Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

ilR©AO€ASTII The NEWS MAGAZINE OL. 1, NO. 4 WASHINGTON, D. C THE FIFTH ESTATE CEMBER 1, 1931 >3.00 PER YEAR — 15c A COPY Session of Radio -Minded Congress Nears By SOL TAISHOFF ^ouzens Warns Broadcasters to Cure Advertising Evil; )ld Bills to be Reintroduced; Robinson Term Expiring RESPONSIBILITY for radio legislation during the forthcoming session of Congress will rest with Senator Couzens, of Michigan, Chairman of the Interstate Commerce Committee, and Rep. Davis, of Tennessee, who with the Democrats apparently in control of the House, is probably next Chairman of the Merchant Marine Committee Senator Couzens Representative Davis .EGISLATIVE tom-toms already eating on Capitol Hill are callng into session next week the eventy-second Congress of the Inited States. To the radio world t large this heralds the renewal f much palaver about radio and aore attempts to legislate for Amrican broadcasting. Events which transpired toward he close of the last session of Congress and during the recess, ome aimed at undermining and ven destroying the existing radio tructure, are responsible for a ertain restiveness on the part of iroadcasters as the new Congress 3 about to convene. They are earful lest Congress yield to the nti-radio campaigns now in swing, nd they are not unmindful of the act that radio is being ogled by a ■rowing Congressional element as . bouncing new political football. The Congress that convenes Dec. will be more worldly wise on natters of radio than of its prelecessors. Outside of a very small ;roup of its members, nevertheless, t knows nothing about the vicissiudes that broadcasting as a busiless is still encountering. It may >e prone to heed the high-soundn phrases voiced by opponents >f Radio by the American Plan ind to curry political favor from uch factions. The danger is real. Were it not for the disturbed economic situation, entailing unemployment relief, new tax schedules, foreign war debts and other problems of major importance, Congress might blunder into the political radio morass camouflaged by these lobbying factions. Some members are already on the warpath, raising alternately the cry of too much commercialism and of monopoly. To Dip Into Radio EVEN with the press of economic problems before it, Congress may find time to dip into broadcasting. On the part of the broadcasters, as evidenced by their recent resolutions, it will find them willing and ready to cooperate in framing constructive legislation. Nor are the broadcasters without their friends on Capitol Hill; radio as a campaigning medium is only too valuable to political candidates. They know it for they are regular seekers after favors from the radio people. And this Cong.°ss probably will not be disposed to accede to demands for government ownership, which in the last analysis is what the enemies of present radio want, for many and various reasons. In the absence of a system of taxing radios to support broadcasting, it is necessary for the broadcasters to support themselves by advertising— no feasible or reasonable alternative has yet been offered even in Congress. Robinson Term Expires WITHIN a few weeks the Senate will consider confirming the appointment of a Federal Radio Commissioner. The two-year term of Commissioner Ira E. Robinson, of West Virgini expires Feb. 23, and President I ver must submit his nomination ,r the post in advance of that te. While there is no assurance .at he will be reappointed it is not improbable that he will be. It is no secret, however, that his second zone portfolio is coveted by a number of persons. Judge Robinson faced stiff opposition two years ago on his reappointment because of his antimonopoly views and his public utility concept of radio. He was reappointed after Congressional leaders went to the White House and informed President Hoover that unless his name was included the Senate would hold up the entire schedule of five appointments. The depression itself will be responsible for the introduction of legislation which, were it not preposterous, might be serious. Representative LaGuardia, Republican, of New York City, says he will introduce a measure forcing the radio industry to contribute $100,000,000 to the Federal revenue chest. He would have Congress levy a tax of 25 per cent on the gross revenues of all broadcasting stations from the sale of time. A ten per cent tax on retail sales of apparatus, both transmitting and receiving, would make up the balance of the proposed $100,000,000 radio jack-pot. But there are really more serious radio spectres that lurk about the spacious corridors of the Capitol and that again will find their way into the House and Senate chambers. One group — the educational faction — is seeking to obtain 15 per cent of the broadcast frequencies, more or less, for accredited educational institutions. They have found a proponent in Senator Fess, Republican, of Ohio, himself a former educator and also chairman of the Republican National Committee. The other group represents the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, better known as the "Copyright Owners,' who would like to have Congress enact legislation giving further protection and strength to the song-writers and publishers. Representative Vestal, Republican, of Indiana, chairman of the House Copyright Committee during the last Congress, is author of the copyright legislation that failed of enactment at the last session. Both bills were opposed at the last session by the National Association of Broadcasters. They will be reintroduced in the new Congress. Strong efforts will be made by powerfully organized and wealthy groups to force the legislation through. Six Bills Loom A CANVASS of radio leaders of both the House and Senate discloses that the following bills having a direct bearing on broadcasting will be introduced during the early days of the session: 1. By Senator Fess, Republican, 0f Ohio — A bill which would allocate for education, under Federal supervision, 15 per cent of the broadcasting frequencies. The measure will be identical with that introduced at the last session. 2. By Representative Vestal, Republican, Indiana — Reintroduction of a bill to consolidate the copyright measures which died at ^December 1, 1931 • BROADCASTING Page 5