The sun., 1919-10-29

TO encourage the industry while our
programme is in its present condition Of
utter disorganization.
There has been extravaganza and
waste, but 1t should be said that respon-
sible men are now in charge. To-day
we could not put three squadrons OF air
craft In the air IL there were need of
them.
Private Production Ends.
THE private production of aircraft
has been suspended. The Post Once De-
partment Is ordering few for Its air
mail service and the army none what
ever. except six experimental planes
two OF Ga h of three types. Now our
fliers are agreed that we have produced
by processes OF quantity production ma
chimes that are superior to any made
abroad. They have been fully tested I;
they have given the results, So these
men ask of you money to build some, of
these, which will require from twelve to
eighteen months, so that they may have
machines At to take the air in case of
emergency. Not one of the De Haviland
As will be useful in any measure year
and a half hence.
"The British and French Governments
have sent their representatives to South
America. This very day French officers
In uniform are In charge Of agencies
selling French planes in New York at
costs which we cannot possibly meet be-
cause obviously, building in great num-
bers. their costs are far below ours"
within a few days" said Senator
New (Ind.), IT have put in the records
of these hearings letter from the Sec
ond Assistant Secretary of State, Mr..
Adee, TO the Manufacturers Aircraft
Association, asking the American manu-
facturers IL It lie not possible for them
to establish some American competition
in this South American market The
French and British agents there are
backed by their Governments and in
present conditions Americans cannot
compete with them.
Cannot Get Together.
THE War and Navy Departments in
sist that there is coordination between
them, but / saw there Is worse than
no coordination between them. They
have demonstrated an utter lack of ca
pacity to get together
THE Post Office in connection with
its New York-Chicago air service
wanted FIVE wireless stations II asked
the Navy Department about them and
the Navy replied, We have four sta
tons that you can use, and we may
conclude to build f1fth,' but the Post
ONCE went away and proceeded to build
the entire hve stations on its own little
account.
'It is absolutely necessary to have
separate department OF aeronautics.
and for that purpose I have introduced
bill which is now before the Senate
Military Affairs Committee and which
l think will be reported almost unaf1i-
mously, but II will take time to get the
machinery of new department work.
ing, and meanwhile factories are ceas-
ing operations.
1T voted for the appropriation In this
deficiency BILL" protested Senator Over
man IN. c., because 1 was convinced
of the imminent necessity for 1t. I do
not believe 1t is proper policy for us now
to agree that we will not send this bill
back to conference again on this one
item. 1 believe we should stand on this
item, send the bill back to the House,
present to the House the arguments that
Senators are presenting here and fight 1t
out"
No Money for New Planes.
Senator wadsworth proceeded to give
an itemized statement OF the require
ments which will absorb all of the $685.
VUU,VuU
air service. In the last year $13,0O0,O00
has been expended on the salaries OF
civilian employees in the air service. In
the salvage division about 100000
more has been required. Leases on fly
ing fields cost S350.000, and development
of lighter than air craft. whose utility
has been so completely demonstrated by
the performance of the British R-34. will
require 100000 Maintenance of en-
gines, planes and existing equipment,
operation OF storehouses, shops and fly
ing fields will absorb the rest of the APP
preparation, leaving nothing with which
to build new planes. For this single
year the British Government will spend
$500, 900. 600 on its air service, he said.
Senator Thomas said: IF this condi-
ton of which the Senator from New
York speaks is permitted TO continue
we may find ourselves in an inferior po-
sition even to Mexico, with respect to
our air service. Our preparedness pro-
gramme will be useless IL It does not in
clude preparedness In the air.
ut is economy for the United States
to make these appropriations" said SEN
ator Henderson, ITO keep the service up
and not How II TO go to uieces"