Evening star., 1928-03-03
RADIO Commission
ACTION EXPECTED
Vote on Bill Next Week Is
Forecast in House-Fight
Is Predicted.

J
| Broa6caSters is heaping severe criticism
upon Congress for what it asserts is an
utter disregard of all known radio
/ principles" in including the equal distri-
button clause in pending radio legisla-
| tion. Action on the radio bill extending
| the Federal Radio Commission for one
| year is expected III the House early next
week, with the prospect of a determined
| fight over the provision whereby there
! would be an equal ALLEGATION of stations,
| wave lengths and powers TO each of the
! five radio zones.
! Every one is agreed that there should
/ be no more broadcaSting stations on
| the air, Many argue that the 700 now
operating should be cut in number. The
! point at issue is whether the present
! distribution Of stations and operating
assignments should by legislation be
made more equitable geographically.
Considering the present concentration
! OF population and the places where sets
arc mostly used, the National Associa-
tion of BroadcaStcrS maintains that to
shake up the broadcaSting structure
would render thousands OF dollars worth
Of tranSmitterS useless and would make
obsolete about one-third of all radio sets
in the country, or approximately $780,
/ 600 900 worth.
"A legislative brainStorm" Is the way
the n. A. B., comprising about 200 of
the leading broadcastlng stations III the
United States Characterizes the posi-
ton Of the House committee on marine
and fisheries. which reported the bill.
1t predicts that members of the COM
mittee will hear from their constituents
If the ubiquitous" distribution clause is
enacted. To fail to extend the COM
mission. with its Job only half done, and
to shake up the broadcaStlng structure,
ii is stated, will charge against Congress
"one of the greatest crimes in the entire
history of democratic representative
Government, affecting millions of peo-
pie
This is going at Congress consider
ably more strenuous than did Com
missioner Caldwell in his letter. 1t is
Commissioner CaldwellS contention that
the ALLEGATION OF an equal number of
stations to each zone cannot be done
by legislative enactment; the concen-
tration OF transmitters in the thickly
populated areas like New York, from
which the country can hear the best
OF radio talent, was a natural one, he
maintains. To deprive the high-pow-
cred stations of their power and give 1t
to station in other parts of the country
sometimes to places which have not
sought more poWer-would not only
wreck the present high-power plants.
but would preclude reception of their
high-Quallty programs by hosts Of lis
tenerS.
1t is estimated that New York States
stations would be cut from 81 to 20 in
number and its aggregate wattage from
$4,000 TO II 1000 under the distribution
plan: New Jersey stations, from IS TO Z
and wattage from $4,000 to 5000; Mas
sachusetts. from 18 to stations and
10000 to $3.50 watts; PENNSYLVANIA.
from 33 TO "a stations and from $1,000
TO 10000 watts; Ohio, from IS to ID
stations and $4,000 to 5000 watts: ILL.,
nois. from 10 TO Is stations and SIS 900
TO 5000 watts: Iowa. from l8 to 8 sta
tions and 10000 TO 4, 500 watts: Nehras-
ka. from IA to stations and $500 to
5000 watts; Missouri. l8 to 9 stations
and $4,000 to 5000 watts: Minnesota
II to stations and 20,500 to 4.500
watts; Colorado. II to stations and
S,270 TO 5000 watts; Washington, 10 TO
4 stations and l0.700 to 1900 watts:
California, so to II stations and 26 900
20 5000 watts.
The overture to Richard Wagner's
| opera THE Flying Dutchman" will be
played by the New York Symphony
Orchestra. directed by Walter Dam
rosch, as the opening number of the
RCA hour. which will be broadcast
through WRC at O'Clock tonight
After the overture the Spinning
Chorus" from tn esame opera will be
played. Brahms will be represented in
the hour by an allegretto from his
Symphony No. 2" while Bach will be
represented by Suite in B Minor"
with flute solo. In his classic manner
As the closing number in this program
the finale from symphony No. /" by
VaSsili Sergeivitch Kalinikov will be
played.
Victor Herbert's "Sweethearts." with
Jessica Dragonette. soprano, In the
leading role and Harold Sanford as
musical director. will be presented as
the Philco hour feature at O'Clock
This operetta IN two acts Is based on
the book by Harry 4. Smith and Fred
eric de Gressac.
Jesus and the Twelve" Is the SUBJ
ject Of the weekly Bible talk to be
heard through WRC. at Z o'clock.
Representative David Hogg OF Indiana
will give this talk.
An organ recital by Irene Juno will
be heard from the organ studios OF
the Washington College OF Music. at
Gas O'Clock.
The program Of WMAL tonight Is
made UP chiefly OF musical attractions
which include dance music by David
McWiliiams' Orchestra, recitals by
Charles Williams, pianist; Mary Gala
han. soprano: Elvina Neal Rowe,
| soprano, and Ridgway Taylor, bari
| tone.
| WtEF's only attraction will be- "A
/ musical program composed Of request
/ numbers This will be broadcast from
! & 10 O'Clock