New-York tribune., 1920-12-04
u. S. to Ask Bids
On 800 Planes
For Army Soon
More Than S6,0OO,OOO Will
BE Expended for New Ma.
chimes, Which WillInclude
All Latest improvements
Service Merger Planned
Consolidation of Aerial
Branches Into One Depart.
ment Urged by Wadsworth
IRON The TriJ1tre's Wocbisoto, p

IRON The Tr'b're's Washtnoton Bureau
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-Bids for 200
new airplanes will be called for bv the
war department within the next few
Gays. The planes are to be on the de-
signs worked out by the aviation sec
' ton OF the army, and will include all
the latest improvements which its tests
nave demonstrated to be valuable.
The amount to be spent on the planes
's IN excess Of S60oO,o00, that being
tne minimum provided in the present
army appropriation bi!l( to be used for
/ tnls purpose. The to.al appropriation
{or the air exclusive of nav
ana maintenance Of men, which is car
rled In other sections Of the army bill
was S33, 100000 Of which it was pro
vided that not less than S5.250,00O
should be spent for experimental and
research WORK and not less than S6,-
100000 for now machines and equip
ment.
The air service last year asked for
$50 100000 and will ask the session of
! Congress which opens on Monday for
/ $6O,OO0,OOO. Senators on the military
affairs committee and members of the
House military committee to-day said
that nothing like this much money
could be allowed. in view Of the great
pressing need for cutting governmental
expenses. Demands FOR q reduction Of
taxation are getting more attention
m hCr Of -
present than the needs Of aviation or
any other branch of the national de-
Tense.
Change in Air Service
In addition it is the settled belief
of many of the members of Con-
gress who feel most friendly TO avia
ton that the money now being spent
by the government for air service is
not being economically spent. and that
aviation cannot be put on sound basis
until all the air services Of the govern
ment are consolidated into one depart
ment.
This is strongly the view of Chair
man James w. Wadsworth jr., of the
/ Senate Military Committee, and Sena
tor Harry S. New, another member of
the committee. Mr.. New Introduced
bill at the last session for sep
! aratc department of the sir, but the
! bill was not presseo because there
were SO many objections. Mr.. New
will make a speech or two on this
measure with view to acqualnting
the Senators with the difficulties OF
the present situation during the scs-
sion about TO open. With the con-
venng of the new session Of Con-
gress after March 4, however, there
will be real fight for the bill.
This is not because there are any
PARTISAN differences over the question.
Senator Chamberlain, of Oregon, the
ranking Democratic member of the
committee and chairman during the
war, is just as strongly in favor of the
proposal as either Wadsworth or New.
At present four aviation services
are being run by the government, one
each in the army, navy, marine corps
ana Postoffice Department. There is
great rivalry betweel these four serv-
ices, each does its cwn experimental
| ton and research work, and obviously,
it is pointed out, there is great deal
Of duplication.
Friends of Aviation Distressed
Meanwhile friends OF aviation axe
distressed at the situation in which
this country finds itself After spend
ing more than $1,000, 100000 on avia-
ton and aircraft during the war it is
the general opinion that this country
has been passed since the arm stice by
all the more important powers. Not
only that, but the aviation industry in
the United States has dropped down
to less than per cent of what it was,
to point where production on n big
scale would not be possible without
very long delay.
OF tho planes produced during the
war about 1000 DH-4's have been re-
built and are in fair shape, though at
the best they are two years behind
the times. As originally built these
planes had the gasoline tanks behind
the aviators, with the result thnt in
almost any kind of a smash the heavy
tanks would break loose and crush the
| flyer.
In connection with the question Of
expense and of holding taxes down
there is considerable irritation on
Capitol Hill that Secretary of War
Baker should continue the recruiting
drive for the army. The army is now
larger than the appropriations made
at the last session of Congress in
the War Department will have to ask
ton to run the department for the
time between about March 1, when at
the present rate the appropriations
already made will be exhausted, until
June So the end of the fiscal. year.
With Congress scratching round to
see where it can cut the governmental
expenses in the hope OF reducing taxes
This continuance Of a spectacular drive
for more and more men in the army
is not pleasing to the legislators.
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