Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-07
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
I. C.. M.
RADIO LAW. w. jefferson Davis. Los

DO long as Tie upper SpdCCo OoAAUAA4uSA
to be of geographical interest to birds
alone-possibly to disembodied spirits as
WE'LL certainly to occasional storms and
semi-occasional strange behaviors OF the
heavens besides Just so long there
seemed to be no call for attempted IN
reference with this intangible domain
on the part of man. When, however,
genius provided the human himself with
wings and with a direct voice-reach
quite around the globe, then, suddenly,
the ethereal world became one OF rights
and routes, of claims and counter
claims. Then there came to be bedlam
in the skies, as there Is wherever this
contentious, crowding, eager, unconquer-
able animal puts in foot, or wing, or
word.
It is but a few years since the as
founding achievement Of science invent
ed the radio and posted thereby new
domain for the legislators to tackle A
matter of deep moment it was, too. Mo-
mentous not only to great business en-
terpriSeS, but to every householder also.
Some of these settled in far places,
eager to gather the outer world into
their lonely existences. So, the law
makers went to work. First, naturally,
they looked over the stock in hand
laws from Adam on-made-over laws,
patched and darned and dyed laws,
turned upside down and inside out to
meet one exigency after another. Laws
bearing upon the slow-growing processes
of a big world becoming smaller, closer
knit. Some Of this old law-stock would
serve. Much Of it would not. And, so,
q new law for the control and direction
of the radio had to be fashioned.
For the immediate use of the student,
the practical organizer, the radio-mind-
ed business man and the private citizen,
Mr.. Jefferson Davis has gathered up in
compact body and clear statement the
story of radio legislation from its be-
ginning on to the present.
Already a dozen books stand to the
credit of Mr.. Davis. All of these have
to do with one or another of the legal
aspects Of aerial communication. either
by way of plane or radio. "Air Law,
the New Field" "Air Laws and Air
Lanes" Putting Laws Over Wings"
How High Is Up?" 1.-The Federal Ra-
dio Act"-these as mere titles indicate
not only the writer's preoccupation with
this single theme-this many-sided sin
gle theme-but they point as well upon
the easy and communicable spirit of his
approach to it, a spirit that becomes en-
bodied in an interesting and vital story
Of the air in its legalized powers OF uni
flying a huge and diverse world to a
community of reciprocal understand
ingS and accommodations.
The full purpose of this study Is to
give explicit definition to the present
legal status of the radio. Its further
nature of the enactments under which
the radio Is being administered. Here
the author demonstrates to what ex-
tent the laws of intercourse by sea
and land can be made applicable, are
being made applicable, to this new
medium of communication. One point
also is to forecast, broadly, the ulti-
mate diffusion and multiplied useful
ness of the radio when, its powers fully
realized, its increasing applications fully
in hand, its mechanics perfected, its
regulations matured, it WIZ then stand
as an adequate and equitable means OF
general service, amazing in possibility
and usefulness.
The study makes comparisons be-
tween this country and those of Europe
in the progress Of the radio as a means
of practical intercourse. The book EN-
bodies the text of the United States
radio law. Of 1927 with the amend
mentS of the two succeeding years. 1t
discusses, also, State and municipal
regulations; the copyright and radio;
the Washington conference OF 1927,
with its sequence Of the new radio
code and other public events, confer
ences and enactments bearing upon
the theme. There are given, besides,
the methods of procedure Of the Fed
eral Radio Commission. The study,
you see, comprehends and sets down
the subject as a whole in its salient
and significant features Of expansion
and growth.
Mr.. jefferson Davis is university
man. He is, moreover, professional eX-
ort S1fhioNt
of the air as new medium Of inter-
course among all parts Of the world;
on the subject, too, Of the legislative
regulations that have, so far, organ
lied this intercourse and regulated it
in the interests of common equity and
fair business opportunity. A law
book? Clearly that, by design and full
fillment. But never for a minute a
dry document of law book. Prob
ably no where else can be found in
so compact body, in so clear state
velopment up to its present status
and outlook.
THE LAW LIBRARY IN THE CAPT.
Toll, WASHINGTON, D. G. Ro-
land Williamson. Washington: John
Byrne & Co.
Here is a guide book Of unique stripe.
It's appeal is not to the tourist cara
vans that move so steadily in and out
of the Capitol. 1t is addressed, in
stead, to the resident, or at most to the
sojourner Of longer or shorter stay.
Besides, even among these, its bid is to
student class, or to a professional
calling.
Here is a guide book for the law
student; better yet, for the practising
attorney. The field Is that Of the law
library at the Capitol, generally known
as the Supreme Court Library. A neg
lected place, one gathers from read
ing here, a bit musty, this treasure
house of books, and rather hidden ex-
cept to the very special sort OF being
who has keen scent for books, for old
books.
Trying to stand in the shoes of the
law student or the lawyer for the pur-
pose of making some fair sort Of ap-
praisal of the book in hand, I am
impressed, decidedly, with the thorough
ness and completeness of the work OF
pointing out the resources OF this
library. More than that, any one would
be delighted with the orderltness OF this
law-book exposition. Now it seems to
me, If were lawyer either In fact or
in the process of becoming, these two
qualities Of a book of this intent--to
guide the profession to an amazing
mine of knowledge and information
would be the exclusive two for which
should be in need. Complete and
orderly. If the subject were other than
1t Is, unqualified praise would have TO
go to so thorough piece OF work, pre-
sented in an almost pictorial manner
like a good map of some country
through which one was to make his
way. Federal laws with Federal reports
and digestS are here. set out in some