Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-03
AVIATION
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

EPORTS that the Budget
- Bureau has slashed the al
lowance for the Army Ali
- Corps and is planning a
similar reduction for the Navy Blu
reau of Aeronautics are causing
uneasiness among flying people
The looping Of any considerable
amount from the estimates SUBJ
mitted for either service undoubt-
eddy would seriously cripple the
already backward five-year build
ing programs for the military air
services.
There are rumors, regarded as
well founded, that the Budget Bu-
reau has reduced the Army Air
Corps budget by between $4,000, 600
and $5,000,0 900 and is planning a
reduction of the Navy aeronauti-
cal items in the same proportion.
AS the work of the Budget Blu
reau is conducted behind closed
doors, the precise amount of the
reduction or the manner in which
1t has been distributed remains
unknown. If the deficiency is to
fall entirely upon the building
program, however, it is probable
that the Air Corps will fall short
of its airplane quota by more than
200 planes during the coming year.
If, as is more likely, the reduc-
ton is to be absorbed throughout
the Air Corps, it undoubtedly vii.
result in further curtailment of
activities in the Air Corps Reserve
and injury to the National de-
Tense.
Situation Is Serious.
That the situation is serious
from the standpoint of National
defense is recognized by those who
have studied the condition of the
military flying services. Instead of
a reduction for the Army Air
Corps there should be an increase
if the interests of the service are
considered at all. This feeling is
by no means confined to military
circles.
During the last Summer Repre-
sentative James of Michigan, act
ing chairman of the House COM
mittee on military affairs, has
made tour of virtually all of the
military air posts in the United
States and at Panama. On the
basis of this survey of actual con-
ditions he has indicated that he
will ask of Congress a new study
of the needs of the Air Corps with
a view to increasing the appro-
priations for this branch OF the
service.
When the f1ve-year building
programs for the Army Air Corps
and the Navy Bureau Of Aero
nautics were adopted it was ex-
pected that they would be car
ried out. They represented at
that time the minimum require
mentS of the services. If the
situation has changed at all since
the programs were adopted it is in
the direction of expansion rather
than contraction Of the require
ments of the air forces.
Competitive SIashing.
While it is possible, of course,
that the Congress will restore to
the appropriation bills the
amounts torn out by the Budget
Bureau, it is far from likely. The
House of Representatives appar-
entity has established an unwritten
policy that 1t will not approve an
appropriation bill carrying more
than the Budget Bureau has rec
commended, regardless of the esti-
mates of the Federal departments
or bureaus involved.
The House of Representatives
and the Budget Bureau, it appears.
regard one another's powers with
a jealous eye. The Budget Bureau
feels obligated to save the Ameri-
can taxpayers money, regardless.
The House Of Representatives
naturally resents the attitude of
the Budget Bureau in pointing out
the savings it has effected all by
itself.
Members of the House, as repre-
sentatives Of the people, feel that
they are the ones to save the tax
payers money. So they always go
the Budget Bureau one better, no
matter who gets hurt. In many
cases this rivalry Is all right. It
saves some expenditures which
might better not be made. When
a matter so vital as 4 lilding
programs of the air services is at
hand, however, there is little con-
ISOLATION to be found in the hu-
morous aspects of the dollar
shaving competition between the
House and the Budget Bureau.
Senate to the Rescue.
When the Budget Bureau and
the House have laid down their
knives and looked over compla-
Gently the results Of their butch
cry, the Senate usually makes an
effort to save the day. Sometimes
the Senate is quite successful.
Usually it is not.
Last years Army Air Corps ap-
preparations furnish an example.
When the Budget Bureau and the
House had finished their sword
acts the item was some 100000
short of the War Department esti-