Evening star., 1928-03-11
HOUSE. WAR RACES
OVER RADIO BILL
Measure to Extend Life of
= Commission Brings
Sharp Debate. =,
~ the Associated Press


Faced with necessity. FOR immediate
action, the House late last night tcoS
up bill to extend for one year the
me OF the Feoetal Radio Commission
winch will cease to exist Thursday un-
less legislatite aid is forthcoming.
The measure. already passed by the
senate, was called up under an agree
merS Sllotting three hours for genera:
o<oate preceding its consideration un-
/0sr procedure permitting amendment.
This. leaders predicted, would postpone
vote until some time tomorrow.
At the outset OF yesterdays discus
sion, a controversy developed over All
amendment tackled on the bill by the
House merchant marine committee. to
provide that the commission allocate
radio wave lengths to States upon ths
basis of the population
Arouses Opposition.
This proposal, sponsored by Repre-
sentative Davis. Democrat. Tennessee,
whiie approved by the committee by a
substantial vote, aroused immediate OPP
TcSt,.7 from group ul members.
prtncipally those from city districts.
Because of this il was predicted that
before a vote on final passage an out
and-out fight would develop between
members from the cities and those
nom furai 0lStrlctS.
In addition. the proposal has in
tected the question of State rights into
the issue and this always has been con-
ducive in Congress to bitter conflict
Opening the debate yesterday, Rep
resentative McKeovn. Democrat. Okla
homa, took up a defense of the Davis
proposal and declared that chain sta
tions operated by the General Electric,
Westinghouse and American Telephone
& Telegraph Co. we're crowding small
tr stations from the air He argued
that the amendment would tend to give
the smaller stations a better chance.
The radio act of the last Congress.
the Oklahoman continued. was designed
to protect the right of States. and
Davis interrupted to say that Southern
States had not received their share.
Indorses Amendment
Representative Clifford. Republican,
Massachusetts,. also Endorsed the Davis
amendment accusing the commission
with failing to break up what he de-
scribed as a radio monopoly. He said
that he favored continuing the COM
mission, as 1t would enable that body
TO finish the task for which 1t was Gre
ated
Arguing that the commission had
performed its duty. Representative
Celler, New York. Democrat, said that
It had distributed radio power TO Sec
tions Of the country where facilities
existed for its utilization.
The predominating radio sections of
the country" he declared ARE those
places where there have been men of
vision and courage to invest their money
In radio for its development"
The New Yorker contended that the
Davis amendment would place radio in
Q 'straightjacket" and will make con-
uiuons more chaotic than ever"
Brings Out Denials.
When Celler declared that the South
had not arailed itself Of radio facili-
ties" he precipitated a barrage of de-
nials from Southern Democrats, includ-
ing Representatives Davis and Black
and johnson Of Texas and Vinson o.
Kentucky. That statement Is not true"
retorted Davis
Not only has the South a small
allotment Of power. but so have States
adjoining New York City" Rereserta-
tive Abernethy. Democrat. North Caro-
lima. declared in arguing fer equal dis
tribution
New York makes so much noise that
no other States can be heard" inter-
rupted Representative Beedy, Eepubli-
can. Maine.
ADVERTISERS dominate the large radio
stations of the country so that enter
tainment and music is given with the
sole purpose of a5vertising some pro-
duct" asserted Abernethy.
Representative Treadway, Republican.
Massachusetts,, opposing ;he proposal.
declared that the attack on the large
radio companies as monopoIies was un-
justified. as these concerns yere guild
Ing Up this infant industry"
Another Southern Democrat, Bland
OF Virginia, then took the foo. to de-
fend the amendment and launched into
q criticism Of Commissioner o. II. Ca!d-
well OF the Radio Commission. Who he
said favored only the large high
powered stations"
He defended, however. the policies of
Judge Engene o. Sykes, acting chair
man Of the commission.