Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-24
Measure, Drafted by Joint
Commission, Would Make
Money Available.
WOULD GIVE $5OO,OO0
ALLOTMENT ON PROJECT
Question of Location and Ultimate
Cost to Be Deter
mined Later.

Without deciding on a site at this
time the joint congressional airport
commission today prepared a bill for
immediate introduction in the House,
appropriating $5o0o0o from the Federal
Treasury to buy land, or options on
land, for adequate air terminal facili-
ties in the National Capital.
Following meeting of the commission
this morning, Senator Bingham, chair
man. announced that, in the absence
of Vice Chairman zihlman, the COM
mission had requested Representative
Underhill of Massachusetts to introduce
the following measure in the House:
Text of Measure.
BE it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the United
States Of America, in Congress assem-
bled, That there Is hereby appropriated,
out of any money in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, the sum Of
$500 900, to be Immediately available
and to remain available until expended.
for the acquisition by the National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission,
subject to the approval OF the Joint
Commission on Airports, Of lands, or
options to purchase lands, for an air
port or airports adequate for the needs
OF the National Capital and the Dis
trict Of Columbia
Senator Bingham explained that this
would be an initial allotment from the
Federal Treasury TO make possible an
early start on establishment Of ma
tional airport in the Capital, leaving the
question of how the ultimate cost should
be borne to be determined later, when
the additional funds that would be re-
quired are made available.
A subcommittee Of the joint COM
mission has been appointed to inspect
the proposed Gravelly Point site, it was
learned today.
Speed Essential Factor.
Since speed in beginning the airport
project Is looked upon as the essential
factor, the commission prepared bill
that would make some money available
at once for site, without undertaking
to settle now the question of location
and ultimate method OF handling the
cost.
This bill enables the Park and Planning
Commission to proceed at once to ascer-
tain the cost OF various sites, leaving to
the Airport Commission the authority
and responsibility of passing upon the
recommendation OF the Planning Com
mission. If this measure can be en-
acted at the present session it would
eliminate nearly year of delay in
starting an airport, because Of the prob
ability that it would be next Spring be-
fore similar legislation could be COM
pleted II 1t has to wait for the regular
December session.
The Commission acted promptly to-
day after receiving the word yesterday
that House leaders would be willing to
permit something to be done at this
session toward an early beginning on
the airport needs of the Capital City.
Location Undecided.
Senator Bingham stated today that
the Commission has made no decision
as to location. This will be determined
after the Planning Commission has as
certained the cost of various sites.
The District Commissioners recon-
mended Gravelly Point, on the Potomac
River just below Hams Point. where
the War Department engineers would I'LL
in by dredging from the river and max.
ing a new strip Of land. It was stated
at the Capitol today that some land
would probably have to be purchased
If the Gravelly Point site should finally
be determined upon.
During the public hearings recently
the Park and Planning Commission
presented a map of the suburban ter.
ritory surrounding the District, both
in Maryland and Virginia on which
it had marked of more than 40 areas
that might be considered for airport
purposes. Several Of the larger areas
thus designated were discussed during
the hearings.
The chief concern of those handling
the matter Is to avoid delay. and
they prepared the bill made public
today with that object in view.
1t Is customary for appropriation
bills to originate in the House. 1t Ii
not expected there will be any diffi-
Guilty in obtaining consideration for
the measure in the Senate il the
House passes It,