The sun., 1919-10-29
U. s. AIR INDUSTRY
is DYING RAPIDLY
Governments Failure to Help
Manufacturers Has Ended
Production.
wADSwORTH BAREs FACTS
Separate Department and Big
Appropriation Planned for
Coming Year.
specia, Despa,es to THE Sun.

WASHINGTON, Oct 2s.--As a result OF
the failure of Congress to make appro-
priations and of the utter failure OF the
Army, Navy and Post Office depart
n1ents to coordinate their aviation SER
vices, the great aircraft industry that
the United States created during the
war practically has ceased to exist.
Not over 10 per cent Of Its producing
capacity now exists and this Is idle.
Meanwhile Great Britain Is spending
S200,000,000 year developing aircraft
and fixing on the domination Of the air
Q grip which is intended to be MS per-
manent as her hold has been on the
ssaa
These were among the striking points
developed in an impromptu debate of
the air service and appropriations for It..
in the Senate this afternoon. II was
stirred up by the conference report on
the Urgent Deficiency Bill The Military
An Service was given s25,o00.0o0 for
air work, in the regular legislation.
Later II was developed that this was
utterly insufficient, and 15,o00,O 600 more
was included in the deficiency bill by
the Senate. But the House conferees
insisted that the item go out, and when
that fact was reported from the con-
ference the Senate started at once on
the discussion of this vital question.
Air Department Probable.
Although. in the end. the conference
report was accepted, the discussion de-
veloped that at the next session the
Senate is pretty certain to do two
things:
1. Pass the pending measure to create
an aviation department.
Q. Provide appropriations to put the
United States back into the race with
nations that at present are far ahead
Of II in this service.
Senator Wadsworth IN. " opened
the discussion.
THE inevitable has now happened"
said Senator Wadsworth. THE appro-
priauon for air service is SO small that
it simply cannot build any planes. At
a time when all other countries are
stralning every nerve to develop and
expand their air services, to encourage
II not only for military and naval pur-
poses, but - a commercial asset, Ameri-
ca alone is falling to keep even within
hailing distance of the progress of other
countries"
as 1t true?" asked Senator McCor-
mick (IIl.) that no coordination what
ever. no Indignation of plans for develop
ment, has been effected as between the
War and Navy departments
Coordination Is Lacking.
TT is true" replied Mr.. Wadsworth,
that there Is no plan. purpose or project
common to the two departments. We
are going on without any policy and It
leaves US in a shameful position. The
British and French Governments have
created new government departments of
air service. They recognize that aviation
has a tremendous commercial value;
that II IL a department of transporta-
ton, as important in its element as is
maritime transportation in another
element. 1t is absolutely necessary that
Congress establish a separate depart
ment in charge OF aviation"
AT a time when the War and Navy
departments have no common PLAN"
suggested Mr. Mccormick, docs the
Senator advise to appropriate large
sums for unwise, or at least haphazard
speRding?'
1T is fair to say" replied Mr. wads-
worth, that the army has a programme
and the navy also has one. These are
good so far as they go, but the separate
activities are utterly inadequate to
meet the situation. The commercial
ASPECT Is highly important.
All Contracts Cancelled,
Before the armistice. although II Is
true there had been great waste, We had
nevertheless established a huge industry
and were at very high point of pro-
duction of planes and engines. Immedi-
ately all contracts were cancelled, es-
adjustments closed, and nothing since
has been done. Congress has not appro-
priated the money necessary to keep
plants running. In July OF this year
just fourteen airplanes were made in
the whole United States. while in the
same month Great Britain produced
1000. II is fair to say also that the
House and the House committee are ut
teriy opposed to appropriating money
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