Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-11-19
HHERE is a curious irony in
the fact that Oswald F.

Schuette, who won a ma
tional reputation as a
''trust buster" in his fight against
the radio patent combine, is
withdrawing from the radio side
of another antitrust fight at the
very period when the Radio Cor
poration of America Is beginning
for the first time to fasten its
identity openly upon its wholly
owned broadcasting subsidiary,
the National Broadcasting Co,
MIR. Schuette has declined re-
appointment on a retainer basis
as director of the organized
broadcaster's fight against the
American Society of Composers,
Authors and Publishers, accused
by the broadcasters of being an
illegal pool of copyrighted music
which is. allegedly foisting extor-
tionate demands upon radio for
extending its "kind permission"
to perform its music.
The parallel developments-Mr.
Schuette's withdrawal and the
r. C. AS new policy of open domi-
nance of its big network sub
sidiary-occurred more by chance
than anything else, but they indi-
cate the way the radio trade
winds are blowing. Few believe
that Mr.. Schuette will remain out
of the radio picture long, though
he made his peace more than a
year ago with the alleged radio
patent monopoly when General
Electric and Westinghouse divest-
ed themselves of controlling stock
in r. G. A. under a Department OF
Justice consent decree.
Mr.. Schuette's tentative future
plans contemplate "co-ordinat-
Ing" the various elements also
fighting the copyright pool-the
"other victims of Ascap," as he
calls them in their kindred
grievance with radio against the
alleged music trust" This means
he intends to work with the hotel
owners, restaurateurs and 9TH
ers from whom the copyright pool
is beginning to exact individual
tribute for the privilege of having
loud speakers in their Hobbies
rooms, dining places, barber
shops, etc. Under a recent SUI
preme Court decision the copy
right owners were held privileged
to collect royalties on any per
formances for profit" and radios
blaring forth in public places were
held such performances.
Mr.. Schuette, it is understood
will continue as head OF the
Radio Program Foundation fol
the time being. This is the broad
casters own music organization
which they hope to build up to q
point where they can Withstand
the demands of Ascap. Mr.
Schuette will also continue hi
other work with independent
manufacturers in their drive
against the alleged aluminium
trust"
Coincidently, where once it wa
bitterly attacked for its contro
over the N. B. c., and General Elec
tries and Westinghouse contro
in turn over itself, the r. C. A. i!
now proudly proclaiming to thu
world it is the parent of the biz
network. Indeed, things are hap
pening within the N. B. c. organ
ization itself, including the in
Stallation of new personnel ant
the removal Of some old, which
emphasizes the dominance which
David Sarnof, president of R. c
A., intends his company shall
exert over N. B. c.
Publicly, the radio audience get
evidence of this in the fact tina
N. B. c. program announcement
are now invariably calling atten
ton to the fact that the pro
grams are originating In the r. G
A. Building in Radio City-obvi
ously intended as publicity for TIN
parent company. N. B. c. occupie,
its magnificent new Radio Cit
studios last week with widel
broadcast ceremonies. Even be
yond that, those on the inside O
radio have observed that tn
N. B. C. letterheads last week TO
the first time bodily emblazone'
the fact that N. B. G. is a sub
sidiary of r. G. A.
The contrast is especial
marked in view of the forme
policy of keeping r. c. A. out of tn
| N. B. C. picture as far as pos
sible because fears were fel
about involving the network i
the big radio company's trouble
with one branch of the Govern
ment while the network nigh