The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-10-12
MADDEN S { { S
AIR LAXITY
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cartel out the demands Of some
of these bureau people, it would
bankrupt the Government.
Madden took the stand primarily
to defend Congress against charges
by nigh army and navy officers
that i lack Of funds had ruined
the ration military air forces.
Citing statistics to disprove the
charges. Madden told the board
that Congress had appropriated a
total of $780,. $40. 900 for military
aviation during the war and $434,-
383,2S7 more between 1913 and
1924.
In the last five years. he added.
Congressional appropriation for
aviation averaged $S6.676,657
This sum, Madden declared, was
s3.2Ec. 900 more than Great Britain
spent during the current fiscal
year. $21, Ali, 900 more than France
spent in 1928 and $75,146,O 900 more
than japan spent IN the present
fiscal year.
Despite. these huge appropria-
lions for the American air service,
Madden said, "the bungling expert
mental, work of army and navy
officials had resulted IN a record
Of failure so far as the Develop
ment of aviation was colcerTed
Chairman Madden's Proposals
The congressman's proposals for
! new military air policy included;
i. An air budget Of $4,000, 900
year for the purchase Of $500 new
planes annually from private manu-
tacturers and the maintainance Of
! toint army and navy flying force
OF 500 commissioned OFFICERS ana
l5, 900 enlisted men.
q. Use OF enlisted men as pilots
wherever possible.
4 Abandonment OF all aircraft ex-
periments and manufacturing by
both army and navy.
a. Delegation of experimental and
manufacturing work to established
commercial aircraft companies In
order to build up these concerns as
4 reserve force for use in time OF
war.
Would End Stunts
s. Creation of 4 civilian PRO
curement officer" who would pur-
chase all governmental aircraft, SUI
oeryise its construction and direct
experimental work by the private
companies, taking these duties
away from the Army General Stair
and the Navy Bureau il Navigation.
s. Elimination Of some existing
government aircraft fields, but
maintainance OF two on the west
coast, two in the Mississippi Val
ley, one on the South Coast ana
two on the East Coast.
Z. Prohibition Of all air stunts,
including 'joy-rtding cruises around
the world. jumps across the Paci-
fic and attempts to reach the North
Pole so that all military air train
ing will be devoted to war tactics.
Madden cited testimony given by
both Major General Mason "a. Pat.
rick, chief OF the Army Air Service,
and by Rear Admiral William Moi
felt, head of the Naval Air Service
to support this charge that the two
services had failed in the efforts 70
develop military aviation.
Planes Proved Deficient
Patrick, he said, had told a Con.
gressional committee last fall that
the army had placed in the second
line of defense" nearly all the pur.
suit planes purchased in the proceed.
ing two years because they--were
antiquated by later inventions.
The army air head. he added. also
testified that 262 Thomas Morse
planes had been bought by the army
which were deficient in speed and
particularly in vision. because 1t lE
very difficult for the pilot to sec
out of them"
II have heard something OF q
charge of criminal negligence" said
Madden. referring to Colonel Billy
Mitche'l's charges, but this borders
on criminal waste"
IF credit is to be given to the
testimony of many of the witnesses
here" Madden added, 1.-THE last five
years of development and expert.