Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-25
AVIATION LEADERS
URGE NEW AIR MAIL
SERVICE TO COAST
Chamber of Commerce Dele
cation Will Ask Inclusion
of Washington.
BROWN PLEDGES AID
OF POSTAL Department
Speedy Action on Proposal by Con-
gress Is Advocated at
Hearing Here.

aeronautical officials ever ATTENDING an
alrman hearing before the interdepart-
mental committee on airwayS was pres
ent in the Post ONCE Department to-
gay wnen hearings began on the pro-
posed establishment of a Southern
tranSconttnental airnail route, which
would give Washington direct airnail
| connection with the South, Southwest
and Pacific Coast.
More than 80 members of the Sem
ate and House among the first speak,
ers were practically unanimous in as
surng mat there would be no difficulty
IN obtaining appropriat ionS for eStab-
lsnment OF the route if it were author
lzed by the Post Office Department.
a delegation from the aviation COM
mlttee OF the Washington Chamber of
Commerce will be heard by the COM
mlttee In support of the proposal to in
| cluoe the. National Capital on any new
Cranscont1nental route which may be
authorized. The subcommittee was ap-
pointed by Lieut.. Walter Hinton, chair
/ man OF the committee, following a spe-
cial meeting last week.
Conference Room Is Crowded,
.Aeronautical leaders from all parts
OF the country were present with the
main conference room of the depart
ment crowded when the hearing was
called to order by Postmaster General
waiter r. Brown.
The hearing is being conducted on a
proposal submitted jointly by William
g. McAdoo, former Secretary of the
treasury, chairman of the board of
Southern Skylines, and Erie p. HalIi-
burton Of Tulsa, Okla, president Of
southwest Air Fast Express, to establish
new transcontinental service at rates
which would enable the Post Office De-
partment for the first time to eliminate
the deficit caused by air mail trans
portation.
In the proposal now before the Post
ONCE Department it Is pointed out that
the present cost of carrying air mail
between the National Capital and Los
Angeles is approximately $8.77 per
pound, or direct loss to the Govern
ment OF 1852 per pound, on a basis Of
cents postage per letter and As letters
TO the pound. The proposed rate over
the new transcontinental line suggested
by Mr.. McAdoo and Mr.. Halliburton will
| be $2.10 per pound, enabling the Post
Once Department not only to eliminate
| the existing deficit but to operate at q
profit OF is cents per pound. r.
The washington Chamber of Com
merce committee will present statistics
showing the amount of potential air.
mail from the Capital which would 60
over the route, data on flying weather
here and other facts bearing upon
establishment of a service from this
city to the South and West.
The committee was present at an
informal caucus Of delegations yester-
day morning in the Mayfiower Hotel,
where plans were made for presenta-
ton OF evidence today. The caucus was
Commerce Of Fort Worth, Tex, and
other trade. organizations from South
western cities.
Brown Promises SupDort
In opening the hearing Postmaster
General Brown declared that the South
west should be included in the airmail
system OF the country and promised that
the Post ONCE Department would do
everything in its power to put the
operation of Congress will be necessary.
however, he said, since the DEPART
ment cannot create the new line with
out legislative authorization and appro-
priations.
He turned the meeting over to w.
irving Glover, Second. Assistant POST
General In charge of air mail and chair
man of the interdepartmentaI commit
tee, who pointed out that although the
department. was willing to establish
the route, 1t would be necessary to OBJ
tain the approval Of the Budget Bureau
and OF Congress.
Representative John J. Cochran of
no delays in establishing the route. but
that the postal authorities should i'm
mediately submit an estimate for in
cluston In the first deficiency appropria-
ton bill providing funds for establish
ing the route.
Holds Service Is Essential.
Senator Elmer Thomas of Oklahoma
declared that there would be no diff
nculty In getting necessary legislation
through Congress. He put the RESPONSE
bility for delay in establishing the route
up to the Post Office Department and
the Budget Bureau. He declared the
setting up of an eff1cient airmail service
Is essential to national defense and said
many members. of Congress would be
more willing to make the necessary
appropriations for the new airmail route
than to increase appropriations for the
military aviation services
A plea for inclusion of the National
Capital on the proposed transconti-
mental line was made by Representative
Philip d. Swing of California, who told
the committee that any transconti-
mental air mail line to be of benefit to
California. should come from the Ma
tional Capital
other members of Congress who were
heard at the opening session included
Senators Bratton of New Mexico, Con-
nally OF Texas, Helm of Alabama.
Hayden of Arizona. and Representatives
Dyer of Missouri. Garner of Texas, and
members of the delegations from Ala
oama, louisiana. Oklahoma, New Mexi-
CO, Texas, Arizona, Mississippi, Ar
kansas, Kansas and Missouri
Among the national aeronautical
leaders present were Mr.. McAdoo. Will
liam P. MacCracken, jr., former Assist
ant Secretary of Commerce for Aero
nauticS; Paul G.. Henderson, former
Second Assistant Postmaster General in
charge OF air mail; Maj. Clarence M.
Young, Assistant Secretary of COM
merce for Aeronautics; Col. Harry IT.
Blee, director of aeronautical develop
ment, Department of Commerce; James
G. Edgerton, operations manager of
Southern Skylines; william e. Boeinq.
head Of the Boeing system, present
transcontinental air mail contractors on
the Western division, and represents
atives of nearly score of leading air
transport systems.
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