Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-10
HOUSE BODY SEEKS
RADIO EDUCATION
Committee DeIves Deeper
Into IntricaCieS Surround
ing Broadcasting Problem.
BY MARTIN CODEL.

the radio situation, the House commit
tee conducting hearings on radio legls-
1ation found itself absorbed yesterday IN
discussing ways and means whereby
the Government may guide the ire
mendous developments occurring in a
newborn art and science already init
mately associated with the social, pollt-
deal, and economic fabric.
These are some OF the questions upon
which members of Congress sought en-
1ightenment as they concluded their
interrogation of Chairman Ira E. Rob-
inson of the Federal Radio Commission:
Shall a permanent Federal regulatory
agency be established over the country'S
wire and wireless services?
Shall the radio be regarded as a
public utility?
Shall vested rights of commercial in
terestS now occupying the ether lanes
be reorganized?
Shall license fees be imposed by the
Government upon stations and lis
teners?
Shall high-power broadcaSting con-
ttnue unrestricted?
Shall the duplication of chain pro-
grams be curbed?
Many Others Important.
To these questions might be added
VI ObliSLS CQUd11y ~LtPO1 beSlle
all of them presenting perplexing prob
lens, most of them unanswered as yet
by statute or legal judgment. and prac-
tically none of them having any prac-
tical chance of legislative solution be-
fore new President assumes Office and
another Congress convenes.
Where it was expected that the pres
ent hearings would resolve themselves
into fishing parties" with members of
the Federal Radio Commission as the
fish and disgruntled Representatives as
the fishermen, it became apparent to-
day that the legislators were pri-
marily seeking to learn facts. They
expect no other action by Congress this
session than a one-year continuance of
the commission. but they are trying to
acquaint themselves thoroughly with
the radio problem by examining men,
bers of the commission and experts from
the industry.
Chairman Robinson unreServedly IA
Vored a permanent commission whose
province should ultimately be extended
to cover all forms of communication,
whether wired or radio. He would give
such body control over rates. declar-
ing the radio, along with the telephone
and telegraph, to be utility whose use
shall always be in the interests of
the people. He quoted President-elect
Hoover as saying two years ago that
radio was public utility.
THE difference between radio and
the newspapers" said Judge Robinson.
sis that the press is privately owned
and has no quaSi-public or public util-
tty character in the law. Radio, how
ever, is decidedly in the public utility
category. for the broadcaSter operates
by virtue Of a valuable franchise OBJ
tanned from the Government" he con-
tinued.
Decries Vested Rights.
Judge Robinson had no patience
with any vested rights theories. declar-
ing that these were signed away when
each station obtained its license, but
pointing out that priority and property
rights must yet be defined in the courts
The vested rights theory led to the
discussion of license fees, primarily to
be collected from the broadcasting stay
tons to cover the expense of $500, 900
or more incurred annually by the Gov
eminent in administering radio. Chair
man White of the House committee
pointed out that such a provision was
contained in the 1923 radio bill, but
was subsequently stricken out.
License fees were recommended In
order that broadcasters might better
recognize their trusteeship, but there
was general condemnation of the sug-
gestion that license fees be imposed
upon owners of radio receiving sets, as
Is done in practically all other countries
in the world. The. Canadian govern
ment imposes 81 year upon each set,
the United Kingdom $2.45, Germany
$50 and Belgium $11.40
The lowest charge, aside from the few
countries imposing none at all, is that
OF France and certain French colonies
which is about cents per annum. The
highest fees are in Salvador. $18; Lith-
uania, $l3, and Turkey, 1920.
Oppose Fee System.
Among the Representatives it was
apparent that the fee system for this
country was unacceptable, although
considerable criticism was voiced against
the direct and indirect advertising ma
ture of programs, and Judge Robinson
testified concerning many violations
of good taste and morals"
High-power broadcasting and the re.
lated problem of chain program dupli-
cation at many points on the listeners
dialS came in for the severeSt Stric-
lures, both from Judge RobinsoA and
from certain members of the committee
Judge Even Davis, ranking Democratic
member of the committee, was In COM
plete accord with the witness in his
opposition to super-power and its al
legged blanketing and duplicating effects
Chain programs were said to cover
the country like the dew" The clearing
Of 40 channels under the reallocation
most Of them assigned to high powered
stations taking chain programs, was
severely criticized. Judge Robinson de.
clared that he did not speak in deroga-
ton OF chain programs because every
one recognized their merit They should
be regulated. however, and the power
of the stations broadcasting them be
held down. he asserted.