The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-08-20
MAY SOLVE
 DEMANDS OF
 AER0NAUTICS

ClnC1nndLl, AuS. ZVDOuO oA IAAO most interesting and unusual features to be introduced and discussed at the convention of the American Bar AS sociatton, to be held here Aug. 50 to Sept. 2, will be the matter Of recon mending the enactment of const1tu- tional law to bring about the proper solution of the demands of aeronau- tics.
 The recommendation that such ac- don be taken comes from a special commtttee on the law of aviation, which in its report to the executive committee of the association expresses its hope that in the enactment Of any legislation by Congress, the most given to the constitutional features or any proposed legislation, to the end that 1t may be determined whether the proper development and regula- ton of aeronautics does not require constitutional amendment conterrlns jurisdiction over aey0naue1cs upon the United States through its approprlate departments, instead of attempting to adopt devices of questionable const1- tutionality to make existing national powers apply to this new branch of human activity.
 The report further states that neither the public nor the legal pro fession appears to be alive to the de- mands of the situation. There IS prevalent tendency, it is asserted 10 regard the problem as primarily, III
 
 whereas in fact it is primarily Ia com mercial and economic problem, with grave incidental features which lie Tn the domain of jurisprudence and law and demand the aid of Jur1sts and lawyers.
 The two fundamental juristic prob- lems of aeronautics in this country are emphasized by the committee as follows:
 whether control should be exerted bv the national government; and whether the power or sucn controi should be conferred by constitutional amendment or seized under the cla1m of the exercise of existing powers.
 The committee after thorough 1n- vestigation finds and will report that the eTnbarrassments arising rom tne present state of the law may be con yeniently contributed to the follow ing specific difficulties in existing laws The uncertainty as to what the law is governing, the lack of any nn;form laws: the conflict of laws; the insufficiency of law. the haZaro q of an unregulated flight: the hazard of underlined responsibility; the haz- ard of personnel in unlicensed or un- equipped or unadequately equipped pilots; the hazard of deficient air l worthtness of aircraft. Together | these make up a bunch of uncertain | ties and a bunch of endorsements
 which make the proper conduct of | the business of aircraft insurance ex- tremely difficult if not impossible. i The committee expresses the bellef | that resources to const1tut!ona
 amendment is desirable in ProVldins | regulation of air service and at the
 same time admonishes that the | greatest care should be taken to make it amply comprehensive because | of the fact that the art of flying IS | still in its infancy. The committed
 also submits a tentative constitution | al amendment suggested by Ma1ol Il E1za c. Johnson of the United states Army legal adviser to the air service | as follows:
 | 'sCongress shall have power te
 provide for regulating the use for all
 travel of all air space over the eartf
 and wi-iHin the borders of the Un1teS
 States en~ its territories. and al
 countries over which the United
 States hos' Jurisdiction, including tho
 three miis limit on the seas; anr tf } provide for regulations of land1-t l fields. a fixed code Of signals, ant
 signs for the navigation of the air ant
 the landing of aircraft.
 "Congress shall have further powe to provide for the enforcement of Sa1t , regulations and establish air admir- alty courts, or grant to the ex1sun' l courts the Jurisdiction of the admir altv law of the air, which Jurisdiction shall include the punishment Of al crimes committed a1rcraf' whether in the air or in port at land ing fields, and over all civil case over which admiralty courts now, | hereafter. generally have Jurisdiction ? which have their source in air travel l The committee adds that the tim
 has certainly come when it can n 2 longer be said that this is not a sub feet of general interest, or abou e which there can be any doubt as t X the necessity of legislation"