Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-17
MAKERS Of RADIO
PLAN EXPORT DRIVE
Press Association and
Papers Reach Agreement
on Wave Lengths.
BY MARTIN CODEL.

the department. Oh NoHIleICc hii'
nounced figures showing that a RECORD
was achieved in radio exports last year
The total amount of American radio
equipment shipped to foreign countrie!
during 1928 was valued at Sl2,o6l ,4lo
This amount is mere bagatelle ir
the total wholesale business Of more
than $3.50, 600, 900, and the retail busi'
ness of perhaps exceeding twice thai
amount done in the United States dur
ing the year. But Ii bulkS large by com
parison with the figures for 1927, which
we're $2.878,987 less. Moreover, 1t re-
veals that Americans are gaining 9
strong foothold in a field of foreign
trade that is keenly competitive with
British and German exporters.
The Importance Of foreign trade. II
radio apparatus has generally been lost
sight of in the eagerness of manufac-
t,lrers and iobbers to take advantage oi
the ripe domestic market Recognizing
the desirability of distributing Ameri-
can radio products more widely
throughout the world, the Radio Manu-
facturerS' Association Is attempting 10
aid its members in developing their for
eign sales, particularly in Latin Amer
lea.
Guide Is Compiled.
The r. NJ A. has compiled the first
radio export guide in existence outside
the records of the Department OF Com
lnerce where exporters are constantly
seeking the aid and advice of foreign
trade experts. Within a few days the
department itself will issue compre-
hensive bulletin on the radio markets OF
the world filed with facts regarding
broadcasting, the code. reception, mar
ket and other conditions pertaining to
radio abroad compiled from reports SUBJ
mitted by Government trade agents
throughout the civilized world.
Last years exports were predominate-
~ receiving sets parts. accessories ana
tubes. Canada was the largest GUS
toner. taking about 40 per cent OF the
aggregate. Argentina and Australia
were next In importance, purchasing
respectively. South American coun-
tries show a growing appreciation OF
the American product and furnish such
q promising field that the r. M. A. ex-
port guide pays particular attention to
them.
Tariff and other restrictions keep the
American product out Of some coun-
tries, notably Great Britain and Ger
many. American. British and German
radio exporters have, since the begin
ming of radio broadcasting, been run
ming a neck-and-neck race IN the radio
markets of the world. The 1927 figures
showed them each doing about $lO,-
600 600 international business.
Comparisons for last year cannot be
made until the British and German fig
ures are available.
Press Row Settled.
Rival American newspapers and press
associations seeking ALLEGATION to the
radio short waves reserved for news
carving purposes composed their own
differences voluntarily yesterday. They
met an obstacle to their plan, hswever.
in the apparent unwillingneSs Of Judge
Ira Robinson, chairman of the Federal
Radio Commission, to surrender the
public utility principle imposed as a
condition precedent to the grants OF the
90 domestic and 20 transocearic chan
nels to the American press.
After arguing nearly two full days
on the respective merits of their cases
the press groups finally Joined together
in an ALLEGATION agreement specifying
the number of channels to be assigned
to each of the members Of the Ameri-
can publishers committee. They asked,
however. that the commission waive the
public service rule, under which 1t was
demanded that each assignee organize
a subsidiary wireless corporation for
handling other press traffic on an equal
basis with its own.
It was proposed to assign two trans
oceanic and five transcontinental wave
lengths each to the Associated Press.
the United Press-S@ipps Howard group
and the International News-Hearst
group Other assignments were pro-
posed as follows: Chicago Tribune. New
York Times and New York Herald Tri-
bune, one and one-half transoceanic and
one domestic channel each: New York
World and Christian Science Monitor
one transoceanic and one domestic each;
Consolidated Press. one transoceanic
and two domestic: Chicago Daily News,
Los Angeles Times and San Francisco
Chronicle, one-half transoceanic and
one domestic each; American News
Traffic Corporation. five transoceanic
channels for mutual services to all In
corporators.
Extended discussion began after John
r Neylan. counsel for the Hearst In
terests, presented the proposals of the
unanimously concurring group of press
associations and newspapers as theii
spokesman, and the hearing was con-
tinued TO this morning At the
meeting on Thursday, Mr. Neylan ap-
peared in opposition TO the other mem.
bers of the American publishers com
mittee, proposing that the press chan
neis be granted only to the press asso-
Citations serving multiplicity Of news
papers.
Judge Robinson's questioning plainly
revealed him out of accord with the
proposition that the commission waive
the public utility requirement. He in
sisted that other individual newspapers
might want to use short waves and
would be excluded because the supply
had been exhausted by the applicants
at the hearing. Judge Sykes followed
a similar line Of questioning, while the
third commissioner, H. A. Lafount, die
not participate actively in the discus
sion.
The commission will probably take
the applications and proposed change
of policy under advisement. Whether
It will undertake to render a decision
before the two additional members ar,
appointed to fill the posts vacated BY
Commissioners Caldwell and Pickard L
uncertain.
President Hoover indicated yesterda,
that he has not reached the matter o
reappointing Arthur M. Batcheller ans
Prof. c. NJ. Jansky, jr., whose con
frmations were passed over by the Sen
ate, or of appointing two other men
but he said decision would be reached
shortly.
(copyright. 1929 by the North American
Newspaper AlnanceD
a-------
Mitchell to Sing Over K0A.
TON, Mitchell after concluding