San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-03
BINGHAM PLANS
NEW AVIATION
MEASURE
Bill Incorporates Proposals
Of President Coolidge's
Air Board.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-P)--
Legislation already is in preparation
to give effect to the proposal of the
Presidents air board for the creation of
bureau of civil aernautics IN the De-
partment of Commerce to promote COM
mercial aviation, along with its recon-
'mended expansion Of military and
naval aviation.
Senator Bingham, Republican, Con-
necticut, a member of the board who
Joined in the unanimous report of its
nine members. said today he would in
troduce a bill giving the government
wider latitude in aiding civil aviation
than any legislation yet proposed. A
companion bill will be introduced in the
House by Chairman Parker OF the
commerce committee.
THREE NEW OFFICES.
At this time, however, it is not con-
templated to include in the legislation
provision for an additional assistant
secretary in the department to head
the bureau, as recommended by the
board along with its proposal for an
other assistant secretary also in both
the War and Navy Departments to
devote themselves primarily to ava
tion.
Creation of these new offices in the
three departments formed the central
recommendation Of the board in its
program for progressive development
of both military and civil aviation in
the United States. In addition TO
functioning in their own departments,
it will be the duty of the assistant sec
rctaries Jointly to coordinate so far
as may be practicable" the hviation
activities of the three departments.
OPPOSE MITCHELL PLAN.
Seeing no need for drastic change
in the present organization of army
and navy aviation, the board emphatic
ally opposed establishment of a de-
partment of national defense or a uni
fled air service. Goth Of these pro-
posals were endorsed by Colonel Will
liam Mitchell in his public criticism
Z of the War and Navy Departments
administration of aviation which was
a forerunner of President Coolidge's
appointment Of the board to make an
exhaustive study of the needs or
American aviation.
The board did recommend, however,
that the army air service be put on the
basis Of a separate corps in the army,
retaining its present responsibility to
the general staff as other coordinate
branches of the army. 1t also recon-
mended special representation for avia-
tion on the general staff and, for naval
aviation, representation in the office
of the chief of naval operations and
the bureau of navigation.
REPORTS MAY DIFFER.
In promotion of civil aviation. it
urged adoption by the government Of
n continuing aviation policy, elimina-
ton of governmental competition with
civil industry in aircraft production
and establishment of airways and air
ports.
The conclusions OF the House air
craft committee, now drafting re-
port on the hearings conducted at the
last session, are expected to differ ma
terially from those of the Presidents
board.
While the committee has not yet
decided ON the final form of its re-
port. there is known to be n strong
sentiment among its members in favor
of department Of national defense,
as urged before the committee by Col
onel Mitchell to give co-equal status
to land. sea and air forces.
AGAINST PRINCIPLES.
The air boards rejection of this
proposal was based in part on its
opinion that it is dictate of Amer
lean political principle that military
and civil aviation SHOULD remain dis
tinctly separate" Peace-time activi-
ties in the United States, it OBJ
served, have never been governed by
military considerations"
While the United States, the report
declared. must "at all times maintain
an adequate defensive system. whether
it be surface ships, submarines, land
armies or air power" it was fallacy
to suppose that concentration on the
latter, as new weapon. would make
for peace insurance more than com
petitive armament in any other nne,
Or shorten future wars.
"The next war;" the board said, |
"may well start in the Nr, but in |
all probability will wind up, as did the |
last war, in the mud"
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