Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-17
Congress Must Consent to the
Creation of Municipal Airport

considered necessary, the District
would have to 80 to Congress and ask
for the funds. And IL the Operation
OF the municipal airport resulted in a
profit. the municipality would be un.
able to spend the money without get.
ting the permission Of Congress.
A municipal airport" therefore. to
be owned, operated and maintained as
a "m:nicipal" undertaking will be a
reality in the District OF Columbia
about the time that Morris Hacker
orders out the snow plows to clear a
path to the Monument Lot for a mu.
nicipal celebration Of the Fourth OF
July.
The proportionate share to be paid
by the Federal Government ana the
District government toward the &C.
QUESTION Of land and buildings for an
airport here does not rest, unfortu.
nately, with the District. It rests en-.
tfrely with the Federal Government
and If certain members Of Congress
are told that the citizens Of the Dis.
trlct want an airport regardless Of the
money to be paid by the Federal Gov.
eminent, the citizens Of the District
VIII get one. and IL Is possible that n
Will be paid for out Of District funds
entirely. II the compensation for
bearing the full cost was the right TO
operate the municipal airport as thev
prooaDiy Will be operated in the f,i.
ture-for gain-and IL the municinsI
government, 80 called. wa. given tSn
power to spend the profits accruinr
from operation Of a municipal airnorf
IN the future, or even IL the bene6ts
or having an airport were confined To
District residents, there would be logic
IN a demand for a municipality bought
and paid for airfleld. But there is No
such possibility. '0
Municipal airports Of the fu,ur.
probably will be operated on the ssnoe
basis that railway terminal oner.
ates today. Those who are in the
business OF transmitting mail or mas.
sengers by air will be in the. busi.
ness to make money. They should
pay for a place to land. The airline
OF the future will not make a stop.
over IN washington to crafty the
will stop in Washington becams. ~
has enough passengers and air rn.T
to make 1t profitable to stop In W. a..
ington. The city Of the future nrch.
ably VIII construct its air terminal h.,
granting franchise to a private cor.
poration which sees a chance IN rrcrt
IN the undertaking.
X + 4
The cities must be prepared Thai
Is granted In the first place ana A..
pla!ns the desire on the part of wash.
lngton to make ready now a Mace a,
conveniently located as possible for
the landing OF the air liners OF the
future: II the place is not prenarsS
now, 1t will be difficult in future ~
ma one. So the agitation for a WASH.
ington airport Is a healthy sign that
tne city realizes its future responsihjIi.
TIES. But there are two courses onen
One IS the formation by private citi.
zens OF corporation to secure and
maintain a Washington air TERMINAL
Inc other Is for the acouisition hv
sne government Of land and necessar nv
;Du!1!ngs Tor a municipal airport. But
IN TINS latter case 1t is difficult to zee
now the people Of Washington u,ith
no voice In its control, should he noa6a
20 pay Tor 1t unless the Federal Gov.
eminent, which will in reality ow,
ana operate it. contributes a pronor.
| tionate share. f'"por'
II Mr.. Yaden has correctly exnrsss.a
INC 1eeIlng OF the Organized citizen.
OF the District on the question. thsro
probably win be further invast;o IT,
oy the citizens to determine if their
stand has been the logical one to tsEa
unoer the circumstances.