Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05
STATUS Of RADIO
GROUP MUDDLED
Existence of Commission
Hangs on Slender Thread
of Legislative Action.

With startling suddenness the admin
tstrative status of radio has become as
nuddled and complicated as the pom
derouS radio art itself.
The very existence of the Radio Com
mission is at stake. But a month. re-
mains before it expires as the high
council over radio. To avert this the
White bill must run successfully the
gauntlet Of legislative action, the House
and Senate radio committees, the legis-
lative bodies, and, finally, President
Coolidge
In rapid-fire succession two of the
five commissioners have resigned and
the detection of third is imminent.
The commissions chairman, Ira E.
Robinson. may follow the way of Com
nissioncrS Piclzard and Caldwell. Judge
Robinson, native Of West Virginia, is
being urged by his home State con-
gressional delegation for judgeship on
the Federal Court of Customs Appeals.
If appointed. it is believed. he would
not hesitate to relinguish his radio port
folio. The matter has been b.oacffd to
President Coolidge by the delegation,
headed by Senator Goff, but Judge
Robinson is non-committal.
A rumor persists that a fourth COM
missioner, Judge E. o. Sykes, shortly
will resign. This, however. emains I'M
q. he ldSL IIItIllD 4, NOIIlillA-
sioner Lafount, is willing to remain if
chant Marine Committee so, although
1t is known he is in Washington at a
personal sacrifice.
Caldwell to Quit.
Next in Importance on the commits
sion is its general counsel. Louis G.
Caldwell, and he, like Commissioner
f~al rocso~aoI cffoo+ixra TFany11-
AIRY % On this date the terms of all
the commissioners expire. The COM
missions chief engineer. DR.. j. II. Del
linger, is working part time, having re-
turned TO his duties as head secretary
of the radio laboratory CT the Bureau
of Standards. He does not have to re-
sign, for he YVES only loaned to the
commission, but it is just q question of
time before he leaves that body alto
gether.
It is unlikely that President Coolidge
will make any appointments to fill va
cancies already created until he con-
siderS the entire commission personnel.
including rcappontncntS, if any. This
Is because of the short time remaining
until February %. when he must con-
slider the whole. problem, even if the
White bill fails and the commission be-
comes a radio appeals body on a per
diem basis. Also it is probable that he
will take into confederation the views
of President-elect Hoover, who succeeds
TO the presidency only 10 days after the
terms Of the commissioners expire.
On Capitol Hill the administrative
life of the commission hangs in the
balance The hearings on the White
bill in the House committee, which be-
gan nearly month ago, have gone far
af1eld of the point at issue-whether
the commission or the Commerce De-
partment shall govern radio after March
Is But they will close promptly and
with a flourish, for DR.. John Nathan
sohn, general representative of the Uni
versal Wireless Communications Co., is
to be the last witness.
Free Starts Probe.
Representative Free of California. who
practically single-handed has instituted
q searching inquiry into the award of
30 continental channels to this COM
pany for q nationwide radio-tclegraph
network, will cross-examine Dr. Nath-
ansohn respecting allegations of dis
tributton Of flowers, candy and other
gifts about the commission prior to the
award
The Senate Interstate Commerce
Committee, says Chairman Watson of
Indiana, will report favorably the White
bill in double-Quick time. A limit of
two days has been set on the hearings,
and only Chairman Robinson of the
commissions personnel has been called
to testify. It is possible an official of
the Radio CORPORATION Of America will
be heard, but that's all" declares Sem
at0r Watson, who adds that the COM
nittee does not favor the commissions
extension, but under the circumstances
flnncy4'f l-11n.=f urb3 "a oil n RI a
the radio administrative situation at
this time. He holds O. reallocation
grievance against the commission, be-
cause. he contends, Indiana was not
given its just share of wave lengths I'M
der the realignment.
(Copyright. 1929, by the Consolidated Press)