Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-27
AIRPORT BILL 0. K.
BY SENATORS NEXT
WEEK IS EXPECTED
Subcommittee Fails to Take
Action at Hearing on
Bingham Plan.
C. OF C. AND CITIZENS
OPPOSE PROPOSAL
Board of Trade Supports Measure,
Which Would Put Field Near
Highway Bridge.

Although the Senate subcommittee
took no action at hearings yesterday
on the Bingham-NelSon bill to estab-
lish the District airport near the south
end of Highway Bridge, indications are
that the measure will be favorably re-
ported, probably next week.
Witnesses who testified yesterday
were divided over the bill, the Board OF
Trade supporting it, while the Chamber
of Commerce, Citizens Advisory Coun-
Gil and Federation of Citizens Associa-
tons were In opposition.
Lieut.. Col. u. S. Grant, Sd, said the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission had approved the location
across the river provided 1t can be ac-
quired Immediately and at reasonable
cost, and recommended an amend
ment
Terms Of Pending Bill.
The pending bill provides for pur-
chase of the washington Airport and
Hoover Field, which, with part Of the
Agriculture Department experimental
farm, portion of Columbia Island and
strip of Military road, would form an
airport Of $50 acres. The airport would
be financed by loan of $4,000, 900 from
the District without interest.
Col. Grant said the amendment he
proposed was intended to give the COM
mission more leeway in negotiating for
that part Of the site not already owned
by the Government. He recommended
that following the description of the
lands In the bill, there be added the
following words: "the use Of which
lands shall be acquired by purchase.
-. t.w~A II,
tional Capital Park and Planning Com
mission on such terms as may be most
favorable to the Government, provided
that for any land and improvements
acquired in fee simple the title shall be
In the United States"
1929 Report is Cited.
Col. Grant said the park commission
had approved the pending location
within the meaning Of its 1929 report.
The colonel explained later that the
commission in 1928 took the position
that Gravelly Point is better because it
could be expanded indefinitely.
The opposition Of the advisory
council and the citizens federation was
voiced by Charles I. Stengle, who
argued that the taxpayers should not
have to bear the burden OF providing
an airport.
Senator vandenberg Of Michigan.
chairman of the subcommittee, wanted
to know II some of the associations In
the federation had not Endorsed the
pending bill. The witness said no doubt
there were some, but he did not know
the number.
The opposition Of the Chamber of
Commerce was recorded by Lieut.. Wal
ter Hinton, who argued the proposed
site Is too small and would be inacces-
Sible for seaplanes because of nearby
bridges, hills and railroads He also said
the chamber wanted the District to have
title to the airport land, so it could
be sold il deemed advisable.
Bingham Gives Stand.
Answering some Of the testimony pre-
sented, Senator Bingham of Connecti-
cut, who was chairman Of the Joint
Congressional Airport Commission, de-
clared the airport commission never
had any idea that the land to be &C
quired would cost anything like $780,
600, pointing out that the pending bill
contemplates complete development of
the airport. The Senator also said the
title to the land was to be left In the
United States, In order to avoid pay
ment Of taxes to Virginia. The Senator
said the title to all land used for Dis
trtct institutions In adjoining States Is
vested In the United States.
A strong plea In favor Of the Bingham
bill was made by lawrence Z. Williams
for the Board Of Trade, who said the
board formerly was for the GraVelly
Point site, but that when 1t looked like
nothing might be done for q year or
two, his organization was glad to see
the commission bring out the pending
plan.
The Board of Trade spokesman said
the ARRANGEMENT in the Dill for making
the payments Is economically sound
and equitable, that the proposed site Is
closer to the business center than any
other and that a considerable amount
Grafton Of the airport
Points Out Others Profits.
After pointing out that the Oakland.
Calf, airport showed $4,000 net last
year, and that the Tulsa airport had net
earnings of $23,761 for the six months
ending last January, Mr.. Williams pre-
dicted that the District airport would
take in considerable part Of the reim-
bursements it viii have to make to the
Federal Government.
Mr.. williams agreed to placing title
to the land in the United States, say
ing that he realized the difficulties that
might develop otherwise.
Elwood p. Morey, attorney for one of
the proposed sites to the north of the
city suggested last year, appeared In OPP
position to the site at the south end of
Highway Bridge, streSsing the size Of
the proposed airport and fog conditions
on the river. j. E. Potbury of Chillum,
Md, also spoke in opposition to the
pending BILL
Col. Grant gave the subcommittee
figures he said were obtained from the
United States Engineer ONCE showing
tnat for $1,914,000 an airport OF nearly
the same size as the proposed site could
pc developed at Gravelly Point In three
years. He said later his personal view
was That 1t would take about four years
for the fill to settle.
senator Vandenberg placed IN the
record letter from the inter- federation
conference indorsing the Bingham bill.
.