Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-30
FINDS
RADIO ENTHUSIASM
Returning Members Report
Public Likes Programs
Now Being Given.
BY MARTIN coDEL.

With all its faults, radio broadcast
ing on the whole appears to be enjoy
ing greater popularity and public &C
ceptance than ever before In the decade
of its existence.
This, in general, represents the COM
posite viewpoint of various leaders in
the field of radio regulation, return
ing to Washington last week from vaca-
ton and inspection trips. Notably en-
thusiastic were several members of the
Federal Radio Commission, practically
the entire personnel of which is back
on the job prepared for the formal re-
converting of the commission Sep
TENDER /
Chairman Charles Mex. Saltzman,
who spent the last month mentioning
in upstate New York. and Commits
sioner H. A. Lafount just back from
Western inspection tour of five weeks,
brought back the most glowing &C
counts about broadcasting Commits
sioner w. D. L. Starbuck returned from
an aerial trip to the West Coast, dur
ing which he inspected airways radio
operations, a field in which he has
specialized.
Judges Robinson and Sykes also are
at their desks, the former having spent
periodical vacation intervals at his
home in West Virginia and the latter
having remained in Washington
throughout the Summer.
Sa1tzman Queries Public.
Another returned radio authority
was Senator O. e. Dill of Washington,
co-author of the radio act of 1927,
who came here as a member of the
Senatorial Campaign Fund Inyesti-
eating Committee. Senator Dill also
took occasion to comment on certain
aspects of RADIO
During his vacation Gen. Saltzman
says he took occasion to ask butcher,
baker and candlestick maker" their
opinions of the existing radio system
and its methods. Except for criti-
cisms OF particular programs. often
representing merely "pet peeves" the
man in the street is immensely pleased
with the service he is getting from
radio according to Gen Saltzman. In
face, he added fans appear to be CRATE
ful for the intensely competitive efforts
OF the rival broadcasters to please
them-and at no cost to themselves.
Commercialism on the radio came in
fer little or no criticism, declared Gen
Saltzman. Interference Is disappearing.
thanks to mechanical improvements in
broadcast transmitters and the i'm
proved quality Of the receiving sets now
being produced Gen Salt2nan cor
cluded that the commissions task now
is TO guiae the ever-changing technical
phases of brcadcasting and to regulate
radio so that adequate service Is
available to all.
West Asks About TeIevisiOn.
Mr.. Lafount's most striking obser-
walton was the fact that broadcasters-
and he interviewed some $50 of them in
the West-all are eager for information
about television. He was asked more
questions about television, he says, than
about any other subject. All he could
tell his interrogators was his own opin-
len, that acceptable televisiosl will in
evitably crop out Of the laboratory soon.
probably within the next three years"
The commissioner from the Far West
zone also noted marked technical i'm
provements in broadcast operations, and
was extremely complimentary in his
remarks about program quality. II is
constantly improving, he said, adding
that he had heard relatively few COM
plants about advertising. The Amer
lean people, declared Mr.. Lafount, are
accepting the sponsored support of
broadcasting as Q much more desirable
means than taxation or license fees.
Radio Patent Pool L0Ons.
Senator Dill said he has heard oc-
casienal complaints about advertising