The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-02
SENATOR NEW ASKS
AIR WAR SECRETARY
Republican Leader Offers Bill
Providing foi' Additional
Cabinet Member.
TIRED OF LAUNDERING
Administration Opposed to
Measure Which Takes Power
From Daniels and Baker.
Special DespafcA TO THn sEN.

WASHINGTON, Aug. Convinced that
have marked the American aircraft pro-
sramme since the beginning Of the war
cannot be corrected without ono central
authority in charge Of the entire produce
tion Senator New (Ind.) to-day intro
duced a bill In the Senate designed to
Department Of Aeronautics. with a new
Cabinet offioer. the Secretary Of Aero
at It's head.
Senator New IL the leading Republic
can Of the subcommittee of the Senate
Military Committee which has been in
vostigatlns the manifold failures. mis-
takes and delays which have been 80
apparent in the American aircraft pro-
yramme since the beginning OF tho war
II is understood that nearly every
army officer who has testified before
the subcommittee has advocated a
single, strong head for the aircraft pro-
gramme. Adoption OF the plan Of
Senator New would be In exact ac-
cordance with the plan which England
finally had to follow after mistakes
and experiments similar to those
through which the United States has
passed. which proved costly to Eng
land in time. money and men.
Opposed by Administration.
Notwithstanding this the Administra-
ton 10 opposed to tho plan and there
is little chance for the passage OF
the New measure. Secretary Daniels
and Secretary Baker have strong
views on the subject of retaining the
air service in their respective branches.
The President has also made II plain
that no suggestion for a new Cabinet
officer OF any kind will have his APP
prevail.
The title OF tho bill reads "A bill to
create an executive department in the
Government to te known as the Depart
ment of Aeronautics and for the ap-
pointment OF q Secretary of Aeronautics
and an Assistant Secretary and provid-
ing for appropriations for said depart
ment'
The text follows:
Be II enacted by the Senate and the
House OF Representatives OF the United
States OF America in Congress assem-
bied.
Sectien I. That there Ia hereby
created for the period Of tho present
war and for one year thereafter an
executive department in the Govern
ment OF the United States to be known
az the Department OF Aeronautics. the
head Of which shall be designated the
Secretary Of Aeronautics. who shall
be appointed by the President and
confirmed by the Senate. He .taH be
a member OF the Cabinet and shall re-
ceive a salary OF 900 year. The
Secretary OF Aeronautics shall have
direct and complete control Of all mat
tiers pertaining to the designing. pur-
chase. manufacture and production Of
aircraft and aircraft equipment in
tended for the use OF the army, the
navy and the Marine Corps OF the
United States.
Section 2. The department shall
also have an Assistant Secretary. vino
shall be appointed by tie President
and confirmed by the Senate, who
shall receive a ralary Of s., 900 n year:
and such other officers and employees
"a may be ,ound necessary for tho
proper and efficient transa elton OF the
business OF the department
Section 3. The uHexpended balance
Of such appropriations as may have
hitherto been made for TIE purchase
and manufacture Of aircraft and air
craft equipment and all appropriations
which may hereafter be made for such
purpose shall be available for the pur-
poses of the department.