Imperial Valley press., 1919-01-06
USE WAR PLANES

USE WAR PLANES
For some weeks B. B. Lipsner former chief
of aerial mail service in the postal department
of the United States has been center of interest
for correspondents in the capital The scribes
had been sending out statements by Lipsner with
regard to the proposed aerial mail routes and
good deal of public confidence in the ability OF
this experienced man to make the venture
success had been built up.
Then, due to differences with Bureson, Lips
ner resigned his post and he immediately became
an even greater center Of interest. 1t was be-
leved he would make charges against Burleson
and the belief proved well founded when he
sent letter to Senator Sherman of Illinois COW
ering the whole situation. Sherman made the
message public
There are and nave ben decided differences
between the former chief of aerial mail and the
postmaster general, and probably this should be
taken into consideration in weighing the present
issue. But the fact is that the differences appear
to have arisen solely over the wisdom of steps
contemplated by Burleson, who is not an aviator,
and opposed by Lipsner who knows as much
about aerial navigation as any one connected
with the war or postal departments, according
to his accepted status.
Lipsner had plan for making use of the
army planes that will not be required under peace
conditions. The army planes cost the United
States tremendous sum of money, as everyone
knows. If they can be made servceabe for pos
tai work, and Lipsner has always contended they
can be SO converted, they certainly should be
used In addition he had mapped out complete
set of routes toward adoption of which the de-
partnent could work. They had been framed
with view to aerial advantage, and coupled with
them as a defense system for the nation against
hostile air attack The whole proposal was in
genious, elaborate, but not necessarily very ex-
pensive, If Lipsner's proposal for utilizing planes
nT
lowed out
Now it appears these plans are not to be fol-
lowed. He asserts that Burleson has appointed
a man WITH no flying experience as supervisor
of aerial mail. He has appointed a youth of q
wears. whose qualification seems to be that he is
son of the purchasing agent of the postoffice de-
paCtment, as chief of the section of flying He
is q former lieutenant in the army aviation de-
partrnent. A clerk, who is not even an engineer
has been made chief of the department of main
tenance.
Coupled with these statements are some ugly
insinuations which have been drifting in Wash
ington for some time but have not hitherto taken
form. Correspondents have limited at them. It
remained for Llpsner to put them in shape for
public consumption.
Whether or not any weight is attached to the
charges of bad faith implied in the letter great
deal of consideration ought to be given to the
charges Of poor administration. The aerial mail
is an experiment and one not looked on with
great deal of favor. It is dangerous form of
pioneering which may result well. But it's only
chance of turning out well and of value is in be-
ing handled by men who know their business
There have ben endless accidents with govern
ment planes. Many men have lost their lives
and the experimental stage of aircraft has not
yet been entirely passed. To put a clerk, and a
boy and man who knows nothing about air
planes in charge Of this delicate phase of our
affairs, on which depends directly the lives of the
whole personnel Of the air-mai department
SENS foolish procedure.
Lipsner may not have agreed with Burleson
but he knows aircraft. He is the kind of man
who should be in charge, if not the man himself