Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-09
HOUSE BODY OPENS
HEARING ON RADIO
Committee Begins by Exam
ming Chairman of
Commission.
BY MARTIN CODEL.

Dissatisfaction with the recent broad
casting reallocation was manifest as the
House Committee on Marine and Fish
cries began its radio hearings yesterday
by examining the chairman Of the Fed
eral Radio Commission, Judge Ira E.
Robinson.
The only member Of the commission
who voted against the plan of realloca-
ton, Judge Robinson, testified that he
believes radio conditions were better be-
fore the reallocation than they are now.
He did concede, however, in a formal
statement prefacing the Interrogation
that the reallocation has brought about
equality in general and has reduced
some interference.
The sharp differences of opinion that
have prevailed between the chairman
and his fellow commissioners will I'M
doubtedly be aired rs the hearings
progress, for the four other members Of
the commission are wholeheartedly
admitted defects can be remedied.
Judge Robinson recognized this diver
gence in views when he asserted that
his own views were stated with due
Difference to those Of his colleagues,
who will follow him on the witness
stand.
Opposition TO the reallocation, as
brought out In Judge RobinSon's re-
marks and indicated in the questions
asked by the Representatives, is based
primarily upon dissatisfaction with the
basic plan of reserving 40 cleared chan
nelS for the exclusive use of high-pow-
cred stations and upon localized dis
content with channel and time assign
mentS.
Unusual Attendance.
1ak adInd RI hafU1nf-
ened regard for radios place in the
Nations life since the last political
campaign, probably accounts for the
unusual turnout at the hearing of prac-
tically the entire membership of the
House committee, headed by Repre-
sentative Wallace White. jr., co-author
of the radio act and author of the bill
to extend life Of the Federal Radio Com
mission one more year.
The school Of thought led by Judge
Robinson. regards practical radio as
matter of regional distribution with
moderate power, the regional stations
obtaining their national programs from
the chain services. High power Is re-
garded as source of interference, max
ing it impossible for other stations to
use the same channel simultaneously.
Distant station hunters are regarded as
only small and minor element in the
radio audience.
Among the Representatives it was
apparent that situations like those in
Chicago, where VIGIL of the Chicago
Federation of Labor was not granted a
clear channel, and in Cincinnati, where
WSAI Of the Crosley company was de-
MED full-time operation, have led to
the opposition to the commission. Rep
reSentative Davis Of Tennessee, author
Of the equalization amendment, indi-
Gated by his questions that he still
stanchly supports the principle of
equality of radio facilities as among
zones and States.
Supports Principle.
Judge Robinson supported equaliZa-
ton in principle, but explained that he
interpreted it TO mean a gradual and
evolutionary change, rather than an
immediate and drastic reallocation on a
basis OF mathematical equality. He
recommended the continuance Of the
commission in order that there be no
duplication of its work with that of the
Secretary of Commerce, to whom the
regulative authority is due TO revert
under the present law.
Members of the committee evinced
an interest in the scientific aspects OF
the radio problem such as they have
never shown at the previous hearings
on radio legislation. the commissioners
and the commissions technical staff
will be examined in this waning Con-
gress and in the next by lawmakers
much better versed in the multifarious
variables Of radio than they ever were
before.
Besides the Government officials, those
who will testify before the House COM
mittee are William s. Hedges of Chi
cago and H. A. Bellows of Minneapolis
both representing the National Associa-
ton of Broadcasters; Joseph Goustin
New Jersey BroadcaSters' Association
Hoke Thompson, Chicago Federation OF
Labor; Oswald Schuette, Radio Protec-
tive Association. and Col. Nathan Davis
Radio Corporation CT America.
Copyright 1929. By North American
Newspaper Alliance.)
During three weeks of November the
State motor ySl.lcle bureau of New
York revakedA or suspended 5l4 auto