Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-29

That American legislators are de-
| termined TO p.otect the public In air
travel and also that they have lost
none Of the passion for public regula-
ton which has marked supervision of
railways and steamship lines Is shown
by the fact that in addition to Federal
regulation, the State Legislatures OF
the country enacted 10s new laws relat-
ing to aircraft during the 1928-1929
Legislative sessions. A total Of $50 bills
{ was introduced and only 65 defeated,
while 10 stiN are pending.
The Federal Government was first in
the regulative field, Congress enacting
the air commerce act Of 1926, which
since has been brought Up to date by
amendments. So. In the last three
years, an entire new transportation
regulation has taken effect, both Ma
tional and State.
1t has been a growing habit on the
part Of our lawmakers TO regulate
transportation, especially in the last
half century. The first big measure Of
regulation related to railroads. The
Interstate Commerce Commission, set
UP toward the close Of the nineteenth
century. was the fo-eguizner Of q fab. &C
| Of public rule Of transportation which
now covers almost every branch. Year
by year the powers Of the commission
A1AtO pCCll 2uuSQ W now u I8u.
| road cannot operate without being reg
ulated at every turn. It cannot con-
troll its own finances. every operation
being subject to supervision A railroad
cannot even cease operation without
obtaining Q certificate Of abandonment
from the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion.
Steamship lines went through the
same history. The steamboat inspec-
ton service must inspect all vessels,
especially those carrying passengers.
crnS rates and practices. The Bureau
Of Navigation enforceS the sea laws.
The State governments control trans
portation lines within their borders
and the cities also regulate street car
lines and automobile traffic.
Forty-one States Act.
During this last legislative session Of
the State law-making bodies, IL States
have considered laws affecting air
transportation and 80 States have en-
acted measures. The number would
doubtless be larger were 1t not for the
fact that the Legislatures Of Alabama,
Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi and Viz
ginia were not In session.
The air industry-that Is. manufac-
turers OF planes, air transportation
companies and pilots-are somewhat
apprehensive concerning general lines
of policy which the States may adopt.
The railroads have been hindered in
their development by the lack Of uni
forrnity IN laws Of the States traversed
and it Is hoped by people in the air
transportation business that some meas
ure Of uniformity will be adopted by the
States to prevent q situation where
long distance flying would be hampererd
by the necessity Of conforming with
some fresh practice every time State
line Is crossed.
An examination of the measures pro-
posed during the last legislative session
reveals that II were designed to regu-
late or license aircraft and pilots.
Eighty-four general acts and thirty
i've special acts had to do with the au-
thorization and regulation Of airports.
Rhode Island set up commission to
supervise airportS. This is the first
State regulatory body actually empow-
cred to exercise such jurisdiction. but
flve States authorized commissions to
study the subject. preparatory to de-
veloping control further. Michigan au-