Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-04
BILL TO PR0LONG
CONTROL REPORTED
Early Action Expected on
Measure Extending Life of
Radio Commission.

The Senate committee on interstate
commerce has stolen a march on the
| House committee on marine and fish,
cries by reporting out the first bill TO
extend the life of the Federal Radio
Commission until March Is, 1929. The
| favorable report is expected TO lead to
action within the month in both houses
of Congress on this feature OF proposed
radio legislation.
Senator Dill of Washington. father OF
| the radio law has the bill in charge.
| 1t adds to the Watson bill. which pro-
| vides simply for the one-year extension,
| an amendment limiting the authority of
| the commission to issue licenses of more
| than six months duration. Senator Dill
| says that he later will ask for adoption
| of other features of his own bill in
Guiding restrictions on patent license
agreements.
I II is apparent that agreement be-
tween House and Senate on the one
year feature is certain In the pro-
| tracted House hearings, temporarily
held in allowance while the Senate
COMMITTEES takes up the confirmation Of
Commissioners Caldwell. Pickard and
T,afount. very little opposition to extend
ing the commission has cropped out On
the House side. however. limitation of
30 days on broadcaSting licenses is being
urged TO preclude the danger of "freez-
ing" the broadcast situation
Senator Dill is Of the opinion that
this item will be amicably adjusted. He
Is not averse to a 90-day provision in
lieu OF six months The commission it.
self finds either OF these proposals quite
acceptable, for it has been issuing
tcenses for only 60 days heretofore
Slight opposition against the con-
'lrmatior OF the commissioners has been
presented In the resumed Senate hear
ings which temporarily have taken the
center Of the stage away from the House
committee. Senator Watson. chairman.
thinks that action on the combinations
can be obtained by Saturday. when the
Senate hearings are scheduled to wind
up with the testimony of NJ. H. Ayles-
worth president Of the National Broad
casting Co.
Since network broadcasting has been
the subject of so much criticism at the
hearings. Senator Watson announced
that he has called the head of the
largest chain system in order to obtain
MS viewpoint. Commissioner Caldwell
has made the statement before both
House and Senate committees that he
favored displacement Of chain stations
nels because Of the fact that mostly
chain programs can be tuned in by the
listeners at certain most favorable re-
ception hours.
Unconnected stations however, must
demonstrate that their programs are u
equal merit If they hope to obtain the
plum" channels. Mr.. Caldwell proposes
TO "stagger" one or two chain stations
in each zone 50 that the country will BE-
adequately provided with long distance
chain program reception and at the
same time be able to tune in on other
programs This will not eliminate chain
hroadcasting, but will confine individual
members Of chains more closely 10 their
local service ranges.
Ceremonies incident to the dedication
tonight of the new National Press Club
quarters will be distributed throughout
| a greater portion of the country by the
red and blue networks of the National
Broadcasting Co. WRC will act as the
KEY station for this event.
The chief feature will be an address
by President Coolidge Frank B. Moves.
president OF the Associated Press. also
will speak. Mr.. Coolidge will be intro
duced by J. Fred Essary. president of
the club The musical portion of the
dedication program will be provided by
the United States Marine Band Orches-
ira. under the direction Of Capt. Taylor
Branson.
Franz Lehars light opera, The Merry
Widow" will be presented as the Philco
Hour. Jessica Dragonette, soprano will
sing the leading role.
vocal program arranged by Walter
Damrosch will be heard during the
r. G A. hour in place OF the usual con-
cert OF the New York Philharmonic Or
chestra. which is on tour The singers
WIZ be Giua Ernstinn. soprano; Viola
Silva. ccntralto: Lomelino Silvan. tenor;
Hans Kramer and Frederic Baer, BARI
tones.
The Washington College OF Music
program. another WRC feature. will
introduce Virginia Cureton. violinist
Sara Becker. pianist. and Seba Christie.
Tenor. The stations dinner dance pro-
gram Will be given by Archie Slater and
his orchestra.
WMAL's outstanding attraction tn
night Will be condensed version of
Gilbert and Sullivans famous operetta.
The Mikado." sung by the EstelIe
wentworth Opera Co. The cast in
Guides Elliott Button. Woodruff Youngs
Jesse Veitch. Ira Meyer. Melville Veitch.
GLADYS George. Mildred Sherman. Vesta
rolock. Helen Tucker and a chorus OF
80 voices
=, n dance program by David McWil-
iiams and his orchestra. a concert by
me Honoiulans and a talk prepared by
science Service are among WMAL's
other features
WRHF, the American Brcadcast.ng
Co.'S station. will be on the air for an
nour only this evening. Its program
VIII De composed entirely OF request
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