muscatine,
Iowa who alleges the Federal radio
body is playing into the hands of a
monopoly of the air" He has an.
ncunced his opposition to the Senate's
confirmation of Commissioner Pickard
OF Kansas, who represents the zone
embracing Iowa. and Commissioner
Caldwell of New York, and has broad
cast that he will appear personally
before the Senate committee TO oppose
them. On the other hand. the two com.
misSioners are strongly Endorsed by
former Representative Frank Scott.
now counsel for the National Associa.
ton of BroadcaSterS.
The Senate'S inquiry is in the nature
of Commissioners Pickard, Caldwell
and Lafount before the Senate acts on
President Coolidge's appointments
The last named has not yet returned
from his tour of his far.western zone
and is not expected back for at least
a week.
These three commissioners have not
been confirmed by the Senate for va.
riouS reasons. The filbuster of the
last session held up confirmation of
AIR. Caldwell and Mr.. Bellows, who
later resigned. Commissioner Pickard
was appointed to succeed Bellows. and
Lafount. Salt Lake City business
man. succeeded the late Col. John f.
Dillon. Both were recess appoint.
ments. The fifth position on the com.
mission. the post occupied by the late
Admiral William II. G. Bullard. chair
man. has not yet been filled by presi.
dental appointment.
Although the Senate committees
hearing is to determine whether the
unconfirmcd men are eligible for Office
under the radio act, it is understood
the inquiry will be devoted partially
TO questions as to the commissions
policies The only question raised
against Mr.. Pickard is as to his party
affiliations. which he claims are Demo-
cratic. Mr.. Caldwell, q former mag.
azine editor, will be asked regarding
his former connection with the radio
industry. No opposition has appeared
against Mr.. Lafount.
Two members OF the commission
have just completed exhaustive studies
OF conditions in their zones. namely,
Pickard in the Middle West and Judge
E. ID. Sykes in the South. The latter
is acting chairman Of the commission. 1
Both reported vastly improved recep-
ton on the upper channels. recently
cleared. while conditions on the lower
wave lengths were described as bad"
One of the tasks still facing the com.
mission Is to clear more channels in
tire non-heterpdyning band" between
600 and 1000 kilocycles t4s9.7 to 29s.s
meters).
Although they spent $4,000 for the
epoch-making Victory Hour program
last night. the Dodge Brothers will re-
turn to the broadcast arena tonight
with another radio entertainment. not
quite so expensive and pretentious as
that which went over the 42-station
chain. Gladys Rice. soprano: Wilfred
Glenn. bass. and Ed Smalle. comedian,
a male quartet and a fivepiece or.
chestra are TO take part in tonight's
broadcast. which viii feature hits from
popular shows.
Aside from the Dodge presentation,
WRC also lists a concert by the
United States Array Band and the
Clicquot Eskimos VINO wfII introduce
the vibraphone in their program. The
Army Band has arranged an elaborate
program which includes Distant
Greeting" Rose Marie, King Kari"
''Cinderella's Bridal Procession" and
The Pitt Panther
The Smith Brothers. who will be
heard In their weekly presentation ac
10 o'clock. are scheduled for three
popular numbers. My Heart Stood
sun. Thinking Of You" and Sweet
Stranger"
a scientific talk prepared by DIR.
kobert q. Aiken, Associate director I'm
charge Of the Lick Observatory. Uni
versity Of California. will be heard 10.
night. over WMAL. DR.. Athens sub.
jet liz "Photographing the Planets"
WMAL music includes the regular
weekly concert Of the Town Club
Hawsflans. a concert by the Bern.
heimer Trio and a recital by Edith
Reed, pianist.
n musical review Of 1927 viii be the
feature Of the evening program of
"RHF. All OF the years hits will be
inciuoed in the review and will follow
the stations usual dinner concert,