Evening star., 1931-12-13

The Post Offce Department because
OF widespread criticism of its adminis-
tTation Of the airmail service under the
terms Of the Watres act. Is going to
have to do some explaining to Congress.
Whether the inquiry will develop into
a real investigation is as yet prob
lematicaL The House members OF the
Post Office and Treasury Subcommit-
tee OF the Appropriations Committee,
who probably will be headed by Rep
resentative Joseph w Byrns Of Ten
nessee. Will have the first opportunity
to 60 into the question of whether the
Post Office Department is doing prop
e1'y e5 american aviation
The Appropriations Subcommittee
inquiry, to be held behind closed doors,
probably will begin very soon, as the
Post Once Treasury supply bill is one
OF the first regular appropriations
measures due for consideration.
If the Appropriations Subcommittee
decides to conf1ne its hearings exclu-
sively to matters having to do with
funds and not with policies an investi-
CATION probably will be made by the
House Committee on Post OficeS and
Post Roads
The Seventy-second Congress is going
to have to prove itself an economy
Congress" and aviation legislation, in
common with other legislation, which
calls for any substantial new expenses
probably will make little headway.
Nevertheless, it is not anticipated
that this Congress will permit any great
loss of the fruits of aviation progress
during the past few years, and aviation
probably will fare as well as any of
the major national interests at the
hands Of Congress this Winter.
A Soldiers Farewell.
Fighting to the last moment for the
welfare of the service he has served
faithfully and well for 33 years, Mai.
Gen. James E. Fechet, for four years
chief Of the Army Air Corps, is finish
ing his active Army career this month
and will go on the retired list as the
moment the New Year arrives.
General Fechet took advantage of
the opportunity afforded by his last
annual report to take up the cudgels
for his fellow officers, especially those
who face the beginning of their milf
fary careers. He has waited until this
time to take this action so that there
could be no thought that he was infiu-
enced by possible personal consid-
erations.
In his final report, Gen. Fechet ap-
pears most concerned about the state
of the commissioned personnel of the
Air Corps. He recommends strongly
the immediate resuming of the policy,
which was discontinued last year. of
the annual commissioning of mini
mum Of 200 second lieutenants in the
Air Corps
Last year the 200 Junior officers
called for by the Air Corps five-year
program were not commissioned be-
cause of lack Of funds. This year they
were not allowed for similar reasons
This results In a shortage of 400
trained pilots in the combat suuadrons
today and it has effects which will be
felt for many years in the Army flying
service.
Failure to commission these 400 new
officers has created an unbalanced
situation In all grades in the ARMY
Air Corps from first lieutenant TO
colonel, since the commissioned officer
program is worked out so that there
are definite number in each grade.
70 flll the need for pilots, flight com
manders, squadron leaders and com
manding officers Of flying fields and
the larger tactical units.
Under the system which governs The
commissioned personnel of the Army,