Evening star., 1925-12-14

American public opinion has found
much of interest in the report that
was made by the Presidents aviation
inquiry board. headed by Dwight w.
Morrow, lawyer, banker and business
organizer. Judgment as to the effect
OF the findings of the commission diff
fers according to the point of view on
the merits of the Mitchell case, but
most of the comment is favorable to
the logic displayed by the investi-
gators.
"One's opinion Of the intelligence of
the commission" the Nashville Ban
ner remarks, 'is increased by the fact
that it took special note of the fact
that aviation was in formative state,
and that 1t was not possible to hope
at this time for a. permanent solution.
That is eminently and obviously true.
The same policy is one which takes
cogniZance of the best existing thought,
works in accord with it. and is yet
flexible enough to allow for alteration
in accord with developments as rapidly
as they come and are proved of real
intrinsic value" That the commission
has worked intelligently and honestly
in its investigation" Is recognized also
by the Brooklyn Eagle, which believes.
however, that ito accept its report as
final would be as great a mistake as
1t would have been to accept Col.
Mitchells program without investi'
cation"
THE board does not tell us what is
fright or wrong with aviation" declares
the Milwaukee Journal. and then asks,
"Why?" giving as its own answer to
the query, Simply because it does not
know. Like every other investigation
Of flying and the national defense, 1t
had before 1t vast amount OF con-
|flicting testimony, which 1t had neither
the basic knowledge nor insight to
reconcile. To follow a path out of
that maze was simply case of take
your choice. So the board chooses to
leave things pretty much as they are.
Yet the result, as viewed by the St.
Paul Pioneer-Press, is that the report
will not suit Col Mitchell" and like
wise will not please the general staff, y
and that paper finds that the appar-
ent fact, all the same, is that the
Presidents board has driven Its way
through the voluminous data, the
mass of technical evidence, the varie-
gated conflict of opinion and the clash
Of prejudice to an Intelligent plan for
rehabilitating military and commercial
aviation in the United States.'
X X y X
1.-THE fact that the board was COM
posed of able men of affairs and that
the report was signed by every mem
ber, gives it weight" states the New
York Evening World, which points out
that 'tits tone is temperate, and de-
notes less a disposition to discredit
the more radical critics of the service
than to develop the facts" The rec
ommendation for coordination of avia-
ton activities among three depart
ments is approved by the Fort Worth
Star-Telegram, which says that this
seems to be a most sensible report. 3"
and adds that the recommendations
will meet with general approval, and
Congress, with its ear to the ground,
may be expected to acquiesce."
The recommendations, In the opinion
Of the Seattle Daily Times, ''are based
upon common sense and an adequate
understanding Of the country's needs, "
and the Times restates its conviction
that the air force should be ad-
equately developed, but as an integral
part of the Army and the Navy"
The New York Times, also, is impress
ed by "the breadth as well as the
patience of the inquiry behind the re-
port and by the calm and judicial
temper which pervades the whole
while the New York Herald Tribune
holds that "the board has performed
a public service with admirable
ndelity."
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