Evening star., 1933-04-09
CONGRESS AVOIDS
RADIO MEASURES
Broadcasting Does Not Fall
IN Emergency Category,
Leaders Explain.
BY MARTIN CODEL.

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destined to be a blank in SO far
as radio legislation is concerned.
Leaders of both Senate and House de-
clared that the present special session
of Congress was called by President
Roosevelt to consider emergency legisla-
ton, and radio does not fall in that
category.
Opening Of the new session, however,
saw the reintroduction of half dozen
of the radio measures which died with
the last Congress. These unquestion-
ably will await the attention of the
regular session of Congress which be-
gins next January. The current spe-
cial session, according to Congressional
spokesmen, will last until June.
Among the bills to be reintroduced
was the so-called Davis omnibus radio
bill which had been banded about
Congress for more than two years and
which passed just before the last ses-
sion adjourned For undisclosed rea-
sons, however, President Hoover allowed
the bill to die by the pocket-veto
method, to the chagrin of Senator Dill.
Democrat, of Washington, co-author of
the measure.
Banned Gift Broadcasts.
The measure. among other things,
would have banned the broadcasting of
lottery or gift enterprises over radio
stations by invoking the same restric-
tionS now imposed on newspapers By
the postal regulations. 1t also would
have permitted the indiscriminate licens-
ing of 100-watt stations throughout the
country, irrespective of state quotas,
when no interference would have been
caused. Other provisions would have
frightened up regulations governing polit-
ical speeches over stations, the man
ner in which the Federal Radio Com
mission conducts hearings and court
procedure.
Representative Bland, Democrat, of
Virginia, who became chairman of the
important House Committee on Mer-
chant Marine, Radio and Fisheries, in
which radio legislation originates, re-
introduced the omnibus bill In the
House The original author of the mea-
sure, former Representative Ewin l..
Davis, of Tennessee, was defeated in
the Democratic primaries in his State
last year, and Representative Bland Is
looked upon as his successor as radio
leader of the House.
Regarding radio legislation at the
current session, Senator Dill, who sue
ceeded to the Craftsmanship Of the Sen
ate Interstate Commerce Committee.
stated that his committee, unless COM
manded by the President would not
consider any radio matters a. the cur
rent session. Chairman Bland con-
ferred with Speaker Rainey about the
functions of his committee and was
told that only emergency legislation
affecting economic recovery would be
taken up.
New Commission Proposed.
A bill Of unusual importance Is that
offered by Representative Rayburn,
Democrat, of Texas, proposing creation
of a Federal commission on communi-
cations and power, to absorb the func-
tions of the radio and power commits
sions, and to take over the work OF an
other governmental agencies, except
the military relating to communica-
tions. introduced originally just before
Congress adjourned at the last session,
Mr.. Rayburn said the measure bore
the Endorsement of the then President
elect Roosevelt. The bill Is SO far
reaching that extensive hearings likely
will be held next year before 1t Is con-
sidered by the two branches OF Con-
gress.
Senator Din himself reintroduced
two bills relating to radio. One, Whlcn
he first offered in 1928, provides Tor the
broadcasting of important debates from
the Senate and for the wiring OF the
Senate chamber for radio. He mas re-
peatedly held that the public should be
pernitted to tune in on important legis-
iative activities and hopes for favor
able action early in the regular session.
Revision of the antiquated copyright
laws. to make them applicable to the
use of copyrighted music over the
radio is proposed in the second meas
ure reintroduced by the Washington
Senator. Aimed directly at the Amerl-
can Society of Composers, Authors and
Publishers, better known as the copy
right owners" Senator Dill declared
the legislation Is essential to break the
copyright monopoly" and to prevent
the music people from holding up raolo
stations"
Among other measures reintroduced
Is the resolution of Representative Full
mer. Democrat, of South Carolina,
calling for a sweeping investigation
into broadcasting in this country by
mixed commission over two-year Pc
riod. The results would serve as the
basis for legislation remodellng the
radio system. A second resolution also
reintroduced, Is that Of Representative
McFadden, Republican, Of Pennsylvania,
to investigate the financial structures
of the two Nationwide networks-Na-
tional Broadcasting Co. and Columpia
Broadcasting System-with particular
reference to alleged monopoly.
Before the special session ends it Is
expected that most of the 30-odd bills
relating to radio which accumulated
during the last Congress will be re-
introduced. and that the bulk OF them
again will die with the expiration OF the
Seyenty-third Congress.
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