Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-08

Years of agitation, talk and con-
troverSy over aircraft are culmindt-
ing for the first time in Congress this
week in Il serious. tangible effort to
secure constructive legislation. The
man who has brought matters to a
head is Representative w. Frank
James of Michigan. Strange as it may
seem, Congress never before has had
opportunity to pass upon an Air
Service bill or bills which were based
on exhaustive advance study of what
is required. Mr.. James is the ranking
member of tho House committee on
military affairs and himself an eX-
soldier-veteran of the Spanish-Amer-
lean War. lie has presented two bills.
one carries the recommendations and
provisions of the LaSSitcr Army
Board, dating from 1923. The other
bill seeks TO put into effect the
unanimous recommendations of the
select committee of inquiry appointed
by Speaker Gillett in 1924. This was
the so-called Lampert committee.
which was charged with the duty of
examining "the operations of the
United States Air Service" For many
days now the House military COM
mittee has been holding hearings on
air affairs. Representative James be
lieves his two bills comprehend every
thing which the best air minds have
been able to suggest. He seems to
have put it up squarely to Congress
to fish or cut bait.
January was World Court month
on Capitol Hill. February is tax
month and March is likely to he farm
month. When the revenue bill is out
of the way agricultural relief expect s
to have. the right of way More than
100 projects clog the pigeonholes of
the House committee on agriculture.
Hearings, comprising d Niagara of
facts and figures, have been. and still
are, in progress. Probably the one
and only bill at this time assured of
passage is the one sponsored by Sec
rotary Jardine, providing for a CO.
operative marketing division in the
Department of Agriculture. Cynical
souls accuse the administration of
applying Il Susar-coated label to the
measure. Having been introduced in
the House by Representative Haugen
of Iowa. and in the Senate by SEN
ator McNary of Oregon, it is officially
known as the McNary-Haugen bill.
Hence the administration alleged
belief that 1t will enlist the eager sup
port of farm radicals! Harmless is
tho description popularity applied to
the bill. Its passage appears to be
assured mainly on that account.
y K x *
| The Dickinson bill for establishing
a Federal farm board-assailed by its
foes as the old McNary-Haugen price
fixing bill with bobbed hair and
short skirts"-is to be pushed on the
intensive craftsmanship plan. Its sup
porters, according to understanding
in the congressional alfalfa belt, have
Communicated the services OF the
champion go-getter of the Middle
| West. He is Frank Warner, secre-
tary of the Iowa Bankers Association
at Des Moines. Under his skillful
organizing auspices the drive to Sc
cure passage of the Dickinson bill Is
about to start. Offices will be opened
at Chicago and Washington. Finan-
ctal, Industrial, agricultural and rail-
road interests are to be amalgamated
in battling phalanX for the purpose
of ranl1ning the Dickinson plan
through Congress. If reported plans
are carried out, Washington is on the
threshold of a superiority.
X X X
Capt Walter r. Gherardi, U. S. N,
since 1924 naval aide to Secretary Will
bur, has been detached for a course
of instruction at the Naval Flying
School in Pensacola, Fla. Several
other officers of captains rank have
been assigned to the Same tour of
duty. In Gherardis case. his wings
are expected to be the forerunner of
appointment to the command of our
first great airplane carrier. q. S. s.