New-York tribune., 1920-01-16
House Refuses
$85O,OOO for
Anplane Mail
Cuts Appropriation From
Postof1ice Bill, Which
Will End Service by
July Unless Reinserted
No Vote Taken on Action
Pork Barrel' Cry Is Raised;
N. Y.-Washington Service
Fate Hangs on Senate
Nesc Tork Triba~s
W0shiu otc7s Buyedu


Washington Buredu
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-The $780,
900 which the House Postoffice Com
mittee put in the postoffice appropria-
tion bill for continuing the air mail
service next year between Washington
and New York and New York and
Chicago went out to-day on point of
order and without a vote. Unless the
Senate restores it when the measure
goes to that body and it is accepted in
conference the service will be discon-
tinued Juno 80. There was no vote on
the item to which objection was made
by Representative Tincher. Republican,
of Massachusetts,. His point was sus-
tanned by Representative Walsh, Re-
publican, Massachusetts,. Speaker pro
tempore, although many members be-
lieved on a vote it would have been
retained in the bill.
led by Republican Floor Leader Mon
dell, backed by Representative Mad
den, Republican. and opposed by Repre-
F.. scntatives Mann and Longworth, two
other Republican members. Demo
cratic leaders sought to increase the
amount to $3,000,000, as recommended
by the Postoffce Department.
Make Charge of "Pork"
Mr.. Mondell declared the air mail
service is not economical and denied
that through it the malis are expedited
He called the provision pork barrel"
legislation.
"As matter of fact" said the Re-
publican floor leader, "the mail is not
expedited through this air mail serv-
ice. AS to the Washington-New York
service it is extremely doubtful if
there is any expedition, and this doubt
extends to that between New York and
able OF sound thinking, but knows the
government cannot afford to carry all
first-class mail by airplane."
ut would cost $5,00000 10000 to do
that" interjected Representative Mad
den.
II have not figured out its COST" said
Mr.. Mondell. continuing, "but l know
it would cost too much. Talk about
pork barrel legislation! There is moth
ing that ever has been before Congress
that is quite as clear and definite q
piece of pork barrel legislation as this
proposition to expedite the mail by air
PiNuC HSIc, There anu everywhere. ne
said boards of trade and chambers of
commerce naturally favor legislation
Of this kind for the purpose of adver-
tising their communities. He pointed
out that it costs $5.25 ton mile to
carry mail by arplane, against cents
a ton mile by train. He asked the Re-
publican members to stand behind their
pledges for economy.
Representative Madden said the air
plane service would be one Of increas-
:ng cost and make the postoffice ap-
preparation bin as much of a pork
barrel measure rs public buildings bills
CT rivers and harbors legislation. He
said such legislation would lead to
rivalry among cities for the service
and eventually would run into the
hundreds of millions.
Unified Control Plea
Representative Mann opposed elirni-
nation of the item and urged unified
government control of government
aviation activities. "If we want to
maintain efficiency of the army, the
navy and the Postoffice Department"
said Mr.. Mann, "and at the same time
encourage aviation, we should have
unified control of aviation activities
and develop the science of flying. II
we are going to spend $4,000. 600 or