Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-02
AIR LEGISLATION.
CONSIDERED VITAL
Nations Aviation Leaders
Ask Congressional Action
on important Measures.

When Congress convenes tomorrow
for the short session ending March 4
it will find awaiting its action num-
Der of important bills relating to
aeronautics, both military and civil,
which will demand much of its time.
In addition to the appropriations for
aeronautical activities, which may
reach a total of between s7o,oOO,o 900
and $80,000,000, Congress will be called
upon to deal with problems that can be
solved, aviation leaders are convinced.
only through legislation.
While the bulk of the new air legis-
lation pending before the Senate and
House deals with the military. there is
an outstanding need for a definition
of the line of demarkation between
Federal and State control of civil
aeronautical activities. There is no bill
pending along this line, but the matter
is slated for discussion in committees
and on the floor, with a view to sub
SeQuent legislative action.
Air Mail Expansion Needs Study.
Air mail expansion also will require
congressional attention. Owing to the
enormous increase of air mail business
have to be corresponding increase in
the funds made available for the pay
ment of the air mail contractors. The
appropriation for the current fiscal year
totals nearly $6,500,000, and there are
indications that this amount will have
to be nearly doubled for the fiscal year
1880. The Post Office Department also
is expected to ask Congress this Winter
for authority to establish additional
air mail lines to neighboring countries
to augment the present services to Can
ada, Cuba and Mexico.
Of the military aeronautics measure
awaiting action there are two of out
standing Importance: The Furlow bill
providing for a separate promotion list
for Army Air Corps officers and the
James bill to create single Department
of National Defense, including the con-
Solidation of Army and Navy aviation
into single air unit. A struggle is eX-
pected over the cruiser bill passed by
the House last session and now pending
in the Senate because of the House
action in cutting the provision for five
airplane carriers to an authorization for
but one carrier.
The Furlow bill is regarded by the
Air Corps as of the most vital impor-
lance. Many veteran Army flyers are
leaving the service because the present
system of promotion jeopardizes their
chances for advancement. The bill has
been passed by the House and is in
committee at the Senate end of the
Capitol.
James Bill Faces Opposition.
The James bill faces strenuous oppo-
sition, but is likely to result in bene-
fetal airing of facts on the recent
growth of the science of military avia-
ton and its effect on naval and land
forces.
The fate of the new airplane car
riers is causing great concern among
national defense leaders, as the United
States now is far behind England and
Japan in this respect. Under terms of
the Washington Arms Conference this
country and Great Britain were limited
to 1875, 900 tons in aircraft carriers. This
country today has a total of $4,000 tons
represented in the Lexington and Sara
toga. This does not include the Lang
ley, which is purely experimental and
wholly unsuited to operation with the
feet. The cruiser bill contemplated five
carriers of IA, 800 tons each, Ito carry IS
planes apiece, and IS cruisers to carry
4 planes each The House pared the
bill down to provide Is cruisers and
carrier Great Britain today has air.
plane carriers and Japan 3.