Evening star., 1928-05-20
ACTION ON AIRPORT
BILL TO Be URGED
Senate and House District
Chairmen Win Seek Vote
on Measure.

Effort will be made by Chairman Can
per of the Senate District committee
and by Chairman Zihlman of the House
District committee to get action in each
legislative chamber during the com
ing week on the Stalker -Capper bill
authorizing the establishment of a
model municipal airport at Gravelley
Point which was favorably reported
after special meeting of the House
committee yesterday morning
Senator Capper late yesterday ST.
cured the transcript of hearing before
the House committee. said that he would
dispense with hearings before his COM
nlittee and expected to get a favorable
report from his committee, possibly st
the special meeting called Tuesday
morning TO consider the street railwSy
merger plan,
Wants $3.50 Arrangement.
Representative zihlman said last
night that he is confident he can get
action IN the House, probably under
suspension of the rules, as he has been
assured by the steering committee thar
an opportunity will be afforded fol
passage of all urgent District legisia-
ton.
establishment Of the airport here on
. fifty-f1fty basis, because it will be
used SO largely by the Federal Govern
ment, which should therefore share the
cost Of construction and maintenance
with the local municipality. is empha-
sized by Representative Hall of Indiana,
IN the report from the District COM
raittee fled in the House late yesterday
He says:
The committee feels that the air.
port viii be used TO great extent bv
the various branches Of the Federal
Government having to do with civil
aviation 1t is conTinced that a large
amount of the air express and passen-
ger travel viii b. on account Of Federal
business. For this reason. il is inclined TO
consider the establishment and maints-
nance Of the airport q Joint business en-
isIprise. The committee believes that
tie initial area for the landing field
should be completed within two years
ana that the completion of same in this
time would be Of great advantage tc
the Federal Government as well as the
business interests of the City OF Wash
ington"
Opposition to this feature of the bill
has been registered By Representatives
Simmons of Nebraska and HOLIDAY of
Illinois. both members of the subcom-
mittee OF the House appropriations
committee. which handles the District
budget
In his report Representative Hall ex-
plains that this bin provides for the
acquisition. improvement. equipment,
MANAGEMENT. operation, maintenance
and disposition Of a civil air field and
any appugEenances. inclusive Of repairs,
lighting and communication systems
and all structures of any kind deemed
necessary and useful IN connection
Herewith
Provisions of Bill
The object of the bill. he SAYS. Is 10
establish q civil airport in the District
Of Columbia at a site known as Grareiiy
Point. The airport would be estah-
liSlaed By the reclamation OF land Ia
tbs saacal water of tfe Potomac River
at Gravelly Point and 70 erect and
establish on this land q suitable air.
come to facilitate and encourage the
development of commercial aviation
and for national defense purposes. IT
viii also be available for the use OF
the various branches Of the Federal
Government having TO do with civil
sssatien.
The bin provides that the total sum
authorized for the airport shall not ex-
ceed ST son. 600 The original bill pre-
wi@cS an authorization Of S250. 900 each
year to carry out It's purposes to he
parable from the revenues Of the Dis
tTict Of Columbia and the general funds
Of the Treasury in equal proportions
The bin has been amended 70 increase
the annual authorization to s75o.000 IN
order TO permit the construction Of the
field within two years
Certain amendments were made al
the suggestion OF the Commissioners
Of the District of Columbia end the
National Aeronautic Association.
ssTfe need for q municipal airport Is
obvious" Mr.. Hall savs In his report.
There was no suggestion from any
source that the City Of washington do
without civil airport"
Arguments for Site.
The outstanding reasons for chos-
ing the GraPeliy Point site ne sum-
married as follows.
~ II would be only 10 minutes bT
motor from the business district Of tae
city.
ri II offers facilities for saaplanes
and lighter -tsan-air craft, as wen as
land planes.
f2e II fits in ideally with the plans
Of the National Park and Planning
Commission for their parks.
fsD III allows for any extension down
the river that future requirement might
demand.
fs1 Exnanki0n could be made by
dumping and dredging IN the course OF
building operations, and ash disposal
ars the city ard channel deepening IN
tire Potomac at practically no cost 10