Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-17
i. S. AIR CONTROL
HIT BY M'CRACKEN
Official Opposes Idea Sug-
gested at Meeting of
Aviation Leaders.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
KANSAS CITY, September l7.-Dis-
enlargement of any thought Of govern
mental regulation Of air transportation
lines similar to that exercised over the
railroads was urged on air transport
executives in session here today by Will
liam P. MacCracken, Assistant Secre-
tary of Commerce for Aeronautics.
The railroads, MacCracken told the
air executives, were not placed under
governmental regulation until after rs
years of existence when 'pernicious
practices made it necessary"
1.-THE new air industry" the Assistant
Secretary said, should regulate itself
as far as possible and keep out of gov
ernmental control because any group OF
Government officers, no matter how
ever great their ability and sincerity,
cannot sit in judgment upon the needs
of the air industry as can the industry
itself"
Proposal for Control.
The proposal for the creation OF
governmental body to regulate air
transportation, was submitted by Erie
P. Halliburton, president OF the SOUTH
Halliburton urged that the Interstate
Commerce Commission act itself be
amended to cover regulation OF the
air lines or that other suitable legisla-
ton be enacted that will serve to protect
the commercial air transport lines, the
travelling. the shipping and investing
public, and encourage and facilitate the
DEVELOPMENT Of air transportation in all
of its phases and ramifications.
4Hn4 n
regulation of passenger fares on air
lines had resulted in marked discrimina-
ton between localities in the matter OF
rates. On lines in the Southwest, he
added, it Is possible to have passengers
on one plane who paid fares varying as
much as from SO cents to - cents
mile, depending on the destination. ;,
Discussing the transport of air mail,
Halliburton argued that mail should De
routed over any responsible line avail
able that would expedite delivery, re-
gardless of the existing contract lines.
Committees Are Named.
An indication of the desire of leaders
of the industry to do their own regulat-
ing was given with the announcement
of the appointment of 10 committees,
each assigned to consider a separate
phase of air transportation.
and the only woman given an appoint
ment, was named head Of the group to
discuss ticket sales and solicitation
methods and their relation to increased
traffic Miss Earhart Is assistant gen.
eral traffic manager Of the Transcon-
tinental Air Transport. Inc.
Herbert Hoover, jr., son OF the Presi-
dent. was made chairman of the COM
mittee to study radio and communities
10
the Western Air Express.
IT hope that out Of this meeting will
come definite recommendation for the
formation of body comprised Of rep
resentatives from each air line, with
power to act, who can get together
frequently to secure unified action on
the most pressing problems facing the
manager of the Transcontinental Air
Transport, said.
Air Express Boom.
Predicting that transportation Of ex-
press by air soon will exceed the value
of passenger business to the major air
transport operators, C. w. H. Smith,
general traffic manager OF Western Air
Express, yesterday addressed the open
ing session conference here.
Larger and better airplanes," Mr..
Smith told his audience, will provide
the one essential requirement for air.
express business. The development OF
aircraft will be advanced sufficiently to
permit air express to be handled at
railroad rates with far speedier de-
livery"
Air Mail Gave Benefits.
1.-THE establishment Of the air mail by
the Government laid the corner stone
Of commercial aviation in the United
States" Mr.. Smith said. Revenues
derived from the transportation Of air
mail have been the chief means of sup
port of the leading air-transport COM
panies, but the air mail service has
reached its peak. In the future we must
expect to make our revenue from greater
loads hauled at lower costs.
1.-THE combination Of dawn-to-dusk
pasSenger-plane service with rail con-
nectiofls for night travel Is one OF the
most important economic developments
in the air-transport industry in the last
year."
Regular night air-passenger travel
was visioned by Mr.. Smith as the next
logical development Of air passenger
service. With the development Of radio
for planes, acceptance OF night air
travel will come quickly, Mr.. Smith be-
1ieyes.
q. S. Leadership Seen.
Col Harry H. Blee, chief Of the divi-
sion Of airports of the Department of
Commerce, declared the United States
Is destined for world leadership in the
air transport field.
"1n the United States today there are
IS transport companies flying $4,000
miles day and carrying thousands Of
pounds of express and large numbers
Of passengers In addition to 5000, 900
pounds Of mail year." Col. Blee said.
with ample capital now available,
aircraft production is developing with
out restriction, and new lines are being
established in all parts of the country.
Forty-one OF the AZ States are now
served by air transport" Col. Blee
added.