Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-28

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mittee for Aeronautics, that such action
would place the Government in the
embarrassing position Of spending mil
lions of dollars annually for the devel-
opment of aeronautics and at the same
time of denying to an official engaged
in the development of aeronautics the
right to use an airplane In connection
with that purpose" unless the plane
be Government owned.
Mr.. Guggenheim, who was appointed
member of the advisory committee by
President Hoover on April 20 last, made
May Is. He travelled TO Washington in
a privately-owned plane from New York,
and proceeded to Langley Field, Va.
with other members Of the committee
by steamer After the meeting he re-
turned to New York by plane His
voucher for expenses claimed reimburse
ment for the following:
Gasoline, 1879 gallons, at 20 cents; 10
quarts Of oil at 80 cents; total, $42.l8, to
which he added two full days per diem
at Sc, making total of $58.l4. Mr.
Ames. in his letter to the controller
general, contended that it would have
cost the Government a greater sum to
take Guggenheim to the meeting on
one of its planes, which would have
been permissible.
Ames' Letter.
st deem it appropriate" wrote Mr..
Ames, in asking for approval Of the
voucher. ito make the following obser-
vationS for your consideration The use
of the airplane as a means of transport
tation is growing rapidly. Mr.. Guggen-
helm is president of the Daniel Gug-
genheim Fund for the Promotion Of
AeronauticS, Inc, and is devoting prac-
tically his entire time and energies to
the advancement of aeronauticS without
financial return. In his personal trav-
cling he is accustomed to use private
airplane.
This is his first official travel as a
new member of the national advisory
committee for aeronautics. which is off,
cially charged by law with the scientific
study of the problems of flight, with
view TO their practical solution. When
determining the official attitude of the
Government on the question of re-
endorsement for travel performed in a
n-Government-owned airplane. it is
important as matter of policy that
your decision should be favorable, for
otherwise the Government will be placed
in the embarrassing position of SPEND
ing millions of dollars for the develop
ment of aeronautics and at the same
time denying to an official engaged IN
the development Of aeronautics the
right to use an airplane in connection
with that purpose. unless the airplane
be owned and operated by the Govern
ment at much greater cost than the cost
of gas and oil charged on this voucher
Temporary Policy Asked.
McCarl was asked to approve pay
ment as temporary policy until Con-
gress passed legislation on the subject
and allowed travel by privately-owned
planes.
The controller. general ruled, how
ever, that the expense of travel by plane
in excess of the cost over usual modes
of travel is not authorized except where
responsible administrative authority
states that such travel is necessary in
the interest of the Government Nc
Carl computed the cost of travel from
New York to Langley Field and return
on the basis Of railroad and parlor car
rates. and advised Mr.. Ames that Gug-
genheim could be paid an amount not
to exceed 1858.