Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-10
SENATORS EWNCE
INTEREST IN RADIO
Fight Over Confirmation of
Commission Members
Emphasizes Problem.

With at least dozen Senators
evincing an active interest in the
radio situation, more congressional
palIiatives for radios ills may he ex'
pected by the public in ensuing
months. The fight last week over the
confirmation of three of the four mem
hers Of the Federal Radio Commission
has served 10 emphasize the enormity
Of the radio problem and the handi'
caps under which the Federal control
body has been functioning since its
inception last March.
It is not to he presumed, of course.
that senatorial interest alone can put
further radio legislation through Con-
gress. for the House Will have its say
in the matter. In fact, Representative
Whites new hill is the one around
which the contest will he waged on
Capitol Hill. in all likelihood. But 1t
IS n fact that the Senate last year
acted as a buffer 10 proposals emanat'
ing from the House and that il was
the Senate's wish in reality which re-
suited in the formation Of the Radio
Commission in the face OF administra-
ton opposition.
Accordingly, il is highly significant
that the Senate committees hearings
last week should have been attended
Quite regularly by so many Senator'S,
all obviously seeking TO inform them
selves better on the radio situation
than on the disputed qualifications OF
the unconflrmed Commissioners Cald-
well. Pickari and Lafount. These are
the Senators who attended the hear
ri, n a
until the latter part of this week:
Watson. Indiana; Dill, Washington:
Couzens, Michigan: Wheeler. Montana:
Howell. Nebraska: Pittman. Nevada;
Wagner. New York: Black. Alabama:
Halves. Missouri: Sackett. Kentucky:
Pine. Oklahoma, and Frazier, North
Dakota
They asked penetrating questions
about radio and about the radio COM
missions policies. and several dis
played particular interest in the short
wave length problem. which is 10 be
the subject of a commission hear
ing January il. Former Commits
sioner Bellows was asked his opinion
as to the continuation OF the commits
sion. and he replied that that body
ought by all means TO he given at
least another year in order to deal
with the short wave as we'll as the
broadcasting problem. The low waves.
he predicted, will be the great future
development of radio on account Of
their potentialities for long distance
Geographic services across land and
sea.
Senator CouZens has introduced a
bill proposing 10 place all wire and
wireless regulation in the hands OF a
single commission constituted along
the Iires Of the Radio Commission.
Senator Watson today proposes and
Representative White already has a
bill proposing prolongation OF the life
OF the commission for another year.
That this viii be done Is quite likely.
Mr. Whites bill goes considerably
fart her than Senator Watson's, which
March 76, 1929. II would enlarge the
authority Of the commission over
chain roadcasting. AS explained by
the Congressman from Maine himself.
II gives the commission power TO fix
the time during which chain broad.
casting may be carried on. TO designate
the stations which may be in a gen
eraI or in a particular hook-up. TO
Omit the number OF stations which
may take Tsart in one OF these chain
broadcast programs" 1t would
also empower the commission to pro-
hibit commercial advertising through
chain Of stations, a proposal 10
which Representative White says he
Is rot committing himself. but on
which he seeks ito provoke discus