NAB reports (Mar-Dec 1933)

MICHIGAN BILL TO GOVERNOR The Michigan bill, S. 101, which would legalize the advertising of intoxicating liquors, has passed both houses and went to the Governor on May 16, 1933. S. C. IN LINE TO ADVERTISE LIQUORS Mr. Hammond’s amendment in the South Carolina Senate to H. 931 was adopted May 11, 1933, as follows: “It shall be lawful for newspapers, bill boards, radio broadcasts, and all other mediums of advertising to carry advertisements of Beer, Ales, Wines, and any and all beverages permitted by law for sale in South Carolina.” PENNSYLVANIA AUTO BILL DEAD The adjournment of the Pennsylvania Legislature marked the death of several bills which would have affected the radio industry directly or indirectly. One bill that never got beyond the com¬ mittee stage was H. 1391. which would have made it illegal to drive an automobile while there was being operated or played in such vehicle a radio or radio receiving instrument. ILLINOIS SALES TAX UNCONSTITUTIONAL The recent decision of the Supreme Court of Illinois in declaring the Illinois Sales Tax unconstitutional is of general interest to all industries for the reason that it is an outstanding example of the exercise of the judicial curb on the legislative and executive branches in our prevailing system of constitutional governments. The Fed¬ eral Constitution and all State Constitutions have what are known as equal protection clauses designed to prevent discrimination in taxation. The Illinois law imposed a tax of three per cent of the gross cash receipts from sales, upon all persons engaged in the business of selling tangible personal property at retail; but provided that “tangible personal property” does not mean or include farm products or farm produce sold by the producer thereof or motor fuel as defined in the Motor Fuel Tax Law. The Supreme Court said, “The legislature has no power to, by legislative enactment, declare that not to be a fact which every one knows is a fact . . . ” ; and that, “The language quoted does not and cannot mean that farm products or farm produce or motor fuel are not in fact taneible property, for it is a universally known fact that they are such.” The Court found there was no basis for the exclusion of farm produce and motor fuel from the operation of the act, and so the act violated the uniform requirements of the Constitution. 100,000 WATTS IN ENGLAND The British Broadcasting Corporation has secured a site for a new “super” radio broadcast station to replace the Daventry SXX transmitter, according to the Commerce Department. The site is about three miles northeast of Droitwich. This station, powered at 100,000 watts, is expected to service the entire British Isles. It will have one long-wave transmitter for na¬ tional programs, and a high-powered medium wave for regional pro¬ grams to replace the Midland regional transmitter SGB. The Midland station was built experimentally in 1927 and does not con¬ tain many of the modifications which have been developed since that time. Radio engineers anticipate better quality broadcasting and less interference from the new station. The new long-wave transmitter is expected to be in operation by the summer of 1934. AMENDMENT FOR JUDGE SYKES Senator Stephens of Mississippi has introduced an amendment to the Independent Offices appropriation bill, now pending in the Senate, that so much of the unexpended balance of the appropria¬ tion for the Madrid radio conference as is needed shall be used to pay the salary of Judge Sykes, chairman of the Radio Commission, for the period from February 23 to March 20 of this year. During this time Judge Sykes was not a member of the Commission because his nomination had not been sent to the Senate. It was later held up for some days before finally acted on. GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION President Roosevelt departed on a river cruise today with Director of the Budget Douglas and will remain over Sunday. They will discuss the question of government reorganization and it is prob¬ able that they will make a final decision which may be made public next week. This includes the question of whether the Radio Com¬ mission will remain a separate entity or whether it will be under the Department of Commerce. It has been stated in apparently authentic circles that a separate executive order has been drawn up regarding the moving of the Commission to the Department of Commerce so that it can be withdrawn if there is too much opposition. It is still uncertain just what will happen to the Commission. RECOMMENDS NEW STATION Copper Electric Company, Inc., filed application with the Com¬ mission asking for construction permit for new station at Lowell, Ariz., to use 1200 kilocycles, 100 watts power, daytime operation (Report No. 481, Hyde, e.). Recommends that application be granted. It is oointed out by the Examiner in his report that the applicant has the necessary ability and financial resources to construct and operate a broadcast station. Also that the community is not served with dependable daytime broadcasting and that “no interference of an objectionable character would be caused by the operation of the proposed station.” RECOMMENDS NEW STATION Herman Radner and Capital City Broadcasting Company both filed applications with the Commission asking for a construction permit for a new station at Lansing, Mich., to use 1210 kilocycles (Report No. 479, Pratt, e.). Recommends application be granted to Capital City Broadcasting Company and denied to Herman Radner. The Examiner found that Lansing and vicinity do not receive good broadcasting service and that no interference would be created on the frequency asked. The State of Michigan and Second Zone are both under quota and both applicants are qualified to construct and operate a station. It is pointed out by the Examiner that Mr. Radner is not a resi¬ dent of the city of Lansing, while the Broadcasting Company is composed of citizens of the city, and he states that “other things being equal it is to the best interests of a community that the application of the applicant most familiar with local needs be granted.” The Broadcasting Company, says the Examiner, can render a more extensive service to a larger number of listeners because of its 250 watt application as opposed to 100 watts by Mr. Radner. Also the Broadcasting Company has made more definite arrangements for programs, talent, etc., and it is more closely related to publicity and advertising mediums than Mr. Radner. RADIO EMPLOYMENT RISES Employment in the radio industry increased from 61 in March to 67.2 in April compared with 57.3 in April of last year, taking 1926 at 100, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Depart¬ ment of Labor. Pay rolls in the radio industry in April were 50.5 compared with 42 in March and 46.3 in April of last year. FEDERAL RADIO COMMISSION ACTION HEARING CALENDAR May 22, 1933 NEW — W. L. Gleeson, Monterey, Calif. — Construction permit for 100 watt station, 1210 kc., unlimited time; also construction permit for 5 KW station, 1490 kc., unlimited time. May 24, 1933, before Commission en banc WOR — Bamberger Broadcasting Service, Inc., Newark, N. J. — Modification of construction permit to change transmitter location to near Tremley, N. J., 50 KW, 710 kc. (Southern Radio Corporation, protestant). May 24, 1933 WKAV — Laconia Radio Club, Laconia, N. H. — Renewal of license, 1310 kc., 100 watts, specified hours. May 26, 1933 WMBD — Peoria Broadcasting Co., Peoria, Ill. — Modification of license to increase hours (requests facilities of WTAD). WTAD — Illinois Broadcasting Corp., Quincy, Ill.— Renewal of license, 500 watts, 1440 kc. (shares with WMBD), also con¬ struction permit to move to East St. Louis, Ill. • Page 50 •