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Show oo SIX CENTS A WORD ACROSS THE PACIFIC. V. S. McClatchy of the Sacramento Bee is carrying on a vigorous campaign cam-paign for the building up of a trans-Pacific news service, hoping thereby to bring the western part of the United States and Asia into closer trade contact con-tact He has found some difficulty in his efforts to open up wireless communication com-munication owing to the restrictions placed on the service during the war. The Sacramento man makes this statement state-ment as to the progress he has made toward obtaining legislation: There has been conflict between the secretary of the navy and congress on the subject of control of radio activities, activ-ities, the secretary of the iiavy her-t fore Insisting on government owner, ship, and congress, with equal insist ence, refusing to concede this point. A meansure is now before each sub-committee, to which it is understood the secretary of the navy has given tacit consent, which calls for. the return to private companies of radio stations heretofore held by them, but establishes estab-lishes a national commission with control con-trol of operation so as to prevent the Interference on the part of one sta tion with others. Authorization is also given for th nay department to use Its radio facili ties for general commercial purpose.-,, provided the rates charged are not less than those exacted by private companies. It Is understood that the sub-coin mitlees are in favor of ihe principle., outlined in this measure, which has not yet been formally Introduced as s bill but that each committee will pro!) ably formulate and Introduce its own bill, it was Impressed noon the sub committees that any general bill returning re-turning radio activith - I i private ownership own-ership should not only authorize but direct a low-word rate for news transmission trans-mission across the Pacifle. It Is well known that telegraph, cable, and Win les; i-ompanles regard news reports as undesirable business, and ih.v they do not willingly concede, therefore, a low rate, and particular an extreme, ly low rate as compared with that ex acted for commercial business It was evident that congress could neft agree upon and pass prior (, ad Journment, a general radio bill beoause of the difference of opinion upon many matters of detail. It was urged by me, therefore, upon the Chairman of each sub-commltiee that something be done in the y.n of temporarily providing 'or authorisation authorisa-tion to the navy department to use Hs facilities for commercial and news pur ' poses, pending the time when congresn shall have decided Just how radio 81 i-tlons i-tlons shall be operated. Along this line are two bills H. R 8783 by Curry and S. 3177 by Poindcxter. The conditions upon the Pacific and the urgent necessity of transPacifh news communication in American Interests In-terests were strong arguments in favor fa-vor of Immediate co-operation by the two sub-committees in presentation of a measure which would furnish the necessary authorization and particu larly permit or direct th navy to use its facilities for news transmission across the Pacific at a rate per word i not exceeding 6 cents, or at a rate; which would noi exceed the eost to th navy d partment. Captain W. S. Bry ant, acting director of naval cominu ntcatlon, has already testified before one committee that the rate of 6 certs Is within the cost of service o the de-pa de-pa riment. The sub committees are favorably ' Impressed with the urgency or transpacific trans-pacific news communication, and will probably do what is practicable in the face of the many important things which are forced upon the attention of enneress at this time. I This 6 cents a word is less than i the cost on a message from Ordcn to ; Austin, Nevada, by wire service |
