Evening star., 1928-03-05
RADIO MEN SEEK
TO BAR NEW LAW
Splitting Country Into Five
Zones Violates Engineering
Rule, Says Group.

Responding 10 an emergency call
from their national headquarters.
committee or thirteen. representing the
most powerful interests III the radio in
CuStry, has gathered here to carry the
battle against proposed radio legisla-
ton designed to alter the present broad
casting structure on basis of
geographical distribution. That the
fight is to be bitter one is indicated
by the barrage already fired in Congress
against one OF the committees leaders
by Representative Davis Of Tennessee.
The struggle is over the equitable
distribution" feature of the House radio
bill. which would allocate an equal
amount OF stations. wave lengths and
power to each of the five radio zones
Of the country. Fearing an inevitable
cut in existing stations and powers in
CERTAIN pa,.> Of the country. and an
entire sha6eup Of wave length assign
ments. practically the whole radio in
dustTy is fighting this clause in the
House bill.
Wins First Stage.
But Mr.. Davis has won the first stage
OF the battle, He opened by delivering a
TRADE in the House against the aSSer-
ton OF L, S. Baker, leading the organ
clause in the House bill will wreck the
oa0casti~g setui and render obsolete
no less than one-third Of the sets now
In use.
Even after House leaders became wor-
Tied about the adverse reaction to the
Oil as first reported. and returned it TO
committee for reconsideration, the re-
distribution clause was reaffirmed. With
3ts sectional appeal to Representatives,
there is every likelihood that it will pass
the House regardless of the argument
OF Its antagonists that it overlooks every
principle of radio engineering. The only
fheck on 1t then will be the Senate
end possibly presidential veto.
=. The Committee of Thirteen represents
eoout IS per cent Of the broadcasters
d the United States and about 95 per
eene or the manufacturers, not TO omit
eome 5000 iobbers and dealers. Head
fng the National Association of Broad
EesterS' delegation are Mr.. Baker and
Paul W. Morency. and the others in
This group are H. A. Bellows of Minne-
Apolis former radio commissioner:
Alfred j. McCosker. WOR. Newark:
William s. Hedges, WMAQ. Chicago,
and Orson Stiles. WOW, Omaha.
Adopts Three Rules.
The delegation of the Radio Manu-
tscturers' Association is headed by Bond
Geddes, and includes Col. Manton
Davis, New York: Mai Herbert II.
Frost, New York. and Arthur T. Haugh.
Rochester. The Federated Radio Trades
Association makes up the rest OF the
committee. including Harold Wrape. ST.
Louis: Thomas White, Buffalo, and
Irwin KurtZ. New York.
The committees first move was to
adopt three resolutions. The first
recommended continuation of a radio
commission for another year while de-
ploring the handicaps under which the
present one has labored. The second
recommended that appointments Of the
commissioners be Tor the two. three.
four. FIVE and six year terms as pro-
vided in the present law instead OF
being curtailed at the end Of another
year as provided in the Senate bill.
The third places the industry on record
as favorirg equitable distribution OF
radio service to the American public"
but II points out that "euual distribu-
tion among the five zones does not
recognize the fundamental factors Of
availability OF program material. engi-
neering facilities or the ability 10 MAN.
tain broadcaStirg."
The feature Great Moments IN His
tory" which was dropped by WRC some
weeks ago, will return tonight at 8
O'Clock with dramat!Zation Of the en-
gagenlent between the Monitor and the
Merrimac, February 8, 1862. This at
traction will be broadcast regularly
hereafter every Monday night.
The General Motors family party,
which will be heard through WRC at
$50, will feature Florence Easton. So
prano. Of the Metropolitan Opera Co.
Other guests al the party include
concert orchestra and concert band.
A French atmosphere will predominant.
Roxy and his gang" the Peoples
home hour. the Fisk Tine-to-retire
BOYS and the lie Paradis Band are
other WRC attractions. Pietro Capodi-
ferro. trumpetcr. VIII be featured dur
Ing the ROXY" program. The Fisk
Boys viii present popular tunes.
A supper dance program by the Novel
cites, girls JAZZ orchestra. and joint
recital by Mabel Foote Whitman, So
prano, and Edward Whitman. tenor. are
the principal musical attractions to-
night Of WMAL. A new daily feature
viii be introduced by WKHF in the
form os resume of the late news dis
patches II VIII be known as THE
Town Crier," and will be broadcast
regularly at 5:45 O'Clock. The Fellow
ship Forum Station WTFF viii offer