Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-10
Government Should Pay All
or Large Part of Cost,
He Believes.
FLATS OPPOSITE POTOMAC
PARK PROPOSED AS SITE
Could Be Established Sooner Than
Gravelly Point Project,
Senator Thinks.

Washington should have an airport
without delay and the Federal Govern
ment should bear the expense, or at
least large part of it, Chairman Bing-
ham of the District subcommittee on
appropriations declared in the Senate
yesterday.
Senator Bingham also disclosed that
he has in mind the possibility of OBJ
tanning for the airport site the land now
used by the Department Of Agriculture
for experimental purposes, located OPP
posite Potomac Park, instead of Gravel
ly Point, because he believes the air.
port could be established there sooner
than the Gravelly Point project could
be carried out
His statements came in response to
questions OF Senator Vandenberg. Re-
publican Of Michigan. who is in charge
of the airport bill In the Senate Dis
trict committee, and the views expressed
by Senator Bingham stimulated renew
ed hope of early action on the question.
Gives Personal Views.
When Senator Vandenberg asked the
chairman Of the subcommittee in
charge of appropriations If he had any
sviews as to the division of cost of an
airport for Washington, Senator Bing-
ham replied:
"The question brings up matter on
which the two houses are continually
at variance. and it is rather a difficult
one for me to answer My own personal
feelings in the matter are these: The
persons who would use such an air.
port to its fullest extent would be in
nearly all cases persons coming to
Washington for the sake of having to
do business with the Federal Govern
ment, and not with the citizens and
business houses of Washington.
"They would be persons, IN large
measure. coming to appear before the
committees of Congress and to attend
to matters in which their States and
communities were interested. and with
respect to which they desire to COM
municate with their Senators and Con-
gressmen. In view of that fact 1t
ment ought to bear the expense of
constructing an adequate municipal
airport or at least very large share
of that expense"
Senator Vandenberg early in the
week had announced that his subcom-
mittee was marking time on the air.
port bill because of the possibility that
an appropriation might be made for a
general survey Of the landing field re-
quirements of the Capital as prelimi-
nary step. After the District appro-
priation bill had been considered yester-
day Senator Vandenberg asked Chair
man Bingham If such survey is con-
templated.
Requirements Studied.
Senator Bingham replied that at one
time he had intended to propose such
a survey. but had since learned that
it was not needed because an extern
sive study Of the Capitals require
ments has been made.
May take this opportunity of say
ing Senator Bingham continued, that
hope very much that the District
committee, and particularly the sub
committee of which the Senator from
Michigan is chairman, will promptly
take under consideration the bills now
pending In regard to the authorization
for an appropriation for an airport In
Washington.
Nearly all the other great capitals of
the world either have or are building
suitable airports. Even Rome, the
capital OF Italy, where today there are
very few lines of airplanes coming in,
has about completed the construction
OF magnificent airport The capi-
tails of Germany, France, England, Hol-