Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-05
|C|TzENS REJECT
| AIRPORT PROPOSAL
Economic Disaster" Seen
by Council, Which Voted
to Oppose 1t.

The Citizens Advisory Council last
night disapproved the Bingham report
recommending an airport at the south
end Of Highway Bridge to cost the DIS
trict $4,000, 900. This extra burden on
WaShington's tax payers, the council
decided, would lead to economic ais
aster." The council recommended that
the sum mentioned be shared between
the District and Federal Governments.
the District to pey so and the Federal
Government 40 per cent.
StengIe Interprets Proposal.
The proposal in the Bingham report
that the Federal Government con-
tribute one-half of the acreage OF the
proposed airport was not commented
upon at the meeting. Afterwards,
however, Charles I. Stengle, who
drafted the councils report, told Star
reporter that he vas acquainted with
this feature of the report.
This is q proposition on its face to
give US some land" he said, but what
1t amounts to in practical effect Is for
the Federal Government to give itself
the land. The people of Washington
VIII have very little interest in this
Held. AS practical matter It will be
used mostly by Government planes. We
eminent takes water, police protection
and the like from the District without
paying for 1t. Is it to be imagined
that 1t would pay the District govern
ment for servicing its planes?
There are two private airports over
there now. and they seem to be get
ting along all right. What can be
the reason for calling on the District
to put $4,000 900 in the pot and taking
the enterprise over?
Buffalo Airport Cited.
IT am familiar with what happened
in the Buffalo municipal airport. For
several years they have spent $50, 900
year In operating expenses out Of the
city'S funds, and in no year have they
taken in as much as $1,000 gross rev.
enue."
The full text Of the councils report
Is as follows
1.-THE Citizens Advisory Council, ever
mindful Of its duty to the half million
citizens Of the District OF Columbia, and
not forgetful of the burdens which ex-
cessive taxation places upon those
called upon to bear them, and believing
that increased taxation will be an add
ed load which will bring about economic
disaster, which will come soon, unless
more conservative methods are employed
In the improvement of Washington
hesitates to join with any other group
that might desire to rejoice over the
Bingham airport report and recon-
mendations.
I'VE believe in progress and stand
ready at all times to further any move
ment for the benefit of our citizens, If
based on justice and equity, but we do
not feel that the entire airport cost
should be saddled upon the taxpayers Of
the District Of Columbia, when the
substantive law of the Nation provides
| that the division of District costs of
government shall be borne upon O basis
of so per cent by the citizens of the
District and 40 per cent by the National
Government. We have practically no
| say as to whether we should have an
airport, how much 1t should cost, where
1t should be located. or bow run after
established. But we have been told that
we are 10 pay the entire cost Of its
establishment. In the name Of COM
mon justice, we urge upon Congress to
deal with us more fairly"
The council disapproved bill 10 pre-
vent barbershops from opening on sun