Evening star., 1932-01-29
AIRPORT CLOSING
FEARED AS TAXES
DESTROY PROFITS
Trade Board Hears Plight
and Moves to Seek US.
Purchase.
MANAGER SEES NO HOPE
UNDER PRESENT SYSTEM
Aviation Committee of Business
Group Backs Bill Providing
Federal Development.

The National Capital is in grave dam
ger of losing its only civil airport be-
cause of land taxes, which destroy any
chance of profitable operation, it was
revealed at a meeting of the Aviation
Committee Of the Washington Board of
Trade yesterday afternoon
Conversion of large portion of the
airport area into a tourist camp for
visitors to the Capital during the Bicen-
tennlal celebration has been aveIted
within the past few days after the nego-
tlatlonS had reached the point Of actual
drawing Of the lease. it was said
Questioned by members of the COM
mittee, John S. Wynne, manager of the
airport, admitted that the airport, which
today is one Of the busiest air terminals
IN the world, is losing money because
taxes on the property are so heavy
there is no hope of profit
May Lose Airiines.
Should the airport close. the National
Capital probably would be stripped over
night OF the air transport lines which
during the past 18 months have placed
this city in a position of aviation lead
ershlp. There is no other airport avail
able for such traffic. it was stated. and
no area which could be prepared for
operation without considerable delay,
even if money were available
Alarmed at the plight of the local air
transport industry. the committee voted
approval of the Bingham Mcmillan bill,
now pending in the Senate and House,
which provides for purchase by the Fed
eral Government of the Washington
Hoover Airport site and its DEVELOPMENT
and operation by the Department Of
Commerce as a model Federal airport.
Though the committee members ap-
proved the bill, they expressed reluc-
tance to urge its adoption by Congress
in view of the necessity for cutting
down the Nations financial burdens.
1t would be possible for the Federal
Government to operate the airport prof
itably With the business which already
exists, it was stated, because of the fact
that no taxes would be paid and because
the Federal authorities would be able
to borrow money at a lower rate Of
interest than is available to private cap
ltal, thereby reducing the carrying
charges.
McNary Bill Favored
The situation will be placed by the
Aviation Committee before the directors
of the Washington Board Of Trade
The committee also approved the Nc
Nary Dill, penang IN LAe senate, WnlCn
would establish an airship law similar
to the merchant marine law This
measure, which carries with it the fate
OF the proposed international CONNER
cial aiTslip terminal proposed for con-
StruCtiOn in the vicinity of the National
Capital is necessary to the creation of
international airship commerce, the
committee was told.
The bill. which calls for no congress
Sional appropriation for three years,
would grant the operators of an airship
line relief from financial liability be-
yOnd the salvage value of the airship,
as is the case in merchant marine cp-
Grafton, and would provide for the car
rying of ocean mail by airship at the
same sliding pay rate schedules now
applied to ocean mail carried by
steamship
If the bill is passed, with its guar
anty of mail profits to the airship Op-
orators, construction of America S first
giant commercial airship will be under
taken at Akron, Ohio, Immediately upon
completion of the ZRS-5. sister to the
U. S. S. Akron, it was announced.