Evening star., 1933-02-05

tracts as a means for beating down
passenger competition.
That the Senate action will prevail,
/ however, seems unlikely. The Govern
ment has contracts with the domestic
alrmail operators. None Of these con-
tracts are to expire before 1896, and
they cannot be invalidated by the Gov
ernment without throwing the whole
matter into the Court of Claims.
Congress, however, can and very
probably will reduce the airmail appro-
priations, possibly by very large
amount Though the House passed q
SIS, 100000 appropriation for the domes-
tic airmail service, House leaders have
no intention Of waging a serious fight
to letaln the whole amount. Many
members OF the House. especially since
the Postmaster Generals defiant action,
are understood to favor a substantial
reduction Of the airmail appropriation.
The entire Brown administration has
been marked by clashes between the
Post Office Department and Congress
over the airmail service Browns pol
icies with regard to the airnlail have
been bitterly criticized at both ends Of
the Capitol. Airmail has lost its best
friends, and the lean days are come.
Air transportation will survive be-
cause 1t possesses advantages to man
which cannot be denied. Its survival
will not be due to its friends" in the
Post Office Department, but in spite of
them. Because OF the devious maneu-
verings of those in charge of the des-
TIMES of the airmail during the past
four years. the way is going to be ex-
ceedingly hard. Air transportation must
build upon the sure foundation Of its
own worth and it will so build because
its future is inextricably intertwined
with that OF civilization.
Airport in Jeopardy.
The action of the House Committee
in reporting unfavorably the McMil-
Ian bill came as a blow to those who
for many weeks have fought for emer-
gency legislation to preserve the Capt.
tails only air terminal. Though Rep
resentative Mcmillan Immediately be-
gan the drafting Of a new bill to meet
the objections which resulted in killing
OF his original bill it is feared that
there will not be sufficient time for con-
slderatlon of the substitute measure be-
fore Congress adjourns in less than 80
legislative days.
The situation Is aggravated by the
fact that an option held by officials of
washington Airport on the property Of
Hoover Field will expire March 4, leav-
ing the property subject to sale for uses
which will destroy its usefulness for
airport purposes and ultimately force
abandonment of Washington Airport.
"Air Cabs Operating.
One Of the most recent developments
In air transportation is that of air cab
systems similar to city taMcab services.
Several air cab operators are operating
today In various parts of the country,
some with assurance of success.
The air cabs are of various types,
ranging from two to six place airplanes,
flying boats and amphibians, and are
designed to meet the requirements Of
all kinds of passengers, including sports
men seeking to arrange hunting trips
The next step in the business it has
been suggested. will be the establish
ment of uniform rates which are neces-
sary to promote public confidence and
for the convenience of those wishing to
approximate the cost of flying on spe-
cial trips.
The safety record of the present air