Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-17
"InSinuation" of Graft in
Choice of Site Draws Fiery
Denial From Bingham.
OWNERS OFFERED AREA
AT LOW PRICE, HE SAYS
Willing to Yield Acreage for Cost,
to Be Shown by Audit, Plus
10 Pct, Senator Asserts.

An immediate investigation of pub
liShed reports intimating that two or
more members of Congress were IN
terested in the site proposed for the
District airport near the south end Of
the Highway Bridge was inaugurated
today by Senator Vandenburg, Repub-
lican, of Michigan, chairman of the
Senate subcommittee in charge of the
airport bill.
m1ttee in charge of the airport BILL
AT the same time Senator Bingham,
Republican, of Connecticut, chairman
OF the Joint Congressional Airport Com
mission, also declared in the Senate
that so far as he knew no member Of
the joint commission 'is in the slightest
degree financially interested" n the
site.
Read III. E. Young Statement.
Senator Vandenberg began by saying
he had read the statements credited to
H. E. Young of the Iowa-ThomaS Circle
Citizens Association, and added that
Young would be asked to give the in
formation he was represented as having.
AS soon as the debate in the Senate
was over, an assistant Sergeant-at-arms
was sent out with a subpoena for the
appearance before the airport Subcom-
mittee Of Mr.. Young.
Il simply want to say to the Senate
and the Senator from Connecticut that
this gentleman will be given an oppor-
tunity to identify the members of Con-
greSS whom he charges with having a
financial interest in this project" Sena-
tor Vandenberg declared. THE oppor-
tunity will be just as insiStent as can
ind means to make 1t.
This blanket insinuation is unfair
and improper, and it is untrue, 1t Is
vicious. In the work which has been
done in connection with the airport
project in Washington there has been
much interest expressed in the work
that has been helpful. On the other
hand, there has been different type Of
interest from time to time which has
been distinctly unhealthful AS a mat
ter of fact, the price which now inn
ponds for the airport we have in mind
Is higher today than it should be be-
cause of some of the difficulties We have
had in connection with the local
politics involved IN the picture.
Steps Already Taken.
This, however, is the first time any
such charges as are contained in these
Sunday newspaper stories have APP
peared, and I promise the Senator from
Connecticut, and the Senate, that they
will be Nprobed to the bottom
A few moments after Senator VAN
denberg had spoken in the Senate he
stated of the floor that steps already
were being taken to get in touch with
MI. Young.
Senator Bingham, who started the
discussion In the Senate, called atten-
ton to the newspaper reports, and
added:
so far as have been able to learn
AND hoUa hnoFN Nlncn RI the r1aof-
ter as any one-no member of the joint
commission either of the Senate or of
the House Is in the slightest degree
financially interested in either of those
projects" referring to Hoover Field and
the Washington Airport. These are
the two existing flying fields included
IN the site recommended for the Dis
trict's airport.
Bingham Describes Procedure.
Furthermore" Senator Bingham
went on, 1.-The reason the Joint COM
mission recommended their purchase
was that representatives of the owners
Of both projects came before the Joint
commission and testified that they were
willing to let the Government audit
their books and that they were willing
to sell their holding for exactly what
the books showed the holdings had cost
them plus ten per cent or even less,
anu WlCn GHaC very reasonable Ouer
made by the owners the commission
felt that these two pieces of land, which
In conjunction with the agricultural
experiment station and O part of Co
lumbia Island make the best available
site for an airport near the heart of
the National Capital, should be adopt
ed, and therefore that was recon-
mended by the commission
Senator Black. Democrat, of Alabama,
also a member of the Airr0rt Commits
sion, joined in the debate to suggest to
Senator Vandenberg that the subcom-
mittee handling the airport bill should
have its meeting this afternoon. Sem
ator Vandenberg replied it would be
held at the earliest possible moment,