Evening star., 1919-11-16
A Department of Aviation.

A Department of Aviation.
A bill is now pending in Congress
to create a Department of Aviation. as
part of the executive administration
of the government. 1t is opposed by
some authorities and warmly indorsed
by others. Testimony in favor of it
has been given by officers of the mil
itary service who have studied the
question here and abroad, and Gen.
Pershing, speaking before congress
sional committee, has broadly Endorsed
the plan.
Aviation has become not merely a
scientific possibility, but distinctly
practical achievement, with certain
future-and early-developnent In
commerce. 1t is now utilized in the
transport of the mails. 1t is a recog-
nizcd feature of Army and Navy serv-
ice. 1t is coming into use in busi-
ness. The sole question today is
whether it is to be rated as utility
for unorganized application OF as a
certain necessity to be brought as
quickly as possible to its fullest de-
velopment.
At present there is no coordination
of the governments employment of
the airplane. Each branch is using it
x.-ifh 70 0nd
needs and facilities. There is urgent
, need, in the interest of economy and
speedy advancement, of system of
government supervision over the pro-
duction, maintenance and use Of all
aviation devices, to the end that dupli-
eating experiments may. be avoided,
the utmost value may be derived from
all Improvements, the best types OF
machines may be evolved and facil-
tiles provided for general use.
An airplane cannot be sent aloft
anywhere and started of without as
surance that landing places will be
found at suitable intervals, or that re-
pair facilities will be available within
practicable ranges. Today the aviator
who attempts long distance flying is at
the mercy of his machine. He must
be his own base. He cannot rely upon
any assured provision. If this wonder
full science is to become Of value to
the country, in the speedier transport
of mails, passengers and freight,
maintenance facilities must be provid-
ed. The forty eight states cannot be
depended upon for such provision, on
a standard scale. What good roads are
to the motorist good aviation facilities
are to the aviator. The states have
done their road work so haltingly and
in the main so badly that the United
States has had to intervene and build
highways as examples, and as thor
oughfares.
Just so the government must provide
for the aviator. At present there is
no provision to this end. If each of
the departments at present concerned
in airplane service starts something
confusion and waste of time and
money may and almost surely will
result. There is not unnatural COM
petition between them. There is a
desire on the part of each to take over
the entire aviation supervision, which
cannot be done without friction and
confusion.
Whether in the form of full de-
partment or as a bureau, independent
of the present agencies of control, and
in this respect superior to them. there
should be government branch com
petent in its powers to direct aviation
development and to insure provision
of facilities for the national use of
the air in trade, transport and de-
fense. Advocates of departmental
organization present strong case
which should be most thoughtfully
studied by the congressional commit.
tees now considering the pending bill.