Evening star., 1931-12-20
DILL BACKS CAPITOL
DEBATE BROADCAST
Senator Confident Resolution
Putting Congress on
Air Will Pass.
BY MARTIN CODEL.


= HALL the debates of Congress be
broadcast to the country over
the radio?
~ Senator Dill, progressive Demo-
crat, of Washington and co-au-
thor of the radio act, again proposes
that they shall-at least, that selected
portions of the proceedings Of the Sem
ate1hould go on the air via the existing
radio networks. Two weeks ago he had
tests conducted in the Senate chamber
to prove the practicability of the idea;
last week he introduced a resolution fer
the installation Of the necessary equip
ment in the upper chamber.
Senator Dill is confident his reSolu
tion will be adopted-if not in this ses
sion, then within the next year or two
because the last few years have deeply
impressed upon men in political life
radios potency as medium for Gre
ating better understanding between the
people and their Government. Though
both the Senate and House leaders re-
fused to give the radio networks per-
mission to broadcast their recent open
ing sessions, Senator Dill feels the Sem
ate should raise no objection to having
some OF its proceedingS-thoSe parts
agreed upon by unanimous consent
carried to the country via the radio
stations Seek Service.
That both the National Broadcasting
Co. and Columbia Broadcasting System
are eager to put on the Senate and
House is well known. Whether the
Senators themselves will agree to Wir-
ing their chambers for radio is prob
lemattcal. One Senator might easily
block the scheme. Several previous
resolutions in recent years for broad
casting the proceedings of Congress
came to naught. In England and in
Germany the Parliament and Reichstag
have both voted down similar proposals.
The tests proved that the thing can be
done from the practical standpoint by
Installing the recently developed para
bolie microphones in the chamber. The
microphones are highly sensitive and
can be placed out of sight. They can
pick up and amplify almost a mere
whisper.
Senator Dill and Senators White of
Maine, Howell Of Nebraska, Brookhart
OF iowa and George of Georgia took part
IN the voice tests. Speaking from diff
ferent parts of the chamber, their voices
were picked up in varying modulationS
and carried to loudspeakers in an ante
room. They were heard with remark
able volume and clarity.
The tests furnish the proof of the
pudding. in Senator Dill's opinion. His
colleagues were inclined to agree with
him as to the practicability of the idea,
especially Senator Howell, who has in
troduced a resolution asking for the ap-
rolntment of committee of three Sen
atorS to inquire into ways and means
of broadcasting the Senate. The politics
Of the thing-Well, that's another mat
ter. Senatorial debates are not always
noted for their auSterity and dignity,
Senators o1u,ayc
in their speeches on the Senate floor as
in their usually prepared speeches before
the microphone in the radio studio.
Sarnoff at Tests.
Present also at the tests were David
sarnotf, president of the Radio Corpo-
ration of America; M. H. Aylesworth,
president, and Frank M. Russell, Wash
ington vice president of N. B. c., and
Harry Shaw, president of the National
Association of BroadcaSterS. Needless
to say, they were all enthusiastic about
the results-albeit the network officials
may have cause to look with trepidation
upon too many and too frequent
breaks" into the schedule program rou-
tine by political palaveTers.
In April, 1929, just after the highly
successful national broadcasts of the
Hoover inauguration, Senator Dill,
0eSply lulpIeSSSQ 10y TaQlOS perform
ance, introduced a. resolution providing
for Installing microphone at the desk
OF each of the 96 Senators and also in
committee rooms. The scheme failed to
secure any support At that time the
thought was that special sessions or
committee meetings might be held in
the evenings to attract a large audi
encE The proposal brought up the pos
sibilty that Senate sessions might evolve
into. regular night meetings, like those
of The British Parliament.
Ssme time before that Senator How
ell of Nebraska had resolution passed
asking for an inquiry into the feasibil-
it, ef erecting stations to carry the pro-
ceeGngs of Congress. A report by Army
and~Navy experts showed that about 25
higH-power stations would be needed to
cover the country and that the wave
lengths could not be secured in the pres
ent .broadcasting band without paralyZ-
ing ~existing broadcasting. The report
alsd.showed that the initial cost of such
a system would be $3,300,000 and the
annual maintenance was estimated at
neatly S1,200,000. Proposals since then
have all contemplated using existing IA
ciliHes.