Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-14
A NAVY FOR THE AIR
Bi FREDERIC J. HAsKIN

government with machine, and men in
| time OF need. II has consistently back
ed tho movement for expansion OF tho
aviation service, and several OF Its
prominent members are represented on
Official committees and subcommittee.
Its membership includes every licensed
amateur and professional pilot IN tho
united States to-day.
New mik.iOn/ Proposed.
Tho latest addition to this formid-
able array OF agencies to administer
ana develop the acroplane Is COM
mission proposed in u resolution intro
aoced In Congress few days ngo.
me new commission will be known rs
lnel commission on aerial navigation.
1t will be made up of three Senators,
thrce Representatives. a general. of
inc army. rcar-admirnl Of the navy
and n civilian mechanical engineer.
It's junction will be to Investigate the,
problems OF establishing a system of
aerial navigation for military, naval
ana commercial purposes. along with
related details
Most OF the machinery for aviation
organization that exists to-day is found
In the War Department.. Under, the
chief signal officer. Brigadier C eneral
Squier. there are some twe1ty-four
subordinate divisions and offices. each
dealing with particular problem Of
construction or organization. The War
and Navy Departments maintain thrco
joint boards TO coordinate their avia-
ton activities. and to study tho lead
ing divisions of the air-scrvice prob
lem.
Tho aircraft production board bids
fair to become the largest and most
important subcommittee OF the ad-
risory commission to the Council OF
National Defense. This advisory com.
mission. by the way. is giving some
10. Art1 I'm. of Loo tel,
Appointed originally to advise the
government 1t is to-day OF the
most powerful organizations In the
world. Through its subcommittee It
eHerts a tremendous influence over all
our leading industries, partly because
of it's buying power. and partly be-
cause the subcommittee include some
or the most powerful men in each par
ticular industry. The subcommittee on
transportation alone. through its con-
troll OF the distribution Of cars. has
means Of making the voice OF the COM
mission listened 20 with respect in
any industrial quarter. Some mem
bers OF Congress have demanded tho
abolition OF the commission. Popular
sentiment seems to back the commits
sion up. however. on the ground that.
whether or no its powers arc TECH
nically legitimate. II is using them
wisely and sincerely for the public
good.
Tho aircraft production board sub
committee is headed by Howard Cof-
lin. who Is an authority on industrial
organization in general and automobile
manufacture In particular. The board
also includes General SQuicr, of the
army and Admiral Taylor. of the navy.
This system OF 'fntcrlocking director
htes insurcs cooperation. On tho
aircraft production board will fall the
orunt OF the tremendous task OF or
Il n 4 vyaa rf.
plants for the building Of the mon
stcr air fleet. o..
The national advisory committee for
a"ronautics Is concerned with tho
study OF the scientific problems of
aviation. The committee lis another
example of the cooperation idea. II
has Tor it's chairman Professor Durand.
OF Leland Stanford University. and it's
members include General Squicr and
Admiral Taylor. Professor Marvin,
S Sn.e, OF inc weather Bureau; Dr..
Stratton. director of the Bureau OF
Standards. and Byron r. Newton, Of.
the treasury Department, besides other
scientists and army and navy enEi-.
neers. The advisory committee deals
with the problem OF determining the
best models OF aeroplanes; the aircraft
production board with the problem Of
producing those models by the thou.
sand.
Tho organization for the development
OF aviation 10 obviously somewhat
loose. But in actual practice the diff
fercnt committees are so constituted
mat they achieve corporation and
harmony. Thus the national advisory
committee alone includes representa-
tives OF i've departments as we'll as
or unofficial scientific institutions.
Whether we shall have separate
aviation department at this time Is a
i've and interesting question, but there
Is tendency to eSaggerate the i'm
portance OF the dispute over it
Whether the department. is created or
not. we will get the aeroplanes.