Evening star., 1931-12-06

To Senator Bingham local aviation
officials appealed in an effort to pre-
vent erection of the columns Through
Senator Bingham's efforts the matter
was brought to the attention of PreSi-
dent Hoover and as a result the Airing
ton Memorial Bridge Commission SUBJ
mitteo TO the Commission of Fine Arts
proposals Of types Of architectural de-
velopment Of Columbia Island which
would not create obstacles to air trans
port operations at the local air ter
minal
The Fine Arts body. however. ruled
that the protests against the columns
were mot valid" because the columns
had been planned before the air termi-
nal was established, and recommended
that the construction plans be carried
forward. Members of the commission
voiced the opinion that 1t would be a
good thing If commercial planes were
driven away from the vicinity Of Co.
lunbia Island. One commission mem
Der, asked whether he had no interest
in safeguarding the growth of air
transportation in the National Capital.
was quoted as replying that he had
never ridden in an airplane and never
expected to"
Response to the commissions recon-
nendation was immediate.
Senator Bingham announced his
plan for legislation which not only
would prevent construction of the col
umns, but also of any type of obstacle
TO safe air transport operations at any
air terminal in the country on the
ground Of public safety and under the
general provisions of the Constitution
which permit the War Department to
regulate construction of bridges, wharves
and other structures in navigable
waters
Forty transport pilots-all those who
ny passengers and mail out CT Wash
ngton-Hoover Airport-signed a pc
tition requesting that the column plans
De blocked. This petition Is to 60 Ia
the White House within the next day
or two.
Appeal to Miami Conference.
Plans were made for presentation of
the entire matter to the Nations lead
ing airport and air transport executives
ct a conference in Miami. Fla. during
the hrst week of next month. The con-
ference delegates will be asked to bring
pressure to bear in their respective
congressional districts to block the col.
uhnn plans and to bring about enact
ment OF air space" legislation.
The Aviation Committee of thf
Washington Board Of Trade, which has
taken leading part in the fight
against the columns from the begin.
ming, under the leadership of its chair.
man, Lawrence z. Williams, met ir
special session and voted to seek ar
appointment with President Hoover Il
ask his intervention in the interest,
OF passengers and pilots who fly from
the local airport.
The Department Of Commerce sero
nautical inspector for the local district
added his name to the pilots petition
against the columns. The aeronautic,
branch Of the Department of Com,
merce, after survey of the situation
had previously announced that If tn,
columns went up it might becom,
necessary TO stop all transport opera.
tlons out of the local airport.
Whlle the Department of Commerce
mas no authority to close the airnort 4
could achieve its purpose by takins
up the certificates of all transnorf
nnes operating out of the local All
terminal. This would bring to an i'm.
mediate close some Of the heaviest al,
passenger traffic in the world anr
would wipe the National CAPITAL of
the air transport map.
Renewal Of the struggle for begin.