Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-07
EXTENSION LIKELY
I FOR RADIO BOARD
Hoover Is Reported to Have
Given 0. K. to White
Bill.

President-elect Hoover favors extern
sion of the administrative .:fe of the
Federal Radio Commission after March
Is. This is learned from unquestioned
administration sources.
Word to this effect has been trans
mitted to Congress, it is understood,
and already has been reflected in the
unanimous vote of the House merchant
marine committee, to favorably report
to the House the White bill that would
carry this into effect. Despite known
opposition to the measure by at least
two members of the House committee,
the measure was reported without a
dissenting voice.
In the Senate the interstate COM
nlerce committee is rushing through the
motions of holding hearings preparatory
to reporting cut an Identical measure
introduced by Senator Watson of In
diana. That the bill will be reported
favorably is admitted, regardless of what
opposition develops within the COM
mittee.
There is deep-seated opposition to
the commission within the Senate it
self, and perhaps within the House.
Because the bill to extend the commits
sion's life is only temporary expedient
and because it carries the present ad-
ministrations support as well as that
of the incoming administration, this op-
position probably will waver. But the
element of time must be taken into con-
Sideration and with little more than two
weeks remaining before the commission
would relinQuiSh its administrative
functions in favor of the Commerce De-
partn1ent. there must be quick action
in both Houses.
! President-elect Hoover champions a
commission form of regulation. 1t was
upon his insistence that the radio COM
mission was created. Whether he is
In accord with the activities of the COM
mission as at present constituted is
not divulged, but 1t is said with empha-
sis that he desires to see the comm Ssion
carry on for another year, as the pend
ing legislation proposes, rather than
have the tremendous administrative
problem thrown pell nell upon the
Smallish radio division of the Com
merce Department, which hardly is pre-
pared to cope with it.
There is a move in the Senate COM
4nittee TO ban public utilities as owners
or operators of broadcasting stations.
Senator Black of Alabama has drawn
up proposed amendment to the Wat
son OIL, II1dt WOulQ cancer the licenses
of existing stations owned or operated
by public utilities and prevent licensing
of proposed stations in any way owned.
controlled or associated with public
utilities. The amendment has as its
purpose direct blow at dissemination
of public utilities propaganda via the
radio. No cases of this character ever
have been brought to the attention of
the commission, although there are
some II broadcasting stations operated
by public utilities and perhaps as many
more indirectly affiliated.
The latest case of public utility ap-
plication remains undecided before the
commission. 1t is of the Richmond De-
velopment Corporation, public utilities
company, which proposes station at
Roanoke, Va. The corporation seeks
extension of its construction permit for
the station, claiming it has expended
$4,000 for its plant, but because of I'M
foreSeen difficulties was prevented from
completing the station within the time
limit. The commission denied the ap-
plication, but later agreed to recon-
slider it, At a meeting last week, it is
learned, it was deadlocked on the prop
os;tion, with two for and two against,
former Commissioner Pickard not vot-
ing.
copyright. 1922 by the Consolidated Press.)